We first met on a Monday night at our Young Adult group at church. We shared a few laughs here and there but nothing really happened at first. But then something changed...

(Caleb's POV)

Monday night at church group, we decided to have a fellowship night where we all hang out, play games, and listen to music outside. It happened to be Caitlin's birthday, which I didn't know until after. Some country songs came on, and Caitlin danced country swing with her friend Brayleigh. I smoothly dropped in a comment to her about how I didn't know how to dance (which was true, at the time). However, it worked out in my favor, and Caitlin asked if she could teach me how to two-step. I politely accepted and made a complete fool of myself, stepping on her feet and bumping her head, trying to look at my stumbling feet. We laughed (mostly at me), joked, and smiled through a few songs as she taught me how to dance. It was the first time I looked at her and felt a connection. I, for the first time in a year of knowing her, noticed the dimples on her face when she smiled, and the way she looked at me when I would learn a new dance move. I was having so much fun dancing and talking with her. I thought to myself, "I'd love to go on a date with her, she's so fun!". I was pretty sure she wasn't interested in me, but she came around pretty quickly...... (I'm happy to report that we've done lots of dancing since! To Caitlin's dismay, I'm still not very good.)

(Caitlin's POV)

Our Monday night group had a Christmas party, and Caleb and I spent a lot of time just hanging out and talking (flirting) just us two. At some point in the night, I looked around and realized Caleb and I were the only two outside, sitting by the fire, talking and laughing (flirting). That was when I realized how easy it was to talk with him and just how much I enjoyed being close to him. The next week, our friend Brayleigh pulled me into her office and asked me what I would think about going on a date with Caleb (she saw us by the fire). I told her I wasn't sure how it would go because I didn't know if he was interested in me like that, but that I would absolutely say yes.

(Caleb's POV)

Caitlin and I started texting and talking a lot more outside of church group. We would go to the gym every evening, and talk a lot on Wednesday nights after serving at youth group. I went on a trip to Cabo San Lucas with my Dad (shoutout Father), and the day I got back, we had youth group. Caitlin got in her car and drove away and I was a little sad since I wanted to ask her to go get ice cream or something, looking for an excuse to hang out. I opened the door to my car, and my phone rang. Caitlin called to ask me to go get Cane's (the chicken place). She was down bad for me, so anyway I agreed and we went to Cane's and talked for a couple of hours until they closed. Two days later, I flew to Tokyo with my family, so I couldn't ask her out then. I made it a point to ask her out on my earliest free day after, which was Friday, March 22. So the day before, I worked up the courage and sent a text asking if I could steal her the next evening. She gladly agreed and we had a wonderful evening, we had dinner at an Italian restaurant, went mini golfing, and then went dancing (I know, shocker). We had a great time! Definitely one of my favorite memories with my lifelong best friend.

We went on our first date on March 22nd, 2024, and we've been inseparable ever since! Caleb proposed on December 24th, 2024 (277 days after our first date!) and I think you all know the rest!

Photos