We met in Meridian in mid-2025 as I (John) was in town celebrating my dad's 65th birthday. I was staying nearby—originally planning a quick trip to Oxford, MS for an Ole Miss baseball regional—but Ole Miss losing caused a last-minute schedule change that kept me in town an extra day. Lauren was also in Meridian that weekend after postponing a visit to see her grandparents when her sister fell ill. We both happened to be on the same dating app and matched because of our proximity.

The night before we met, I was staying at an extra room at the assisted living facility where my grandparents lived. I asked the assisted-living director to turn down a neighbor’s TV while I was trying to sleep; it turned out the director was Lauren’s mother. Good thing I was polite about it...

We started talking, met in person two weeks later, and the rest felt natural—dating soon after and getting engaged eight months later. We both strongly believe God brought us together, and we’re excited to celebrate with family and friends in Meridian on July 11, 2026.

Registry