Our love story began 2,000 years ago, halfway across the world, on a hill outside Jerusalem (in the Middle East) where a Jewish teacher was nailed by his hands and feet to wooden beams in the shape of a cross. Though he was the Son of God and never did anything wrong, he died a criminal's death.

That story is the only reason our story is worth telling. In that moment, Jesus Christ died so that his people wouldn’t have to. He faced the judgment for all the wrongs that we've done so that we could be forgiven and have unending life. Our love is just a reflection of his love for us.

1 John 3:16 “by this we know love, that he laid down his life for us…”

But Jesus didn’t stay dead. 3 days later, he came back to life, and he is (right now) in heaven and will come back one day to bring his people home. This is the greatest love story. And it’s our love story. Our wedding (as excited as we are about it!) is just a foreshadowing of the even better wedding feast that the Bible describes: When King Jesus comes back to claim his Bride (all those who have believed in him) so that they can be with him forever. No more sin. No more death.

We can’t wait for that day. And we want you to be there, too.

"For one will scarcely die for a righteous person - though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:7-8

This is the story of how we met. We love telling it, it's pretty amazing. But it’s just the beginning. Time and space prevent us from sharing the events from when we met until today in its entirety, but we would love to share it with you in person and rejoice in God's kindness to us in bringing us together and glorify Him for His sovereignty. So please ask us about it when you have a chance!

November 3, 2022 - I don’t know Abi even exists…
I setup a zoom call with a friend, Ryan Lowe, (who works with Abi) to get some church admin tips.


November 16, 2022 - I meet the girl of my dreams… without realizing it
I hear that “Abi” is gonna join us on the call.
Honest first thought: “She's probably some 40-year-old lady. Suddenly the screen lights up with the face of a cute girl who was definitely not 40.


November 17, 2022 - I try to forget about her…
For some reason, I couldn’t get that girl out of my head. A young lady who works for her church? And in youth ministry? 


(4 months later...)


March 27, 2023 - I hatch a genius scheme…
Knowing that Abi worked with youth (and still unable to get this mysterious girl out of my head), I invite her (along with other friends) to join me for a zoom call to discuss youth games/activities. 


April 3, 2023 - Abi doesn’t join the youth call
Still not sure if she actually had too much school to do, or if she just chickened out. “Are you closing this door, God?”


April 18, 2023 - I try a more direct approach...
Reese texts Ryan: “Hey Ryan. Asking as a single young man: do you know any reasons that I shouldn’t try to get to know Abi Lemoine better?”


Ryan texts back: “Hmm. I really like this. Let me think on it and get back with you. :)”


Cool. Now Ryan will discreetly do some reconnaissance.


(literally 1 hour later)


Text from another friend, Erik: “Dude! You got eyes on someone in New Orleans?”


Ryan, what did you do??


April 25, 2023 - Our first phone call
After some awkward Hey, how's it going? dialogue, I come to find out that we actually had more in common than just working for the church. (And somehow, I kept her on the phone for 2.5 hours!)


(1 month later...)


May 19, 2023 - We meet in-person
I come to NOLA for the LCC Young Adult's Retreat (to meet Abi...) As Danny Mesta says, it was like a movie... We pull up to the coffee shop and I see her through the glass door, sitting at a table.


From that point on, (having already chatted a few times on the phone) I knew I wanted to get to know Abi Lemoine.


In November of 2022 I heard about this guy named Reese from a coworker. Apparently he was tall, mature, and worked with his church’s youth ministry, just like I did. But… he was from Texas (pictures of plaid button-down shirts and boots with spurs flashed through my mind). Plus, I figured I’d never meet him, so why bother thinking about him?

A week later, I found out that there was a zoom call set up for the three of us (my coworker, Reese, and I) to share ideas for work. I was super nervous and didn't want to join the call at first. But I found myself looking at a screen with this guy sitting on the other side, calm, cool, and collected (no cowboy hat in sight). My brain was spinning. "Wait, he's kinda cute... and he's asking really good questions. Wow he's mature for a nineteen year old... He's so godly he doesn't even care that he's talking to a girl. He probably already has a girlfriend and is just ignoring me. Surely a guy like this is already taken." I was intrigued, but didn't expect to hear from him again.

However, in March I got an email from this mystery guy named Reese. I opened it to see that he had invited me to join a zoom call with some other youth leaders to share ideas. I decided I had too much work to do and didn't join the call... but mainly I just didn't want to waste time speculating over this guy I thought I'd never meet.

A week or so later, I found out that this guy (whom I'd only spoken to once) was asking my coworker for my number and wanted to get to know me. I asked an old friend, Erik, who knew Reese, if it was worth it to get to know him (obviously Erik said yes...) It was really scary when I answered the phone that first time... After the first few awkward minutes, we found some common ground in our high school cross country days. After that it was smooth sailing. I think we talked for two and a half hours. After we got off the phone, the first thing I did was text my mom.

"This guy is wonderful. I really enjoyed talking to him. I hope he feels the same way."

I didn't hear back from him all week. I figured he just wasn't interested in talking again. Womp womp.

But on Friday, I got an email saying that Reese Prater had registered for my church's young adults retreat. Working for the church has some perks--I got the inside scoop! I was so excited and pretty baffled that he was planning to come visit and meet in person after only one phone call.

Three weeks and three phone calls later... we finally met in person. Not gonna lie, it was SUPER awkward. Somehow we made it through that first weekend, and I decided I wanted to keep getting to know him.

One week after that, I flew to Texas to help with Reese's youth camp. That was when I knew I was serious about this guy. I was so sad to leave. It felt like we were becoming friends. When I left, I was having similar thoughts as after the first phone call...

"I think I really like this guy. I wonder if he could be the one... I hope I will get to see him again..."