I'll begin by saying this: there’s no denying that God's timing is always perfect.

Matt and I met on February 26th, 2023, during a photoshoot for our church’s young adult ministry (The 508). At that time, I had been attending Connect Church for about eight months, running in the same circles, yet we had never crossed paths. After the photoshoot, the girls, Matt, and I stuck around, chatting about all the important topics—country music, the food industry, meal prepping, and so on. Keep in mind, during this season, I was in a relationship, and Matt had recently come out of one.

As time passed, we became friends. We watched each other navigate breakups, dates, travels, and personal growth. Through it all, we supported and encouraged each other, just as good friends would. With every season, our friendship remained strong.

Spontaneous plans were a regular part of our friendship. On December 26th, 2023, we decided to take an impromptu trip to a restaurant in Boston. It was supposed to be a group of three, until our friend conveniently "couldn’t make it." And suddenly, it was just Matt and me. Conversations flowed effortlessly, and at one point, I blurted out, "This kind of feels like a date," followed by an awkward laugh—surprised by my own words. But it was true; it was a date, and it was hands down the best one I’d ever been on. From that moment on, I started to pick up on Matt's intentions. As time passed, he confidently pursued a relationship with me.

Now, here we are, just a couple of months away from saying "I do" under the Tuscan sun.

God is always on-time. We say this not only because we believe it, but also because Matt and I have run in the same circles for much of our lives. Yet, God never allowed our paths to align until it was according to His perfect timing. We can both attest that getting to where we are today wasn't without its challenges—tears were shed, heartbreaks happened, prayers were prayed, but hope prevailed. God answered our prayers and delivered far better than we could have ever imagined.

We can't wait to celebrate our love story with you.

It's been one helluva ride in my rear view,

But I thank the good Lord for the detours to you.

With love,

Luma and Matthew