Capturing 7 years of love in a short story is an impossible task. But if our story had to be reduced to a few words, it would be described as an adoring friendship that can bridge continents and move mountains.

We met in 2017 as campers at Camp Loucon (a family tradition it seems). A week spent together in sports track created a foundation of friendship that quickly extended outside of camp as we talked constantly. After Liza decided to join St. Paul United Methodist Church, where Matt and the rest of the Loucon crew attended, our friendship quickly blossomed to more and we began dating in October.

For two years of high school, we got to see each other almost every day when Liza would go to Matt's house after school. Many weekends were spent at St Paul or in the basement of the Kinsers' house, but wherever we were, we were inseparable.

This could not last, however. We graduated high school and began college, attending schools nearly 4 hours apart. Distance, schedules, and the stressors of university brought the first big challenges to our relationship. The distance grew when Liza studied in DC her junior year and in Switzerland her senior year. Yet, that foundation of friendship never waivered and we reunited stronger than ever every time.

After graduating college, Matt got a job coaching in Greenville, SC and we decided that we had had enough of long distance. We moved in together in September 2023 and Matt proposed on our 6 year anniversary trip in Charleston, SC. He proposed with his grandmother's ring.

In the months since, we have gotten glimpse into married life together. There will always be struggles, but the biggest thing we have learned is that nothing is impossible with the love and respect we have for each other. We call each other 'best friend' because our friendship is what makes our love so special to us. Every day spent together is a gift and we wouldn't want to live this life without the other.

Registry