If you ever get a chance for us to tell this to you in person, let us. We LOVE going back and forth sharing this story with others :) Here is the abridged version.

We met at a pirate themed murder mystery where we were assigned to be each other's love interests. Ellie was scared Bryan wouldn't commit to his role, but the minute he offered his arm to her and they took a stroll about the room, she knew her fears were ill-founded. Bryan says he clearly remembers his heart skipping a beat at that first touch of their arms.

The night went on and neither felt that they could get enough time with the other. They were strangers, yet there was so much familiarity between them.

The night ended without names being exchanged. Ellie had hoped what she felt between them was shared. She went home and prayed that the Lord would be kind enough to grant them a run-in in the future.

5 months passed with nothing... until one day at Mango Tree (our favorite coffee shop.) Bryan would often work from there on Tuesday's, and Ellie would frequent the establishment because her work was down the street. A random Tuesday they happened to be there at the same time. Ellie looked up from her seat and immediately recognized "her pirate". Bryan remembers continuously catching the eyes of a cute girl but couldn't place where he knew the face from.

They left without exchanging a word to one another, again.

Talking to a friend a week later about her love life, Ellie jokingly brought up her run-in with her long-lost crush. The friend encouraged Ellie to reach out to Heather who hosted the murder mystery months prior. After much debate, Ellie did.

We would be remiss to not mention how much of a wing women Heather Wilking was in this process. Not only did she jump at the opportunity to find a way to get Bryan and Ellie in a room together, she went out of her way to encourage the two of them to speak. More on that in a moment.

After lots of back and forth, the event was set. Bryan, being a cancer survivor, celebrates the anniversary of his final chemo session every year. It was less than two weeks after Ellie sent the text to Heather. So, Ellie decided to crash his BBQ.

Ellie didn't know that another friend (shout out to Natasha) reached out to Bryan and after clarifying that she wanted to bring a "single female friend" Bryan said yes, for of course single females were welcome at his event.

At the BBQ, Ellie racked her brain as to how she was going to find a way to talk to Bryan, as he was the one everyone came to celebrate. She just prayed the Lord would give her courage (lol).

Ellie had specifically asked Heather not to mention anything to Bryan, and like any good friend, she ignored Ellie's desires. While Bryan didn't know the name "Ellie", he did remember the girl who was his love interest all those months ago. When the moment presented itself, he went to her and started talking.

To no one's surprise, they hit it off. After exchanging names for the first time, they talked about dogs, family (they are both the oldest of 5 kids), books, and Jesus. People continued to steal Bryan away, but he would visit with his guests and return to Ellie.

The day came and went, and Ellie decided it was time to leave. She hadn't received his number, but she was content with the progress she had made, knowing if the Lord willed this, He would make a way.

Bryan had wanted to grab Ellie's number, but as she was getting ready to leave another guest came over to Bryan to say hello. He felt that it would be awkward to ask for her number in front of others, but he could not let her get away again.

Ellie always jokes that Bryan ran halfway across Wash Park to reach her. It was more like 30 feet, and a slow jaunt, but I digress.

When Bryan caught up to Ellie he asked for her number. Ellie says she played it cool. Bryan knows that her childish grin could be seen from space.

Less than 20 min later, Ellie received a text from Bryan asking her to dinner. That first week they went on 4 dates and decided to make it official soon after.

The rest is history. Bryan and Ellie fell in love quick. Bryan proposed in Central Park on Manhattan Island, NYC; Ellie, of course, said yes.

B&E

Reception!