We’ve known each other almost our entire lives. Anna Claire has attended Harpeth Hills Church of Christ since she was born, and Allen’s family began going there when he was three. From there, our friendship steadily continued to grow year after year.

Despite going to different schools, we became close friends in our high school years and began spending a lot of time together. However, we never thought we would be anything more than good friends.

When we both went to Lipscomb University, we continued to grow closer. By the end of our first semester, Allen’s feelings began to change, and in December of 2019, Allen confessed his feelings to Anna Claire. However, Anna Claire didn’t feel the same way quite yet. After a year of Allen being stuck in the dreaded “friendzone,” Anna Claire began to realize her feelings for Allen may have shifted. In October, Anna Claire first confessed that her feelings had changed. We finally started dating (as Brennan Smiley predicted that we would, over a year and a half earlier) in December of 2020, exactly one year to the day after Allen first confessed his feelings.

We went through college side by side, and are now enjoying post-grad life. Allen proposed to Anna Claire at Arrington Vineyards on July 15th, and she was so surprised! Now we’re counting down the days until we get to celebrate our marriage surrounded by you all. We’re so thankful for our incredible community of friends and family and all the ways God has continually blessed us. See you in April!

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