Sometimes, love shows up when you least expect it. For Peyton and Parker, it all started back at Dowling Catholic High School. They knew of each other but hadn’t actually talked—until the summer of 2020, when a mutual friend, Anna McCarty finally made the connection.

That summer, after hanging out a few times, they decided to go on their first date in September. Parker took Peyton to Centro for dinner, but what was supposed to be a casual meal turned into something much more special. They shared a pizza that never quite got eaten, because they couldn’t stop talking. Three hours flew by as they laughed, shared stories, and felt an instant connection. After dinner, they took a walk around the Des Moines Sculpture Park and ended the night at St. Augustin’s Adoration Chapel. It was there, in that peaceful space, that Peyton knew there was something different about this boy.

A month later, on October 4th, 2020, Parker took Peyton back to that same chapel and asked her to be his girlfriend. From then on, their relationship blossomed, and they shared so many amazing memories together. They led Kairos on the same team, survived high school track practices, cheered on ISU at home football games, and traveled to places like North Carolina, San Antonio, and even Scotland. They volunteered for Biking for Babies and Prairie Fire Ministries, spent summers at Sun Valley, and made unforgettable memories with college friends along the way.

Then, on December 16th, 2024, Parker brought Peyton back to the very spot where it all began—St. Augustin’s Adoration Chapel. With a heart full of love and hope, Parker asked Peyton to marry him. And, of course, she said yes!

Now, as they prepare to get married in November, their journey is just beginning. They’ll say “I do” in that same chapel, surrounded by the love that started it all, ready to start the next chapter of their beautiful story.

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