If You Ask Alexa:

Rich and I first met as kids when his family came to our church for the first time. I remember thinking Rich was cute even back then. When I was in fourth grade, I had a HUGE crush on Rich but unfortunately he was “dating” my best friend (🤣). I had to painfully pass their notes to each other at church and hide my true feelings. As we got into Highschool, we lost contact and did not see each other for 10 years.

We did not reconnect until November of 2020. Out of boredom during the pandemic, I went on a dating app called Bumble. As I swiped through the eligible bachelors, THE Richie Rafferty popped up on my screen. Of course I swiped right, and thought to myself, “I owe it to fourth grade me to at least go on a date!”

We matched and started reconnecting. For our first date, he picked me up and drove us to Boardman, Ohio because Pennsylvania was closed due to COVID lockdown. We only got to go on a couple more dates before Rich left for Florida to finish his flight training. I thought maybe we would connect when he got back, but he continued to pursue me over the next four months while he was away.

Shortly after Rich returned to Pittsburgh, we made our relationship official as boyfriend and girlfriend on May 25th 2021. These past years of dating have been such a fun season and I am so excited for what's to come. Rich is everything I’ve ever wanted and more in a partner. God truly blessed me with a future spouse who loves, protects, and cherishes me so well! 🤍

If You Ask Rich:

I first met Alexa at the age of ten years old when my parents started going to Victory Family Church. My first real memory of Alexa is when she performed a comedy skit with her friend in the kids classroom. I thought it was funny and my brother and I went home and recreated the skit for our cousins.

We got to know each other more throughout middle school as friends by going to church camps and events. I have vivid memories of her and her friends always practicing and performing choreographed dances that they made up.

Throughout high-school I started going to a different youth group so I did not see Alexa for a very long time. She messaged me online once when I was in college to ask about Liberty but then she never messaged me when she came and visited (rude).

We reconnected online during Covid 19. Pennsylvania was shut down so I took her to Ohio for our first date. We hit it off immediately. I knew right away that she was exactly what I had been looking for in a partner. We have now been together for almost four years and I have never been more confident that we have a lifetime of fun and happiness ahead of us.

Registry

Your presence at our wedding is the greatest gift we could ask for! If you would like to honor us with a gift, we have a registered list below. We can't wait to start our new life together as we move into our first home after the wedding!