Walnut Hill

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Summer

Our Wedding

It&nbsp;all&nbsp;started&nbsp;during&nbsp;freshman&nbsp;week&nbsp;of&nbsp;2022&nbsp;when&nbsp;we&nbsp;first&nbsp;met—contrary&nbsp;to&nbsp;what&nbsp;Bayleigh&nbsp;remembers.&nbsp;We&nbsp;briefly&nbsp;crossed&nbsp;paths&nbsp;during&nbsp;a&nbsp;scavenger&nbsp;hunt,&nbsp;but&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;so&nbsp;quick&nbsp;that&nbsp;she&nbsp;doesn’t&nbsp;even&nbsp;recall&nbsp;it.&nbsp;I&nbsp;remember&nbsp;thinking&nbsp;she&nbsp;was&nbsp;cute,&nbsp;but&nbsp;I&nbsp;didn’t&nbsp;see&nbsp;her&nbsp;again&nbsp;until&nbsp;mid-October&nbsp;when&nbsp;some&nbsp;friends&nbsp;invited&nbsp;me&nbsp;to&nbsp;a&nbsp;hockey&nbsp;game.&nbsp;Little&nbsp;did&nbsp;I&nbsp;know,&nbsp;that&nbsp;night&nbsp;I&nbsp;would&nbsp;meet&nbsp;the&nbsp;love&nbsp;of&nbsp;my&nbsp;life.When&nbsp;Bayleigh&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;saw&nbsp;each&nbsp;other&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;game,&nbsp;we&nbsp;hit&nbsp;it&nbsp;off&nbsp;immediately.&nbsp;We&nbsp;spent&nbsp;most&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;night&nbsp;talking.&nbsp;She&nbsp;taught&nbsp;me&nbsp;how&nbsp;hockey&nbsp;is&nbsp;played,&nbsp;and&nbsp;as&nbsp;we&nbsp;got&nbsp;to&nbsp;know&nbsp;each&nbsp;other,&nbsp;I&nbsp;realized&nbsp;how&nbsp;much&nbsp;we&nbsp;had&nbsp;in&nbsp;common.&nbsp;It&nbsp;was&nbsp;an&nbsp;incredible&nbsp;evening,&nbsp;but&nbsp;I&nbsp;didn’t&nbsp;see&nbsp;her&nbsp;again&nbsp;for&nbsp;almost&nbsp;three&nbsp;weeks&nbsp;because&nbsp;I&nbsp;got&nbsp;very&nbsp;sick&nbsp;and&nbsp;couldn’t&nbsp;spend&nbsp;time&nbsp;with&nbsp;anyone—let&nbsp;alone&nbsp;the&nbsp;girl&nbsp;who&nbsp;was&nbsp;already&nbsp;stealing&nbsp;my&nbsp;heart.During&nbsp;that&nbsp;time,&nbsp;we&nbsp;followed&nbsp;each&nbsp;other&nbsp;on&nbsp;social&nbsp;media,&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;decided&nbsp;to&nbsp;message&nbsp;her&nbsp;to&nbsp;see&nbsp;if&nbsp;she&nbsp;wanted&nbsp;to&nbsp;go&nbsp;to&nbsp;Scaremare,&nbsp;a&nbsp;haunted&nbsp;house&nbsp;event.&nbsp;She&nbsp;said&nbsp;yes,&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;thrilled.&nbsp;We&nbsp;had&nbsp;an&nbsp;amazing&nbsp;time&nbsp;that&nbsp;night&nbsp;and&nbsp;decided&nbsp;to&nbsp;keep&nbsp;hanging&nbsp;out.&nbsp;The&nbsp;more&nbsp;we&nbsp;spent&nbsp;time&nbsp;together,&nbsp;the&nbsp;closer&nbsp;we&nbsp;became.The&nbsp;moment&nbsp;I&nbsp;knew&nbsp;I&nbsp;wanted&nbsp;to&nbsp;date&nbsp;her&nbsp;was&nbsp;one&nbsp;night&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;band&nbsp;field,&nbsp;where&nbsp;we&nbsp;talked&nbsp;for&nbsp;hours.&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;falling&nbsp;for&nbsp;her,&nbsp;and&nbsp;right&nbsp;before&nbsp;Christmas&nbsp;break,&nbsp;I&nbsp;asked&nbsp;her&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;my&nbsp;girlfriend.&nbsp;She&nbsp;wanted&nbsp;to&nbsp;wait&nbsp;a&nbsp;bit,&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;respected&nbsp;that&nbsp;because&nbsp;I&nbsp;knew&nbsp;she&nbsp;was&nbsp;worth&nbsp;it.&nbsp;During&nbsp;the&nbsp;break,&nbsp;we&nbsp;texted&nbsp;and&nbsp;called&nbsp;each&nbsp;other&nbsp;constantly,&nbsp;and&nbsp;it&nbsp;became&nbsp;clear&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;heading&nbsp;toward&nbsp;a&nbsp;relationship.&nbsp;Sure&nbsp;enough,&nbsp;we&nbsp;officially&nbsp;started&nbsp;dating&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;week&nbsp;back&nbsp;from&nbsp;break.That&nbsp;spring,&nbsp;I&nbsp;fell&nbsp;deeply&nbsp;in&nbsp;love&nbsp;with&nbsp;her&nbsp;and&nbsp;told&nbsp;her&nbsp;“I&nbsp;love&nbsp;you”&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;time&nbsp;during&nbsp;spring&nbsp;break,&nbsp;knowing&nbsp;in&nbsp;my&nbsp;heart&nbsp;I&nbsp;wanted&nbsp;to&nbsp;marry&nbsp;her&nbsp;one&nbsp;day.&nbsp;Bayleigh&nbsp;became&nbsp;my&nbsp;sunshine,&nbsp;my&nbsp;favorite&nbsp;person,&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;love&nbsp;of&nbsp;my&nbsp;life.&nbsp;Over&nbsp;the&nbsp;next&nbsp;year,&nbsp;our&nbsp;love&nbsp;only&nbsp;grew&nbsp;stronger.&nbsp;Eventually&nbsp;after&nbsp;another&nbsp;year,&nbsp;I&nbsp;bought&nbsp;a&nbsp;ring,&nbsp;asked&nbsp;her&nbsp;father&nbsp;for&nbsp;his&nbsp;blessing,&nbsp;and&nbsp;proposed&nbsp;to&nbsp;her&nbsp;in&nbsp;April&nbsp;of&nbsp;2024.&nbsp;I’ve&nbsp;never&nbsp;been&nbsp;so&nbsp;sure&nbsp;of&nbsp;a&nbsp;decision&nbsp;in&nbsp;my&nbsp;life,&nbsp;except&nbsp;for&nbsp;giving&nbsp;my&nbsp;life&nbsp;to&nbsp;Christ.&nbsp;Bayleigh&nbsp;is&nbsp;the&nbsp;most&nbsp;amazing,&nbsp;beautiful&nbsp;woman&nbsp;of&nbsp;God,&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;can’t&nbsp;wait&nbsp;to&nbsp;spend&nbsp;every&nbsp;day&nbsp;with&nbsp;her.&nbsp;I&nbsp;love&nbsp;you&nbsp;most,&nbsp;Bayleigh.&nbsp;I&nbsp;win

