Level One

Amanda's Bridal Shower

Brookside Farm

Wedding Day

Our Wedding

Technically, the first time I met Johnny was at Dave and Busters for our friend Kaylie's birthday party in January 2022. I only remember one thing about him from that night: He gave me a hard time for being a Packers fan, and I naturally made fun of him for being a Browns fan. Little did we know this was a solid prediction of our future. About six months later, we found ourselves crossing paths thanks to Kaylie once again, this time for her going away party on my birthday. This time around, we had more than just one quick interaction, so I actually met and got to know him a bit more. We were corn hole partners, and pretty good ones at that. Later that evening, as Kay was saying her goodbyes she mentioned to Johnny that he better have a girlfriend by the time she gets back. In that moment I remember thinking hmm... maybe? I mean he was funny and cute and a gentleman. But that thought didn't really materialize beyond a brief passing moment because my brain reminded me that I was in no place for a relationship. I was leaving for college that fall, so why would I want to start something now just to leave? Still, somehow Johnny ended up with my Snapchat that night, and then my phone number just a few days later. Now, for the moment that has stuck with me since the beginning of our relationship. One of the most clear and evident 'God moments' I have ever had. On the day Kay left for the Navy, I was heading down to South Carolina for my family's vacation. When we got to our condo, I broke down and went to sit on our balcony. After crying alone for a while, I figured it would be better for me if I called someone to distract me. I first called my best friend at the time, but the call did not go through. I assumed she was at her camper with no service or something. I decided to call another friend of mine, but once again, the call did not go through. Neither call even rang once. I was going to take it as a sign to just be alone, until I remembered Johnny had mentioned to give him a call if I needed help with anything. I figured I would give him a shot and see if his call went through. Sure enough, the phone rang, and he answered. We talked for a few hours that night about anything you could think of. The conversation never died. I firmly believe God was the reason the other calls did not go through. I was meant to talk to Johnny. We talked during the rest of the time I was at the beach, and I grew to like him more and more. He challenged me to a mini golf date for as soon as I got home. We went after church one day, and I kicked his butt (to this day I am the 3-0 reigning champ). That first date turned into a few more dates. The following weeks went by and I was giddy as ever. There aren't many things more exciting than the blossoming of a crush. On one date, we went to see a movie, and then went on a drive for a while afterwards. The entire ride I was eagerly waiting for him to hold my hand, but he never did. When he dropped me off that night, I thought that was it. He didn't actually like me and I had fooled myself. Sure enough though, as soon as he got home he sent me a long message about how much he actually did like me. I was insanely relieved, and was quick to let him know that I felt the same. Then a few days later, on July 6, 2022, he asked me to be his girlfriend after a fun night of line dancing together. Of course I said yes, even though he pronounced my name wrong. Since then, we've lived through so many different stages of life together, but he has remained my biggest blessing through them all. Fast forward through two and a half years of love and laughter, he proposed on November 9, 2024! AND he got my name right this time! It was the perfect proposal at our favorite hiking spot. He even included my sister by scheming with her to take the photos for us (shoutout to her for having a whole Pinterest board of engagement photo poses ready). I was so surprised and excited that I sort of blacked out and can't remember much of what was said. All I know for sure is I said yes, and now we're getting married! All of that is to say, I cannot wait to begin our next chapter of life together. I couldn't imagine a better man to be my husband and life partner. After saying yes to him twice now, I am beyond excited to finally get to say "I do" too.

If you ask her...

