Jonathan & Kailey grew up in the suburbs of North West Houston in Cypress, Texas. Their houses were a mere 4 blocks apart in the neighborhood of Copperfield with just a minute-long-drive between them! They never knew it until they were in college together.

Pictured: Jonathan with his younger brothers, Jacob & Jonah; Kailey with her younger sisters, Ellie & Natalie.

Jonathan & Kailey have a long list of oddly-similar-fun-facts...but one of the most notable and special one is they are both the oldest of three siblings in their families. Jonathan is the oldest of three sons, and Kailey is the oldest of three daughters. Living together for the first time should prove to be an adventure coming from one predominately male-household and one predominately female-household!

Pictured Above: Jonathan's mother, Amy, hugging Kailey at a choir concert, circa 2013

Jonathan's mother, Amy, was Kailey's first choir teacher as she entered the 6th grade at Labay Middle School in Cy-Fair ISD. Kailey fell in love with singing in choir during her time as Amy's student, and this would prove to change the course of her life as the years went by. Kailey would indeed see small glimpses of Jonathan during this time when he would hang out in his mother's choir room or attend the concerts, but they never officially met during this time.

Pictured Above: Jonathan & Kailey in their high school letter jackets. They both lettered in choir and are decked our in All-State patches!

Jonathan & Kailey attended different High Schools and upon Jonathan beginning his freshman year he joined choir for the first time! This would result in Jonathan & Kailey seeing each other at countless All-State Choir auditions and other district choir events. They would somewhat recognize each other and wave hello from time to time during these short encounters.

Spring 2017: Kailey graduates from Cy Falls High School and begins college at Baylor University. She decides to major in Choral Music Education to become a middle school choir director!

Pictured Above: Jonathan's mom, Amy, and Kailey after the Baylor A Cappella Choir rehearsal.

Fall 2018: During the fall of Kailey's sophomore year at Baylor, Jonathan and his parents take a trip up to Waco to tour and visit Baylor. Jonathan was considering becoming a music major at Baylor as well, and he sits in on a Baylor A Cappella rehearsal where Kailey is singing soprano! Kailey goes up to Jonathan and his parents after the rehearsal and gives Jonathan's mom (her former choir teacher) a big hug and snaps a photo with her. Jonathan and Kailey are officially introduced and even exchange phone numbers in case Jonathan has any questions about Baylor and the audition process. A few months later they see each other again at Jonathan's audition for the Baylor School of Music.

P.S. Jonathan texts Kailey A LOT of questions leading up to his freshman year at Baylor about dorm information, classes to take, supplies he needs, etc. Kailey finds it sweet and helps him with anything he asks😊

Spring 2019: Jonathan graduates from Cy Ranch High School and begins college at Baylor University. He also decides to major in Choral Music Education just like a few of his family members. Both his mother & father were music majors at Baylor who met, got married and became choir directors together. His grandfather and grandmother were ALSO both music majors at Baylor who met, got married and became choir directors too. Jonathan comes from a rich history or Baylor musicians and he is proud to follow in their footsteps and continue the legacy!

Spoiler alert....he will meet his future spouse in the Baylor School of Music too!

Pictures Above: Kailey working at the front desk of Jonathan's dorm.

Fall 2019: Jonathan & Kailey are finally at Baylor together. Kailey quickly becomes as friendly familiar face who Jonathan sees often. Jonathan & Kailey are in the same voice studio taking voice lessons from Dr. Robert Best. Jonathan & Kailey both sing in the same church choir at 7th & James Baptist Church. Kailey also works at the front desk of Jonathan's dorm in which Jonathan seems to always be in the lobby right when her shifts start....🤔

Pictured Above: Jonathan & Kailey singing a duet at Seventh & James.

As the school year continues, Jonathan & Kailey go from acquaintances to close friends. One of their favorite spots to this day is Seventh & James Baptist Church where they singing in the church choir. This place is woven into Jonathan's family history as his mother's family were members there as she was a child and his grandfather was the music minister during his time as a choir director at Baylor. His parents were even married in the Sanctuary of this special church, and singing there each Sunday brings a sense of home. Even today, Jonathan & Kailey adore and treasure the people and community they found during their own time at Seventh & James. They will eventually ask pastor of this amazing church, Erin Conoway, to officiate their wedding this November.

Pictured Above: Jonathan at The Mix Cafe with Kailey after arriving back from TMEA together.

Spring 2020: By the Spring of Jonathan's freshman year & Kailey's junior year, they have become absolute best friends attached at the hip wherever they go. This would mark the beginning of a once in a lifetime friendship filled with many late night whataburger runs, going to the movies together, meeting up at the library to study, walking/carpooling to music classes together and going on long drives and talking for hours. During this time, Jonathan begins to grow a huge crush on Kailey....and Kailey is COMPLETELY unaware of this. Just as Jonathan starts to work up the potential courage to tell her...BOOM! Covid-19 hits🦠

Pictured Above: Jonathan on a quarantine walk with Kailey

Summer 2020: Jonathan & Kailey find out the news of Covid preventing Baylor Students from returning to campus for the remainder of the semester. The 2020 Quarantine in all of its glory begins and Jonathan & Kailey are away from all of their friends at Baylor...but luckily they only live a couple of blocks apart! They opt to go on long walks together through the creeks between their houses to pass the time and hang out. These walks are a nice break from the boring, dreary quarantine and chaos of the rest of the world during this time.

