Please RSVP no later than October 28th, 2023!!!

Tessa and McKay first met in high school youth group at People's Church in 2012. Tessa was a leader for worship but also had a responsibility to meet with newcomers and outreach. Their friend groups were different but alike, always with someone older or younger than them. Yet, Tessa says there was always a particular draw or pull towards greeting McKay when he did attend. It definitely was a God thing. McKay joined Tessa's worship team to be closer to her. Of course in youth group Tessa didn't think anything of it, so when it was time for her to leave for college in 2017 to San Luis Obispo they both went their separate ways. It was not until Tessa came across a photo of McKay hammocking at sunset overlooking Millerton for her to send him a message saying "So pretty. Take me there." And from that day on, McKay would often convince Tessa to return to town so that they could have a bonfire or go on adventures together. The idea of adventures was spectacular but the reality of a new relationship made Tessa hesitant. Was she ready to jump into another long-term, committed relationship that could potentially fail her in the future? She had already been through that in the past. To Tessa's surprise, her hesitancy did not stop the drive McKay had to make her his. Not once but TWICE did McKay drive all the way to SLO to take Tessa on their very first two dates. Then.... covid hit. During this covid period, they talked on and off. When Tessa moved back to town, McKay insisted on doing things for her, like leaving In-n-Out on her porch and then driving off, only to call her minutes later for a whole HOUR while he sat at the side of the road, in the cold, in his doorless Jeep Wrangler. McKay was very persistent! Tessa was blind to see how amazing McKay truly was because she was scared. As covid restrictions lightened, Tessa and McKay hung out more and more. All summer long they focused on becoming closer as friends. Things didn't become official until Tessa left to visit her sister in Georgia. She realized just how much she had missed McKay. She told herself that she could really see him there with her and that if those feelings were true then there had to be more to their relationship than she had previously believed. After trusting in the Lord's guidance and the feelings she had for McKay, she called him. That exact night, August 27, 2020, Tessa asked McKay to be her boyfriend. McKay said Finally!

Two years later, on the exact date that they had established their official relationship, was a day that changed their lives forever. Before the anniversary festivities began, Tessa was convinced by McKay that they would need to stop by a family's house to pick up a bottle of wine that was gifted to them for their anniversary. As they turned the corner, there was a beautiful picnic set up. Still convinced, Tessa believed it was for someone else or that the family was having an afternoon brunch. Clueless as she was, she sat down and noticed their names on the wine glasses in front of her with the date. Not knowing what to say, McKay tells her to come over to him and he gets down on one knee. Tessa had left her phone in the car not knowing that it was crucial to what McKay was about to say next. Unplanned and off-script, McKay nevertheless said to her, "Two years ago today you called me and asked me to be your boyfriend, today I'm calling to ask you to be my wife." Tessa was shocked and lost for words but did not hesitate to say YES. Instantly the both of them were in tears. They both scanned their surroundings to look around for family, who did eventually reveal themselves from inside the house. McKay and Tessa cannot wait to begin their journey together going camping, traveling, and watching YouTube on the couch while occasionally eating take-out forever. They also cannot wait to share this celebration of marriage with everyone around them.