Our Story - Michael

The first time I ever met Michael was at a Liberty University hockey game, when a group of mutual friends invited him unbeknownst to me. It might sound cliche, but after we started talking it felt like we clicked and I never wanted to stop talking to him. Later that night I requested to follow him on instagram and he followed me back, which technically means I made the first move. I was super excited and giddy that entire night with a huge smile on my face because I felt that we had a real spark and connection that night. Michael told me he was going to be at a football tailgate party the next day and I was so excited to see him again, but after looking for him the entire duration of the party he never showed up. Michael then ghosted me for 2 weeks. One day out of the blue he messaged me and asked if I wanted to go to Scaremare, our college’s Halloween haunted house. I wanted to see Michael again and eagerly agreed to it even though he had ghosted me (come to find out Michael was really sick and was in the hospital). From that point on we started dating and going on many amazing dates like sitting on the band field talking for hours, beating his butt in bowling, going to football games, watching sunsets, and so much more! I began to see how much Michael loves the Lord and continues to follow God daily. I am so blessed and grateful that I am marrying a man that is a believer in Christ and continually follows the Lord daily! I cannot wait to see how we can glorify the Lord together in our marriage. Michael makes me feel like the most important person in the room and I am super excited that I get to marry my best friend. I love you more than most Michael (finger heart), I win!

Bayleigh & Michael

Bayleigh & Michael

Photos