Pictured Above: Jonathan with Kailey at one of their favorite Waco staples, Cups!

Fall 2020: Jonathan's crush on Kailey continues to grow while Kailey continues...to have absolutely NO IDEA🤦🏽‍♀️ However, their friendship continues to blossom as they head into the Covid school year. However, Kailey meets someone else and begins a long distance relationship still unaware of Jonathan's feelings. Kailey struggles in her new relationship and goes through some very arduous months that take a mental & emotional toll. During this time, Jonathan is the 'shoulder to cry on' for her. He is there for her through it all and his friendship and loyalty never waivers for a second. It's a true testament to his character and to how much he truly cares for Kailey.

Pictured above: Kailey at her last Baylor home game her senior year running the Baylor Line!

After a whole year of concealing his true feelings, Jonathan meets up with Kailey in a practice room at Baylor and shares his feelings of affection with her for the first time. Kailey feels shocked to hear this, and also pretty guilty for not realizing it sooner. She even calls her mom afterwards in tears! Jonathan & Kailey go home for Winter Break and do not speak for a few weeks. Kailey continues to try to make things work in her current relationship and puts some distance between her and Jonathan to prevent causing any further heartache towards him. Their once vibrant friendship dwindles into a temporary pause now that Jonathan's feelings are revealed, and Kailey is still in a relationship with someone else.

Pictured Above: Jonathan & Kailey during the Snow Week of 2021 at Founders Mall (the spot where Jonathan will eventually propose to Kailey)

Winter 2021: A few months later, Kailey breaks off her relationship. She begins to rekindle her friendship with Jonathan with every intention of taking a long break from dating boys. Jonathan is happy to be there for her, and they are friends once again like old times. The Snow Week of 2021 happens and school is canceled for over a week! Jonathan & Kailey spend lots of time together during their impromptu week off from school, and one of their favorite memories is playing in the snow on Founders Mall at Baylor.

Pictured Above: Kailey at the Basketball Watch Party at McLane Stadium with her friend Maddi. Maddi was the first friend Kailey told about the kiss, and Maddi is now one of Kailey's bridesmaids.

Spring 2021: With Jonathan's feelings for Kailey now out in the open, a different energy emerges within their relationship...a flirty one! Kailey realizes that she has feelings for Jonathan and a connection like no other because of all they have been through. She relays her feelings to him and after a long time coming...they share their first kiss the same night that the Baylor Mens Basketball Team wins the National Championship!🤣 Ironically, the episode from Friends where Chandler proposes to Monica is playing at the time.

Pictured Above: Jonathan & Kailey at the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority Formal 2021 in Waco.

After a few weeks of 'Ross-and-Racheling' things, Jonathan & Kailey finally decide to begin a relationship together. They attend Kailey's sorority formal together and Jonathan asks Kailey to be his girlfriend later that week. They go on their first official date on May 1st at one of their favorite restaurants in Waco--Ninfas!

Kailey sings her last choir concert at Baylor with Jonathan singing on the stage with her. One of the pieces they perform with the Baylor Chamber Singers is "How Do I Love Thee" by Eric Nelson. The text is from a sonnet written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, a British Victorian poet, written for her husband, Robert Browning. These are the same Brownings in which the historic and beautiful Armstrong-Browning Library is named after at Baylor where Jonathan & Kailey spent dozens of Baylor Chamber Singers Rehearsals. This piece and the text will always hold an immense amount of sentimental value to them. The text has an even more important meaning to them as they are not about to be married.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace.

I love thee to the level of every day’s

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for right.

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

Picture above: Jonathan & Kailey visiting the Browning Poem in Armstrong-Browning Library a few days after getting engaged in 2023.

Pictured above: Jonathan & Kailey at Taste of Texas in Houston during their first summer of dating.

Fall 2021: Jonathan & Kailey finish out the Covid school year together and head back home for summer break. Kailey begins student teaching in the Fall of 2021. Jonathan heads back to Baylor for his junior year at Baylor and also decides to change his major to Vocal Performance with a minor in Business Administration.

This begins their 3-year-long journey of long distance!

Pictured Above: Jonathan & Kailey at their first Baylor Homecoming together

Kailey loved to visit Jonathan in Waco when she could. Weekends in Waco became a treasured tradition in their relationship. One of the most important and memorable visits was Baylor Homecoming 2021. Jonathan & Kailey attend the Baylor Homecoming Bonfire, Pigskin Revue, Parade and Football game.

This week brought them both a real sense of confirmation that they had found something truly special and everlasting between them. It was clear to them that they were meant to be and that they had found the person they wanted to be with for life. The rest is history!