Joey and Lauren first “met” when Joey transferred to Lauren’s middle school in the eighth grade. The word met is in quotations because they never actually had a formal introduction—Lauren just noticed that he was the cute new boy who sat at the lunch table across from hers. Lauren, of course, wasn’t going to make the first move. Instead, she would strategically walk her friend to her math class every day after lunch—the same class Joey coincidentally also had—hanging around just long enough for him to walk in before making her (very nonchalant) exit. Eventually, her plan worked. Joey and Lauren started talking, and it wasn't long before he asked her to be his girlfriend in front of her locker before summer break. They dated that summer, enjoying movie theater dates and meeting up at the playground then took a brief pause when Lauren stupidly declared she wanted to "focus on her friends" (she was 14 give her a break) despite her still really liking him and her mom's confusion because "he was so nice." He was. Fast forward a year: they found themselves in the same homeroom sophomore year, and within two weeks, they were dating again. They’ve been inseparable ever since. Ten years later, after experiencing many of life’s big milestones together—going to prom, getting into college, spending a year apart at different colleges, graduating, moving states, starting their first jobs, making new friends, and navigating adulthood’s excitement and challenges—Joey and Lauren are so excited to get married and begin their next chapter! They’re really looking forward to what God has in store for them and are most excited about starting a family, making a home, traveling to new places, and continuing life side by side—just like always.