We’re getting married!!

Oh my goodness. Where would one begin when attempting to describe our story. It has been quite the journey for Madison and me (Caden is the one writing this... so watch out). I would love to share the whole story of how we met, how we became boyfriend and girlfriend, how then we broke up, and then how within three short months of being back together, were engaged, but for the sake of the 4000 words I have been allotted, and for your sanity, I will simplify it for you. Madison and I have done many things together. We met back in high school in 2015, but were catapulted into a deep friendship come 2016. We had both been going through our own struggles with family and friends, and because of this, were drawn to each others presence. We started out with evening car rides along Horsetooth reservoir, to leading countless worship sets together at my Dads church, to stuffing our faces full with Chinese food (preferably Youngs Cafe... if you know you know:), to eventually shopping till we dropped. Our journey has been anything but conventional, and though it may be unconventional, to us, it feels like we are living a fairytale. It was not a walk in the room "starstruck" moment for us (Madison may say differently for herself), but instead, a long, both pain-filled and joyful seven years of friendship. We have fought, we have disagreed, we have cried, we have celebrated, we have laughed till we cried, and have had more memorable experiences together than we have had with anyone else. Timing seemed to be ever against us through the years, but finally, after many conversations and revelations (mostly for myself...) we have found ourselves here in 2022 madly in love with one another, and eager to begin a life together. Our relationship is unlike many, in that for both of us, it began as friends. We actually started with no romantic interest for one another. We were friends who watched dumb shows together, friends who would go to concerts together, friends who shared struggles, and friends who celebrated birthdays with each other. We were deep, honest, real friends. That is what seems most exciting about this roller coaster ride of the last seven years. We have a strong healthy foundation of friendship now to build a marriage upon. We have seen each other at our best and at our worst. That gives both of us so much peace about the future together, because, after all of it, we kept coming back to each other. So though our story is unconventional, and though there were seasons of hardship and frustration, we are incredibly grateful for our story, and we wouldn't trade it for anyone else's. We are living our own fairytale, one that we know begins with "I Do" and ends with "they lived happily ever after." Of course we know that battles lie ahead, but this we are sure, that if our hands are in each others, there is no dragon we cannot slay, no mountain that we cannot climb, and no season too dark, that our love will not prevail against. We could not be more eager for this next journey of life, and we are so grateful that you are joining us for this special day! Thank you! We love you all so much, Caden & Madison