Grayson and Jenna's story began almost a decade ago at Grand Valley State University, a picturesque campus nestled in the heart of Michigan. It was the fall of 2012, and the air was crisp with the promise of a new academic year.

Grayson, an easygoing and charismatic guy with a passion for music, was navigating his way through the bustling campus for his senior year. Jenna, an ambitious and creative soul, also majoring in music, was immersed in the excitement of a fresh start.

Fate intervened when both Grayson and Jenna added each other on Facebook and Instagram as a way to network with fellow music majors. Little did they know that this course would be the catalyst for a beautiful connection that would later help them to reconnect. The first day Jenna remembers seeing Grayson, he was pulling up to park on his red motorcycle, pulled his helmet off, and Jenna thought he was the most handsome man she had ever seen.

As the semester unfolded, Grayson and Jenna found themselves only engaging on social media when liking one another’s posts. During that time, Grayson was part of an elite GVSU choral ensemble with Jenna’s older sister (Jera). After Grayson graduated, Jenna had joined the same group; however, their time in the choral ensemble did not overlap.

As the seasons changed, so did their involvement with one another. Grayson took a teaching job in North Carolina for 4 years before returning to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Jenna remained in Michigan and taught in New Era, Michigan. For years, Grayson and Jenna remained friends on social media platforms and continued to like each other’s posts.

At the start of fall 2022, almost 10 years later, Grayson saw Jenna’s profile on a dating app, which she reluctantly made. He wrote her name on a sticky note with a question mark and put it at the top of his computer screen. The sticky note remained there for a couple weeks before Grayson decided to message Jenna on Facebook.

As soon as Jenna saw Grayson’s message on Facebook, she promptly screenshot the message and sent it directly to her older sister, Jera. Jera said, “do you know who that is?!” and Jenna responded, “Yeah, its Grayson from GV”. Her older sister emphasized her statement and said, “it’s Grayson Barton – he was the cutest guy in the PAC (Performing Arts Center)!” Jenna responded by saying, “Yeah, I know.” Jera then asked if Jenna would seriously go on a date with him. Jenna noted that it would be fun to go on a date with the ‘cutest guy from the PAC’ almost 10 years later. Furthermore, Jenna stated that the date “wouldn’t go anywhere”.

Grayson and Jenna's first date unfolded in a most unexpected setting – a beautiful wedding of a friend of Jenna. The venue was adorned with fairy lights, and the air buzzed with joy and celebration. Both Grayson and Jenna, dressed in their finest attire, felt the excitement in the air as they navigated through the elegantly decorated venue.

As the ceremony concluded, the reception began, and Grayson offered Jenna his arm as they strolled towards the dance floor. The ambiance was enchanting, with the soft glow of the lights creating a magical atmosphere. They found themselves swaying to the music, surrounded by the laughter and cheers of the wedding guests.

The photographer, a keen observer of love stories, noticed the chemistry between Grayson and Jenna. Intrigued by the genuine connection they shared, the photographer discreetly captured a candid moment of the couple lost in each other's eyes. The click of the camera froze a snapshot of their budding romance.

A few weeks later, the bride reached out to Jenna and asked how it was going with “the cute guy she brought to the wedding” and shared a picture the bride received from the photographer - a candid shot taken during their first date. The image, frozen in time, perfectly captured the magic of that evening. It became a cherished memory, a reminder of the serendipity that brought them together at a wedding, surrounded by love and captured by the lens of a perceptive photographer.

*Photo at the top of the page is the photo that was taken at the beautiful wedding of Mike and Molly*

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