Worth the Wait

We briefly met on the dance floor at a college party at the University of Central Missouri. A few weeks later, our fraternity and sorority were paired together for Homecoming week. As part of the tradition, the fraternity and sorority had to create a Homecoming cheer. At the time, I was a freshman and part of the cheer, while Payton, a senior, was not. The group needed more guys, so they asked Payton to join. He agreed on one condition: he got to pick his partner. Payton chose me, and from there, the connection grew. A year later, Payton stayed on for graduate school, and in September of 2017, we began dating. After Payton finished graduate school, he moved back to Overland Park, Kansas, and I joined him. Payton’s dad, Mark, owned a family business, and I began working there while Payton started his first corporate job. A little over a year later, Payton joined the family business as well. We quickly transitioned from a romantic relationship to a business partnership, blending both aspects of our lives. Throughout our 20s, we grew together in every sense, personally, professionally, and as a couple, while helping the family business thrive. We lived together, ate together, worked together, and did everything side by side. This time allowed us to truly get to know one another and learn how to be better individually and as partners, all while preparing for a successful marriage in the future. Years later, after Payton had exited the family business, he knew it was the right time to make things official. Over the years, we had been through so much together, growing and evolving. On Christmas Eve of 2024, Payton got down on one knee and asked me to marry him after seven years of dating. Of course, I said yes! Planning the wedding has been an exciting journey for both of us. We are incredibly grateful to be able to share it with our friends and family, and we can’t wait to celebrate with them. Looking back on everything, from the moment we met, there’s always been an undeniable connection between us, we’ve learned and grown together through our 20s, and we’re ready to make it official. No matter what comes our way, we know we’ll face it together, side by side, as husband and wife.