We officially met when we were thirteen and fourteen, but in 2016 we became part of the same friend group at youth service. Somewhere between inside jokes and church events, we built a friendship that would quietly change both of our lives. What we didn’t know then was that God was already writing a story we couldn't yet see. For years, we stayed close friends while secretly carrying feelings for each other that we were both too shy to admit. The timing wasn't ours-- and looking back now, we can see how beautifully intentional that was. In August 2019, everything shifted. We went on a youth mission trip to Guyana together and spent hours talking, laughing, and reconnecting in a way that felt different than before. On our way home, we got stranded in the Trinidad airport for eleven hours — and somehow talked through every single one of them. That’s when we both felt something deeper beginning. When we returned to New York, daily FaceTime calls turned into something neither of us could ignore. On September 25, 2019, we finally admitted what had been growing in our hearts for years. We’ve been together ever since. Growing Together What followed was a season of growing up side by side. We navigated new responsibilities, big decisions, college classes, long drives, and quiet prayers about our future. We learned how to communicate, how to support one another, and most importantly, how to keep Christ at the center of our relationship. Through every season — easy or challenging — we felt God’s faithfulness guiding us. Loving each other became less about feelings and more about choice, commitment, and grace. The Proposal (Briana's POV) Brooklyn Bridge Park has always been a special place for us. After so many dates walking along the water with the skyline in front of us, it quietly became woven into our story. One evening, Michael told me to get dressed up and wear my favorite white dress because we were going out to dinner. He took me to an Italian restaurant overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge, where we were seated outside with one of the most beautiful views in the city. After dinner, I stepped away to freshen up. When I came back, the table had been cleared and everything suddenly felt different. Michael began sharing a heartfelt speech — reflecting on our journey, our growth, and the faithfulness of God throughout every season of our relationship. Then he asked me to stand. On September 14, 2025 — six years after we first chose each other — he got down on one knee and asked me to spend forever with him. With the Brooklyn Bridge glowing behind us, it felt like the clearest confirmation that this was the next chapter God had been preparing all along. Our Forever Begins From childhood friends to best friends to fiancé and fiancée, we have seen God’s hand in every season of our story. What started as a quiet friendship has grown into a love rooted in faith, friendship, and commitment. We are so grateful for the journey that brought us here — and we can’t wait to begin this next chapter surrounded by the people who mean the most to us.