Fall 2017

Luke and Emma both attended Bentonville West High School, and Luke seemed to notice Emma's dashing good looks over the course of their first year at the school. Eventually, after crushing on a girl he never said a word to, Luke mustered up the courage to DM Emma on Instagram. After a few more awkward conversations at school and over Instagram, Luke and Emma got a tad bit more serious, and started talking to each other every day. Little did Luke know, Emma had a few other guys who seemed to be interested in her as well, but he was obviously dearest to her heart. And there was one thing that Emma told her mom which put him above all the other prospects, he played the guitar. Not long after, Luke asked Emma to go hang out at Starbucks after school on Tuesday that week. Emma countered with ice cream on Friday, and the first date was set. She picked him up from school (Luke was a mere 15 years old), and they headed off to the corner booth of Spark Cafe in downtown Bentonville. Luke made sure to pay for Emma's 1 dollar ice cream, and they talked, laughed, and sat in their own world for an hour, and it was wonderful. Throughout the next two weeks they hung out all the time, even spending 6 straight hours on a Saturday talking on a porch swing in Emma's backyard. Then, on September 11th, 2017, Luke asked Emma to go steady with him while swinging at the neighborhood playground.

2017-2019

Luke and Emma continued to date all throughout their high school years. In honor of their beloved day on the porch swing, Luke and Emma made it a tradition to see each other every Saturday. Emma was a cheerleader, Luke played basketball, and they made countless memories doing all the typical high school things, but it was even better because they got to do it together. In the same time, they happily celebrated their first and second year anniversaries.

2019-2020

Emma headed off to college at the U of A, while Luke was left finishing his senior year in high school. The distance was hard, but they made it work. Luke would come see Emma at her dorm, and Emma drove to watch Luke's basketball games in addition to making it back to Bentonville for Saturdays with Luke. When COVID hit, the world shut down and everyone went home, but Emma and Luke got to spend so much more time together. They fell in love with hiking at the Buffalo River, playing Catan with Luke's parents, and Emma even taught Luke how to do a handstand.

2020-2023

Ah. The college years. Luke and Emma continued to date throughout all of college. Luke rushed BYX, and Emma was a Pi Phi. Both of them led cell groups with Fellowship Bentonville and gave their Wednesday nights to care for the next generation of believers. Many memories came from these years. One would have to be the best anniversary they ever had. It was 2021, and they were celebrating 4 years together. Luke and Emma went to the Buffalo River in the morning to explore and get quality time together. After lunch, they headed back to Fayetteville to change and go to the Arkansas Texas football game. They happened to get the best seats, sitting next to both Emma and Luke's friends. After a Hog victory, they rushed the field alongside their friends and classmates. It was epic. While we are on the topic of Arkansas sports, Emma and Luke also loved going to basketball games together. They would get up at 5am to go stand in line, they would annually dress up in Shark costumes, and they met up for a hug and a picture on the court after Arkansas beat #1 ranked Auburn. That was epic too. Luke and Emma, alongside her parents, also got to see some incredible football games when going to watch the Chiefs play. They both love cheering on the Chiefs, even though Luke's number one team will always be the Cowboys. Luke and Emma spent many hours at her house hanging out with her roommates. There were 7 of them, so sometimes they had no choice. They loved being with them while making Crumbl runs, watching movies, and sometimes playing in the snow. Occasionally Luke's friends would come over too to play games, or once to surprise Luke for his 20th birthday. Luke and Emma traveled together to Nashville, San Antonio, and Chicago for BYX formal. They ate great food, danced their hearts out, and made memories with lifelong friends.

Engagement

Luke proposed to Emma on May 11th, and of course, she said yes. Emma's future maid of honor went with Emma to visit their wedding venue, all according to Luke's plan. Luke surprised her there, and got down on one knee by the pond on the property. Luke gave Emma a book full of letters he wrote every day for one month leading up to the proposal, and full of pictures from their relationship. It was a wonderful day. Took them long enough! The next day, Emma graduated college and got to walk with a ring on her finger. Now, Emma and Luke are planning the wedding, while Emma teaches art at Grimsley Junior High in Bentonville, and Luke is finishing up his senior year of college by working as a social work intern for Ozark Guidance. Luke and Emma are so excited to celebrate their marriage with you on June 15th, and forever.