Asher and Abby's love story begins one fateful day in February of 2023, when Asher picked up a couple of shifts at the bookstore where Abby worked. They met, talked, hit it off, and eventually went on a "not-date" date (spoiler alert: it was a date). Then, they lived happily ever after.

Wait-- rewind. There's more to that story.

Abby had been complaining to her bookstore employers about her non-existent love life, and they provided a fascinating solution-- if she could find a boy on campus she liked and get him to apply to the bookstore, they would hire him and give him the same shifts as her so their romance could bloom (for legal reasons, this never actually happened).

However, Abby never did get a boy to apply. Her freshman year ticked by, no man in sight, and she eventually forgot about the promise her employers had made. One day, though, a cute boy DID show up at the bookstore... and convienently worked the same shifts as her.

Unbenownst to her, her employers had been plotting to set her up the whole time. And when an old employee asked if they had any extra shifts that needed filling, they told him yes-- even though they absolutely did not. So, sometime mid February, Asher showed up to work a shift that Abby and her friend were already covering.

Abby and Asher hit it off immediately, becoming quick friends and bantering constantly. Secretly, they both knew that they had feelings for each other, but neither would admit it.

As they spent more and more time together, those feelings grew until Asher finally got up the courage to ask Abby out... almost.

"Wanna hang out on Saturday?"

HANG OUT? No, Abby did not want to hang out. Hanging out meant their whole friend group would be there. She wanted a chance to get to know Asher individually. A chance to see if he felt the same.

Despite her disappointment at his wording, she agreed to "hang out" with him. They ended up "hanging out" quite a few more times, then finally dating.

And I suppose the rest is history. Bumpy, difficult, long-distance history. But God showed his favor and grace through it all, strengthening their relationship and eventually leading them to this point.

Asher and Abby are both so thankful for the support of both of their families and all of their friends in this very special season of their lives!