13 years. It took you 13 years to pop the question?

Madison and Justin first met when they were still learning how to tie their shoes. Madison was the cute soccer player that Justin crushed on for the first time in third grade. Justin was the nerdy redhead. Both families grew up in the Maplebrook/Winding Creek neighborhoods of Naperville, sharing many common friends and experiences. In fact, one of Justin’s groomsmen even grew up next door to her and claims he was her “first kiss”. Not naming names.

Always at an arm’s length but never overly close, Madison and Justin were both in Mrs. Kozlik’s fifth grade class. A couple months into the year, the seating chart changed and Madison and Justin were sat next to each other. Justin had butterflies right away and even leaned over to his friend Max (now a groomsman standing next to him) and told him he was going to marry her. One of the smartest things he has ever said.

Now, a good story always has an element of competition. Thinking this was the best way to impress Madison, Justin ran against her in the student council race. Madison, being on student council every year thus far, was a shoe-in for the class representative, and had aspirations of becoming the school president. Justin famously took her down in a battle for the ages, and one-upped her, becoming president of the school. Let’s just say this was the first and last time he has won an argument against her. However, for Madison, not all was lost. The two ended up winning the Sportsmanship award that year at their elementary school, an honor that placed their names on a plaque in the hallway of the school forever. If only we had known what the future had in store for those two children…

In junior high school, Madison and Justin weren’t overly close, never overlapping classes or friend groups. However, that all changed in 8th grade, when the two rekindled their friendship in Spanish class. This time, it was Madison that developed the crush, as Justin was in a relationship with another individual. That didn’t stop her...she saw the man she was going to marry someday and had to step in. Hard to blame her, right?

The two ended up dating all the way through high school, attending every dance together and forming a friend group with many individuals still in their lives today. When it came time to leave for college, the two decided to give it a “break” as they worked to get adjusted to college life, Madison at Kentucky and Justin at Marquette. Notice “break” was in quotations, as the two still talked on the phone every single day and didn’t leave each other the opportunity to see other people. They ended up getting back together a few months later, and have been together ever since.

In college, the two grew as individuals, while also strengthening their bond together. They changed. Their friend groups changed. Their interests expanded and their desires for life moved in various directions. However, the one thing that didn’t change is their loyalty and dedication to each other. That loyalty is the fire that has burned true in their relationship all of these years, and it’s the thing that paced them through 6 years of a long-distance relationship. You see, instead of allowing the distance to interfere, they used it as opportunities to grow as individuals, join new groups, and meet new people that they otherwise would likely not have. All of those new experiences were unique to each person…but the two still found ways to gravitate back to each other. They visited each other every opportunity they could and became ingrained in the new “life” that each had made. They made it work.

Now here we are 13 years after Madison decided to take a stab at a man in a relationship. She has since moved to Chicago and the two have formed a new, everlasting life together now that long-distance is forever ended. They have formed a bond that will last forever.

Thank you for being a part of this wacky journey, and aiding in our growth as individuals and as a couple. We cannot wait to celebrate with you on July 1, 2023!

M&J

Wedding Day

4:00 PM

Ceremony

4:30 PM

Cocktail Hour

5:30 PM

Reception