In the fall of 2017, Aaron and I crossed paths for the first time. To say we "met" might be a bit of a stretch – our initial encounter took place during freshman move-in week at Northwest Missouri State University. Little did we know that this brief moment would be the prelude to a story that unfolded over the next two years.

As fate would have it, we were both computer science majors residing in a co-ed dormitory. Our connection began in a quirky way – as neighbors who shared a wall. Numerous nights were spent sending messages to his roommate, now the best man at our wedding, Noah, pleading for some quiet so I could catch some much-needed sleep. Our lives were intertwined through that shared wall that echoed with their laughter and camaraderie.

Fast forward to our Junior year, and the stars aligned once again. After undergoing significant changes in my major and Aaron experiencing shifts in his relationships, we found ourselves reunited in our Web Development 2 class. The class was small, less than 15 people, creating an intimate setting for our paths to cross once more. Strangely enough, we were both single at the same time, entering the first semester of our Junior year, and both exploring the uncharted territories of Tinder and Bumble.

It's crucial to note that before our match in November 2019 (put a pin in this, we will revisit later), I had recently attended my sister's wedding. During which, I vividly remember contemplating and accepting the idea of being single until I turned 30. The vision of being the cool single aunt to future nieces or nephews was my prepared narrative – a touch dramatic, but not entirely out of character if you know me well.

Returning to the realm of dating apps, neither of us took them seriously. It was more of a playful exploration, to see what kind of matches we could attract. The stars aligned about 30 minutes before our class in early November when we matched. Talk about awkward timing! From that moment onward, we connected like old friends, as if we had known each other for a lifetime. Strangely, I hadn't seen Aaron in class for about 3-4 weeks. He had been pulling a disappearing act. Little did I know, he had just returned from appendix surgery recovery on the day we matched.

For weeks thereafter, we exchanged texts daily, delving into intimate stories, childhoods, interests, and the intricacies of our daily lives on campus. Remarkably, we still hadn't uttered a word to each other in person – both of us harboring a degree of shyness (perhaps more so on my part, as I often slipped away before he could initiate a conversation).

By winter break, Aaron asked me out on a date initially scheduled for December 26th – or so I thought. A last-minute rescheduling pushed it to the 28th, but it turned out to be a fantastic date. He invited me to a movie and pizza at his favorite downtown spot, Artego’s. With limited movie options, we embarked on a Star Wars journey with "The Rise of Skywalker." I had never seen a Star Wars movie before, but it didn’t stop the excitement. On this date, Aaron also met my parents for the first time. I casually invited him in – not fully grasping the potential awkwardness – while my dad attempted to lure him into watching the original Star Wars movie. We skillfully evaded, heading downtown for pizza, where I let him geek out and educate me on the history of Star Wars before the movie. I think this is the moment Aaron would say he fell in love with me.

The most memorable part of our first date was navigating through the rain-soaked streets from Downtown to AMC Barrywoods 24 (which also has some significance, since as you would have it, we currently live in the apartments right behind this movie theatre 4 years later). We narrowly avoided crashing the car two or three times, making wrong turns in the downpour. It was our first test of adversity, and we passed it with flying colors.

In conclusion, on January 8, 2020, after a night of hanging out and meeting my brother for the first time, Aaron asked me to be his girlfriend. Without hesitation, I gladly said yes. The rest, as they say, is history.

Ceremony & Reception