In the fall of 2021, a mutual friend (thank you, Ben!) invited Alexis and her Cedar Falls crew to Ames for the Iowa vs. Iowa State football game. Alexis arrived first, and as she was settling in, down the stairs came Ben’s roommate—Justus.

What started as a simple hello quickly turned into quiet conversations, shared laughs, and more than a few quick glances exchanged from across the room—each one followed by a shy smile when they caught each other looking. Something about it felt different—familiar in a way that didn’t quite make sense yet, but felt easy and good.

Before Alexis left town, Justus asked for her number. A couple of weeks later, he asked her on their first official date… but not before she met his parents (yep, that really happened!). Justus, a very deep thinker who usually takes his time with decisions, says he just had a feeling. No overanalyzing, no second-guessing—he just knew. When you know, you know.

Their first date was casual but full of fun and connection—it felt like hanging out with someone they'd known for years, not someone they met two weeks ago. They laughed a lot, ordered good food, and got real about what they were looking for. Turns out, their values and hopes lined up perfectly. They both talked about their faith early on, and that conversation made it even clearer that something special was beginning.

From that point on, everything just kept falling into place. What started as a weekend trip turned into their favorite love story—one that’s grounded in laughter, faith, and that feeling of being completely at home with each other.

A&J

Wedding Day

Ceremony