👩‍❤️‍👨The People:

John Kristen – From Bellville, Texas, John is a proud University of Texas graduate and the grateful president of Kristen Distributing Company, where he carries on a legacy of hard work rooted in Christ, family and community.

Anna Dement – Born and raised in College Station, Texas, Anna is a proud Aggie turned Vanderbilt graduate student whose passion and experience led her to found and operate Madam Paleta Tequila, bringing bold flavors — and plenty of fun — to the world of spirits.

💕The Overview:

Friends for over a decade before realizing they were meant to be — thanks to one magical summer, a shared friend group, and a very handsome dog named Bear.

📚The Details:

John eventually moved to College Station, and while Anna was finishing school at A&M, the two fell into the same friend group. For over a decade, their friendship grew - celebrating Friendsmas each winter, cheering on Aggie football in the fall, Aggie baseball in the Spring, and enjoying backyard slip-n-slides each summer.

Fast forward to the summer of 2022 — more time together turned into something a little different. By September, friendship had officially become dating, and suddenly those back-and-forth weekends between San Antonio (where Anna lived) and College Station (where John stayed) became the highlight of their weeks. Somewhere in the mix, John also won over Bear, Anna’s loyal sidekick and furry shadow. (Some say Bear may have had a paw in this love story, too.)

By the summer of 2023, Anna and Bear packed up and moved back to College Station, officially joining John under one roof. From traveling and working hard to laughing with friends and making everyday life an adventure, the three of them became a little family.

Then in January 2025, John pulled off the ultimate surprise: a trip to Charleston, where he got down on one knee and asked Anna to marry him. (Spoiler: she said yes!)

Now, they’re excited to tie the knot with you in January 2026 in San Miguel — proving that sometimes the best love stories really do start with friendship!