“We are all just waiting for another universe to collide with ours, to change what we can’t ourselves.” – Brianna Wiest

We all start as strangers, and five years ago, Madeline and Bryan met as such. As luck would have it, a close friend came into town to visit Bryan one May weekend in Greenville, SC. He spontaneously invited Bryan along to dinner, where he was meeting his sister to catch-up. Right before the dinner, his sister spontaneously invited Madeline to join her at dinner with her brother, and importantly, her brother’s friend. So, over tacos and margaritas, Bryan and Madeline saw their life-long partners for the very first time. Mesmerized by all of the things that make Madeline such a blessing to this world, Bryan nervously asked for her number. The first step on a journey of a thousand miles, universes colliding.

Life was strange for us. Bryan was at the beginning of medical school and Madeline was finishing up college. It would be a matter of months until our first date (and even longer for Brandy, Madeline’s cat, to accept Bryan). South Carolina would prove to be the perfect environment for our relationship. Through faith, family, friends and adventure, the groundwork of our future was set. Exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains on various backpacking trips provided a space to get to know each other peacefully and honestly. Growing together as work colleagues in medicine allowed for us to share our passion in our life’s work. Training for long-distance runs and studying for board exams taught us how to work as a team and be accountable to one another. Through the good times and especially the bad times, we came to understand and love each other in new ways. Blessed times, with great people all around us, that took life to new depths.

The challenges of a long-distance relationship have been the theme over the last two years. In 2022, Bryan matched into residency to train at Georgetown in Washington, DC, while Madeline would be in Greenville for two more years finishing medical school. And the post-covid airplane pilot shortage was in full swing. Being apart most days of the year, missing life moments, with the added stress of long hours in the hospital was extremely difficult. To cope, Madeline adopted another cat, Tito, and we relied on our Zoom date nights. Life was not all bad, we used vacation time to surf in Costa Rica and snowboard in Canada. But our relationship was tested, and we let the difficult times transform us for the better. Madeline and Bryan learned creative ways to show love and support. The bonds of our relationship were strengthened through trust. We were forced to adapt to new realities, but we never lost perspective. A year later, Bryan asked Madeline to marry him, on a mountain in the Blue Ridge, where everything first started.

Finally, after two long years, Madeline matched into residency, also at Georgetown. Go figure! Which brings us to the present moment, another stage of the journey. Starting with our union as husband and wife. And a reunion as best friends and work colleagues, in-person, in DC. Oh, and Bryan living with Madeline’s two cats for the first time ever!

We emphasize that in our story, the importance is on everyone around us, the friends and family reading this. With God at the center, it wouldn’t be possible without all of you. For this reason, we are so grateful and excited to celebrate our wedding with our community, our lifeline. Live music, plenty of dancing, food and drink should pair nicely with the beach. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

See you soon in Islamorada!

Madeline & Bryan