.....they took a midnight train (southwest and spirit airlines) going to Miami (Don't Stop Believin', thank you Journey).

Chris and I have two different stories of how we met on 8/24/19, but we'll stick with the bride's bc it's the better one.

Lauren went on a last minute girls trip to Miami with her bestie and now bridesmaid, Tristyn. Chris planned a last minute guys trip to Miami with his best friend and now groomsmen, Ajay and other friend J.T.

It was a rainy day and they both decided to go to the Fountainbleau pool bar to day drink. Little did they know their worlds were about to collide and be changed forever.

Chris was very coy upon meeting Lauren. He said hi to her and basically acted like he wasn't interested, until he saw his chance when she pulled out her phone for a selfie with Tristyn. He walked right on over and asked to take their picture.

Chris told Lauren he could tell she wasn't smiling big enough and that she deserved to be smiling big. He read her bc she was stood up on a date earlier that day... a true story and humbling experience Lol.

Lauren and Chris began talking and she was intrigued. No numbers were exchanged. Lauren went back to her hotel room and opened up Bumble (dating app) and Chris's profile popped up. She exclaimed to Tristyn, "Is this the guy from the Fountainbleau bar?!" So she swiped right, they began talking, and a long distance connection was born.

He asked her on a date to a wedding in Chicago on his birthday weekend, 10/10/19, and now they are planning theirs on June 15th, 2024.

They have lived in 4 cities together (in 1 year- OMG) ~ Chicago, Baton Rouge, Denver, and now Nashville.

If you look on the map, Nashville is right in the center of Illinois and Louisiana.

Never in Lauren's wildest dreams did she think her city boy would turn country . . . but she definitely prayed for it, and now Chris is singing country music and saying "y'all", prayers answered! Thank you Jesus. :)

We both say God was playing chess the day we met, bc what are the chances that 2 strangers from 2 completely different parts of the country meet at that EXACT moment. Serendipity and Divine Intervention if you ask me.