Our story has humble beginnings. It wasn’t love at first sight. Watching football at a friend’s house, Madison began to pique Daniel’s interest. The football game may have piqued it more. As Daniel looked harder, his interest grew. Who was this beautiful redhead who loved God and loved the people around her? As Madison saw Daniel out of the corner of her eye, her interest grew… a little. Who was this guy who kept showing up at the edge of her view?

Then Daniel began to pursue Madison. Staying true to himself, it was slow and a touch unusual: a spontaneous date that was neither spontaneous nor a date; interrupted ask outs; three weeks away at a work trip where, in defiance of all wise advice, he decided never to call her. But even in Daniel’s failures, God’s providential hand was slowly at work. Madison’s interest was growing; her heart warming to the idea of a relationship. Finally, in June 2023, we began to officially date.

To the outside observer, whatever drama and glamor are in our story largely stopped there. For us who lived it, the work had just begun. The next six months were spent slowly learning to trust and to love each other. Friends, family, and the community of our local church in Washington DC were invaluable parts of our relationship. But more than that, as we learned to love and care for one another in the midst of our sin, our struggles, and our sacrifices, we saw how our love for each other had to be rooted in the redeeming love of a Savior who would humble Himself, come to us in our weakness and wrongness, and sacrifice Himself for our sakes. It is His love that we earnestly hope our marriage most displays.

In January 2024 we decided that we wanted to get married. The next month was spent waiting on a ring and, for Daniel, engaging in mild psychological warfare to make sure Madison was surprised when the proposal came. On the big night we had a long walk down the National Mall, past several close friends with conveniently pre-arranged words of encouragement, and onto a small island beneath a willow where Daniel went down on one knee. Like the rest of our relationship, it was rooted in DC, spurred on by community, and conducted under the arms of One who reached from the heavens to the earth to be near us.

And this, dear friends, is where you become a part of our story. On September 21, at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC, Madison and I intend to be married. We would be overjoyed if you were a part of that: witnesses to our covenant and friends in our celebration.

Registry

Please note that we will have a basket for any cards given at the wedding! For those sending gifts to Madison's apartment, please write your name so we know who to thank :) Thanks!