“Marry your best friend” -they Our story starts with food, as any good story should. Jess was going to get pho and Josh thought he was invited (she did not know he was coming). It was a fun meal, but this was 2016, and if any of you knew either of us back then you would know that Jess would not have dated Josh at the time. So let’s skip a few years!

The year is 2021, we reconnected because our birthdays happened at the beginning and end of April. We solidified our friendship over another wonderful meal. This was the trend for a long time. Jess and Josh would get food and also show up for random life events along the way.

After multiple moves, many bad haircuts (for Josh), and meals after church Josh found himself losing sleep overthinking conversations and interactions with a throughline that Jess was someone special. Jess on the other hand was completely oblivious and had Josh firmly in the friend zone, until one evening.

Willing to risk it all, Josh finally told Jess how he felt. Even though his words were jumbled and his anxiety was at an all time high, Jess said yes to a date (Josh was ecstatic).

Over the next year the two would change their best friendship to a romance that withstood Josh going to Africa for 3 weeks, grad school, a tornado of family events and responsibilities, and all the while their teamwork is stronger than ever. Jess and Josh now are headed towards their wedding day and they are so excited to have you, dear reader, to be a part of their marriage thereafter.