Aug | 23 | 2026

On a Monday night just before finals during our sophomore year of college, we were both out with mutual friends, neither of us expecting to meet anyone new. We were there to support our friends, acting as wingmen, and thinking mostly about the end of the school year and having fun. But something unexpected happened. Even though we shared many mutual friends through Grace’s sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, and Alex’s fraternity, Delta Tau Delta, and were in the same major, we had somehow never officially met. We even had a class together the year before. Grace sat in the front, focused and organized, while Alex sat in the back, a little more relaxed. Still, our paths never crossed until that night. From the moment we met, there was an immediate connection. We made each other laugh, and the conversation felt easy and familiar, even though we were technically strangers. We exchanged numbers that night without thinking much of it, both assuming we had simply made a new friend. Later that week, Alex needed a date for Delt formal, and Grace said yes, with very little hesitation. We spent the weekend in Austin with friends, and the spark only grew. Being together felt joyful and natural, something simple and special that neither of us could ignore. That summer, we both stayed in Waco. Alex was there for work, and Grace was there for “studying” for her summer courses, although mostly for Alex. We made so many memories that summer with late night drives, study breaks that turned into long talks, and spontaneous adventures with friends. Slowly, we both began to realize this friendship might be something more, even if neither of us was ready to say it out loud. As summer turned into fall and the school year approached, everything became clearer. Our friends had many conversations with each of us, pointing out the feelings we had not yet shared and how well we fit together. Over the next few weeks, we finally started talking honestly about what we felt. As the responsible young adults we were, we decided to wait until we were settled into the school year before making any big decisions. Naturally, Alex asked Grace to be his girlfriend the night before junior year began. Since August 22, 2021, we have shared seasons of growth, countless memories, and years of love. We have grown together through late nights studying, leading Baylor organizations, summer internships, the start of our careers, road trips, raising Blue and Leo, buying our first home, overcoming challenges, celebrating personal milestones, and making more Chick fil A runs than we can count. Now, we cannot wait to begin this next chapter as husband and wife, surrounded by the people who have loved and supported us from the very beginning. ❤️