Ever heard of the invisible string theory?

We were born and raised in the same hometown yet didn't meet until our twenties. We grew up going to the same grocery store, restaurants, and sporting events. Now when we talk about our childhood and all the amazing things we loved about Kings Mountain, we realize that there were quite a few moments we both experienced individually without ever realizing our future spouse was somewhere close by.

Bailey is three years older than me, so after graduation he went to UNCC leaving me behind in our small town. I finished up high school and went to Appalachian, thinking how excited I was to meet new people not from Cleveland County. We both had very different paths in college but one thing we were sure on was that we would not be marrying anyone from our hometown..... jokes on us!

While I was starting my junior year of college, buried in chemistry homework, Bailey was working at the Racing Warehouse and finishing up his Surgical Technology degree. The Racing Warehouse brought Bailey some of his closest friends, who are now mine too. I mention this because some of those friends were also friends with my college roommate and best friend, Anna. Fast forward to Halloween 2021, Bailey was in Boone for a party with one of the friends he made through the Warehouse, Rankin. It just so happens Anna was also attending the same Halloween party. She tried to get me to go with her, but I didn't know Rankin at the time and also did not have a costume. So instead, I drove Anna to the party and went back home to binge-watch TV. Not knowing my future husband was in the same house I had just dropped Anna off at, playing poker in the basement.

Fast forward to February 2022, I post a random tiktok of myself lip syncing to a popular sound - cringe I know! I receive a DM a little later that day from sweet Bailey himself, not even realizing we both had followed each other at some point. I gave him my number and two weeks later we went our first date. We both can agree the spark between us was instant and we knew early on that our relationship would be never ending.

Bailey spent many weekends in Boone visiting so I could study for my exams I had the following week. I also did my fair share of traveling home whenever my academic schedule was a little lighter. We spent every possible weekend together until I finished school. Our relationship grew stronger by the day and our thoughts of a future together formed quickly. We both started our careers, grew closer with the best friends we could ask for, and found a church to call home.

We have accomplished and experienced so many things together as boyfriend & girlfriend. As our relationship progressed, we of course had several conversations about marriage and what our future life looked like together. We received so much advice from family and friends regarding marriage and we both knew that our time was coming soon. We went and tried on engagement rings together, with Bailey insisting that we had much more time before we would be engaged. A few months later, he got down on one knee with my absolute dream ring. He purchased my ring from our hometown jeweler, Dellingers Jewel Shop, making it that much sweeter and meaningful to our story.

So, as you can see we strongly believe in the invisible string theory. Although we should have met many times before we actually did, we know that it was all in God's timing.

Travel

Hampton Inn Lincolnton

White Rose Manor Bed and Breakfast

Hampton Inn Charlotte-Belmont @ Montcross