Fifteen years ago Zach and his family traveled to Texas to visit their distant cousins, the Johnsons (this is where Kelsey always adamantly explains that we are not in any way, shape, or form related to one another!!) Upon spending a few days visiting with family, the Smiths were introduced to the Harkins family. Keep in mind Zach was in high school and Kelsey was in middle school. So as you can imagine there were no sparks... yet.

We became Facebook friends and would occasionally "like" each other's posts, sometimes say "happy birthday," but overall our interactions were limited and ultimately platonic... for now.

In 2019, Robin and Maci (the Johnsons) approached both of us individually, saying they wanted to set us up. Though neither of us had a real reason to turn the offer down, we didn't pursue.

According to Zach:

Then in middle of a global pandemic, something changed. Since we were several states away, in-person communication wasn't happening, but that was ok because it wasn't happening for anyone. On May 29, 2020 I posted about my best friend's (and now Best Man's) birthday on Facebook. Kelsey was thoroughly confused as to why I was saying "Happy Birthday" to myself but she "didn't know" my best friend and I have the same name. To clarify (allegedly), Kelsey messaged me asking if I was saying "happy birthday" to myself.

Her inquiry led to messaging back and forth for over a week. I loved her humor and her willingness to call me out. That's when I first started thinking, "I think this is going somewhere..."

According to Kelsey:

I remember thinking Zach was handsome when the Johnson's wanted to set us up, but I told them then, "Yeah he's handsome, but I'm not making the first move. If we end up talking it's going to be because he initiates..." Well I think I unintentionally made the first move. Zach is convinced it was purposeful, but really it was just a lucky mistake.

On May 29, 2020 in the middle of a pandemic, I was bored at home watching people's Facebook stories (which is something I very rarely do), and I happened to see Zach had posted. In his post I thought he was saying it was his birthday and to tell him happy birthday. I thought, "Well that's kind of weird. Posting about your own birthday and telling people to tell you happy birthday, but okay to each their own." So I messaged him... and then I realized he had circled the person next to him, Zach Grider, and was saying to tell his best friend happy birthday. Cue the embarrassment.

Zach Smith however, has a great sense of humor and took my embarrassment in stride and kept the conversation going. He made me laugh so much and I really enjoyed our conversations, I had no idea where it would lead, but he was so fun to visit with. Soon we were Facetiming for hours every day, talking about what we remembered from the Smith's visit to Texas and about each other's family. Maci found out Zach and I had been talking and decided to help us along by making arrangements for me, Maci, and Hayden to go to Kentucky to see Zach.

According to Us:

Once we reconnected in Kentucky we both knew almost right away this was "it." One of the first nights there I, Kelsey, remember Maci asking me before we went to sleep, "Do you like him? You think y'all will be together?" to which I responded, "Oh yeah. I'm just nervous he won't like me as much as I like him already." Thankfully for the both of us the feelings were mutual. We spent a few days in Kentucky seeing family, meeting friends, playing games and going on our first date! We both agree we'd never smiled or laughed as much in our life.

After a few days in the Blue Grass we all headed back to Texas for us to spend the rest of the week together. We saw family, had an at home drive in movie at the Harkins' land, and took Zach's first trip to Magnolia- a place we've now agreed will be a yearly visit. During our time in Texas we decided to make things official (and at this point we had both secretly decided we were going to marry each other.) We road-tripped across Texas spending time in Kelsey's hometown, going by the place we first met fifteen years ago, going to Magnolia, going to see family in San Angelo, and finally making our way to Kelsey's home in Abilene. We celebrated the 4th of July with friends and got to go to church together before Zach had to head back to Kentucky. We had the bright idea of going to the early church service so we could have breakfast together before Zach had to catch his flight; the only problem with that was we apparently took a little too long enjoying breakfast at the good 'ol Cracker Barrel and Zach missed his flight!! So we quickly drove to Dallas inviting along 2 complete strangers who also missed their flight out of Abilene and got to enjoy a few more hours in the car together. By the time Zach left we had both decided this was it for us, we wanted to be together and we knew we had found who we wanted to spend our life with. We guess what they say is right, "When you know, you know."

Fast forward to a few more flights and visits in Kentucky and Texas. Plans had been in the making since the first trip for Zach, Kelsey, Maci, and Hayden to take another trip in the fall. As plans developed, we added a few more travelers including Bethany (Kelsey's best friend), Zach Grider (Zach's best friend), Sydney and Kenzie (Kelsey's younger sisters). Plans were forming and this was bound to be a BLAST! With that said, Zach knew this HAD to be the proposal weekend. So, naturally a photographer was booked and Zach hijacked the itinerary so he would be able to plan every moment of the weekend. He might have even stressed Kelsey out about coordinating outfits for Biltmore. Still, Kelsey had no idea.

Probably about a week before the trip, Zach called Kelsey (as he does most mornings) on his way to work. He told her about a terrible dream that included the two fighting. To ease his mind, Kelsey shared her dream that included a romantic proposal at Biltmore. That's when he knew it should happen at Biltmore and it's a good thing because it was already planned out!

Asheville was such a fun time spending it together with best friends and family, but the visit to Biltmore will forever be unforgettable. After touring the illustrious mansion, a "practice" getting down on one knee meant to throw Kelsey off, a short walk in the gardens, it was soon time to rendezvous with the photographer. Kelsey was a little upset she didn't get enough time in the gardens, but we started heading to THE SPOT. When we got there, Zach Grider knew his role was to "take a picture" of us with the Biltmore mansion in the background. After convincing Kelsey that our pose wasn't weird, Zach said, "Do you remember your dream last week? The dream about Biltmore...I want to make ALL your dreams come true." Then he knelt down.

After that it's all a little blurry because Zach was nervous and Kelsey was excited, but we can confirm he popped the question and she said "YES!", we just aren't sure of the order.

The photographer took us around the estate and gave us time alone, but also photographed some sweet moments of us after the big event! We shared the rest of our evening facetiming parents to share the news, dining with the gang, then coming back to the cabin and playing games and sharing stories.

We could not ask for a better story, but this is just a small chapter in what we hope is a book filled with love, laughter, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit! We look forward to celebrating our marriage with you in Atkins, Arkansas at Meadow on the Mountain on April 3, 2021.