From just friends to homecoming dates, from more than friends to high school sweethearts, and from long distance relationships to buying the first house together, Rachael and Kyle feel like they have been through it all even before beginning the biggest and most exciting chapter of their lives.

Growing up in Danville only a mile from each other, the couple first became friends back in middle school. It took some time, multiple awkward school dances and movie nights with groups but that friendship finally turned into something more. Midway through junior year of high school, they finally realized that the friendship wasn’t enough and started dating. After that, high school flew by with too many amazing memories and falling in love. However, they both knew that at the end of high school the dreaded nightmare of long distance was ahead with Rachael going to IUP and Kyle going 5 hours further to Dayton.

Whether it was by stealing friends/family cars, driving through late night snowstorms, or even hopping on a Greyhound bus, they figured the ways out to beat the odds of a long distance relationship. College was inevitably tough being apart, however they not only made it work but made our relationship stronger throughout the long 4 years and made some unforgettable college memories along the way.

After graduation, the long distance continued as Kyle moved to Red Bank, NJ to start his engineering career with USG and Rachael moved back to Danville to start her nursing career at Geisinger. This led to a new test for them as Kyle worked during the days and Rachael started working all night shifts which meant limited talking time along with not getting to see each other. The back and forth drives continued in order to make sure distance wouldn’t keep them apart until finally, after 2 years of separation (6 if combined with college) Rachael got a traveling nursing job in NJ and moved in with Kyle. This started the next chapter of their lives of living together and learning those new tendencies that every couple learns when first moving in together: who cooks the best meals (Rachael), who makes the bed (Kyle), who is more decisive (neither..).

Though they loved living in Red Bank, they decided that Virginia was next on the journey when Kyle got offered a job with Holder in northern VA and they moved to Leesburg. They quickly fell in love with the town and all the beautiful areas around it. This past August, they took a trip to Luray, VA down in the Shenandoah Valley. Kyle booked a little cabin that was surrounded by the blue ridge mountains. To Rachael’s surprise when they arrived at the cabin there was a back deck that was full of lights, candles and pictures of them throughout their eight years of dating (thanks again Kelsey). When Kyle got down on one knee to ask Rachael to marry him, it was the easiest question she ever had to answer.

Since our engagement, we bought a home together here in Leesburg,VA and are actively planning for the big day and our future as a married couple! We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the couple’s story!

For our honeymoon we are going to St. Lucia! If you would like contribute to it please contact Travel by Kelly at 401-396-5337 or travelbykellyb@gmail.com.