Truth be told I wasn’t really in a spot in life to pursue dating anyone. I was in the midst of deciding when or if I should transfer colleges. One reason for that was because the current school I was at was expensive. The other reason was because my grades there were horrible, and I mean awful. My mind had gotten to a point where all I wanted to do was work throughout the summer to save some money and then get ready to work my butt off to try and pick my grades up once semester started. But that didn’t happen. Why? Well it started through a mutual friend. Her name is Kaylie, she was a close friend from high school. She was leaving for the navy and decided to have some of her friends all hang out with her a few times before she left. I was friends with a lot of those people already, but there was this one girl who I knew of but I didn’t really know her. The only thing I really knew about her was that she was pretty cute, didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.&nbsp; Despite her beauty, I didn’t think much of it at first because I didn’t think I would get to talk to her again. But then we ended up staying in touch through an app that I found to be rather dumb, Snapchat. But that annoying platform allowed me to check up on her occasionally as she had a hard time with our friend leaving. The more I’d check in with her, the more I gradually got to know her. The more I got to know her the more I thought, “She’s actually kinda cool.” Which turned into, “Wow she’s really cool.” That eventually led to, “Okay I can’t deny it anymore, I really like this girl.”&nbsp; At first, my mom said I shouldn’t pursue anyone right now because I was attending a school in Pennsylvania at the time, I was struggling in school, and I needed to save some money. I fully agreed with my mother, but I ended up not listening (which is not advisable by the way, this is the only time that ever worked in my favor).&nbsp; Amanda mentioned to me that she liked mini golf and ice cream. So I decided to try and ask her on a date, but in slick way where she wouldn’t know it was a date that implied that I was interested in her, I wanted to just feel things out. So I turned it into a challenge. I asked her if she wanted to go mini golfing some time and the loser buys ice cream. This was an effective way to ask her out without letting her know I liked her (it wasn’t, she had me figured out from the start).&nbsp; We eventually did go on our mini golfing date, and she ended up blowing me out of the water. But we got to know each other more on that date, and we had a lot of fun in the process. Later that week I took her on our second date, which was a movie. We saw “Minions: Rise of Gru.” After the movie, I took her on a drive so we could have some time to just chat more. I was planning on holding her hand on that drive to tell her that I liked her. I felt myself wanting to hold it through the whole drive, but never brought myself to do it. After I took her home I had one of the longest drives home because I instantly regretted not holding her hand like I wanted to. And I knew I needed to do something about that. When I got home I decided to text her and tell her straight up that I liked her. I knew I had to. Once I hit send I was nervous just like anyone else would be. It took her a bit to respond, which felt like forever if you’re a nervous little lovestruck puppy like I was in that moment. When she finally responded and said she liked me back, I became the happiest young chap on the earth. This was especially so because I knew that wasn’t just another girl that I liked, I knew that this was the one. As corny as it is to say that early on, there was something different about her and I just felt something different. A few days later, on July 6, 2022, I would go on to ask her to be my girlfriend officially after a night of line dancing.&nbsp; All this led to a two and a half year period where we shared a lot of love and laughs together. I got the pleasure of driving her insane throughout the entirety of the process, and boy did I have a grand time with that. And on November 9, 2024, I finally got down on one knee and asked her to marry me. It all happened really fast and the sequences of events during me asking her is all kind of a blur to me, but she said yes and now I get to marry the most beautiful woman on the planet. I cannot wait for the big day on October 19, 2025 when I get to make her completely mine forever. Thank you Jesus!

If you ask him...

Our Story

The Day We Got Engaged!

Photos

Bridesmaids

Breanna is my younger sister, and also my best friend. I have known her for her entire life, yet somehow we find ways to grow closer and closer with each passing year. We have a way of bringing out the weirdest in each other. There are few people who get to experience the completely raw version of me, but she certainly encourages it the most. She is the most supportive, honest, and caring sister in the world. I need her support every step of the way, which means she has to be right next to me on wedding day!

Breanna Deprey

Lily has been my friend since day one at Ashland University. We met at a campus worship night when she boldly came up and talked to me. She has stuck by my side through all three years at AU, including being my roommate for two of those years. Throughout our friendship she has always brought so much joy with her wherever we are in life. She is kindhearted, strong, patient, and is the best listener I know. She also is one of the best at making me giggle, so I know wedding day will be full of laughter with her by my side!

Lillian Phillips

Grace and I met through Delight Ministries at AU. She was put in my small group during my second semester of leading, and then joined our leadership team herself the following school year. We grew close thanks to our weekly coffee dates and chats about life, and since then I have seen her love for the Lord shine in everything she does. She is the sweetest, most wholesome friend you could ask for. Her encouraging heart and gentle nature make her a joy to be around. The day would not be the same without her!

Grace Fry

Kay and I became friends my freshman year of high school after we met in band. As I got to know her, she made me curious about the Lord, and eventually she helped lead me to Him herself. She even baptized me last year! She has always been ambitious, enthusiastic, and adventurous, always looking to make the most of life. We have been blessed to experience each other grow throughout our teen years into our twenties, and have been there for each other through so many life stages. I am so happy to have her by my side for this one!

Kaylie Loughry

Kaylie was my youth group leader throughout high school. She showed a special care for me that eventually blossomed into a friendship as I matured in my faith. We were even able to lead a high school Bible study and a youth retreat together. She has always been my voice of reason and my go-to for advice. She is creative, encouraging, and has a huge heart for those around her. She has supported me for so long now, and I am excited to have her supporting me on the big day too!

Kaylie Weigel

Ashley and I met my senior year of high school, her sophomore year. We met through band because she could french braid hair like a pro, and I very much could not. So every Friday night you would find her doing my hair for the football game. We became super close super fast, and since then have always picked up right where we left off in our friendship. She has the most contagious laugh and has such a joyful heart that lights up any room. I can't wait for her to be up there with me on wedding day!

Ashley Legg

Groomsmen

Mitch has been my best friend since we were 13. We became friends through our shared love of football. Since then, he and I have been living life sharing one single brain cell between the two of us. When I’m around Mitch there usually isn’t a moment I’m not laughing hysterically or having a blast doing something that might seem small or simple. I cannot imagine where I would be without Mitch, and I am excited to have him stand by me on wedding day!



Mitch Bates

Being my younger brother there was not a whole lot I did in my childhood that did not include Justin. We grew up playing together outside, watching sports together, and even got to grow up in the same youth ministry together. We even created our own sport together as kids called football golf. Having lived most of my life with him by my side I am very thankful he will be standing by me on the big day!

Justin Schwaben

I became friends with Ben through growing up in youth ministry. Ben is a guy that I got to grow up learning how to grow into a Christian man with. Still to this day, he and I are learning one day at a time how to be God-honoring men in every aspect of our lives. I had the privilege of attending his wedding in December 2024, and now I am blessed to have him standing with me at my wedding.

Benjamin Carlson

I met Bryce at Grove City College through football, and we lived in the same hall as each other. We soon found out that we grew up about ten minutes from each other in neighboring cities and somehow did not meet until we went to college in a different state. Bryce and I clicked instantly, and we got to stand by each other through fun times and even a lot of hard times as well. I am beyond thankful for my friendship with Bryce and to have him with me on the big day!

Bryce Kightlinger

Nate and I grew up in youth ministry together. He and I often laugh at the fact that we ever became friends because when we became friends, we had nothing in common besides Jesus. He was always the smart kid that was building computers and robots, and I was the athlete playing football. But because of our shared love for the Lord, we have grown even closer as friends throughout our college years and spend a lot of time reading books and Scriptures that help us grow together as Christian men. I am honored to have Nate with me on wedding day!

Nathan Ryan

Daniel was my roommate at Grove City College. From my observations, roommates usually do not become friends and often get irritated with each other rather quickly. This was not the case for Daniel and I, as we instantly became really close friends. Even when I was no longer at Grove City, Dan and I kept in contact frequently, and is still one of my closest friends today. I am so thankful to have Daniel in my life and I am excited to have him standing with me on the big day!

Daniel Berube

Flower Girls

We met these two silly girls when they moved in next door to my family right around the time I started dating Johnny. They have been the source of so many funny memories and laughs. Energetic and adventurous, they will certainly bring the party on the dance floor. We are so excited to have Harper and Hayley be a part of our special day!

Amanda & John

Amanda & John

Photos

The Day We Got Engaged!