We’re getting married!!

Elise: After a hard college semester, I visited my best friend who lived in Charleston, SC. Her mom, Dixie had always talked about setting me up with some "southern men" while I was down there for a visit. This trip, she told me that she had someone in mind at her Bible study. Trent and I talked for maybe two minutes during the Bible study but I couldn't stop talking about him. At the end of the week right before it was time for me to go home, Ms. Dixie texted Trent inviting him over for dinner. We chatted more that night but then I packed my bags and left to go home to Colorado where I thought I would spend the summer. Trent and I called and texted a bit while I was gone, but it didn't take long before Ms. Dixie called me up again because she had found a job to be a live-in nanny back down in Charleston. So I packed up my bags again! We went on our first date to an ice cream shop, and I knew I liked this guy when he took the long way home. After a few dates and prayerful conversations, he became my boyfriend. Fun surprise he was also my first kiss. Unbeknownst to us, the man who had just given me my first kiss also had Covid. We both ended up quarantined and I gave Covid to the family I lived which ruined their family's vacation. At summer's end, we decided to try long-distance. I moved back to PA for my Junior year of college and it took us three months to say that we loved each other. He was able to come to Colorado for Thanksgiving and met the family. We spent every day together as best we could being hundreds of miles apart. Finally, the year of school was over and I was able to move back to Charleston for another year of nannying. (Isn't it great they invited me back after that Covid debacle?) At the beginning of summer, we all met in Wisconsin, where my family had moved and spent the week together. In Wisconsin, I knew that Trent was going to talk to my Dad about marrying me and that he had bought the ring. I kept my nails painted the whole summer. Finally, he dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him! He flew my family in, and we celebrated big time! Pretty soon, I flew back to school where I am counting down the days until we are married!

Trent: I showed up to my routine Bible study and saw two new girls who had never been there before. Before the night was over, Elise and I talked for a few minutes. Later, I get a text from Dixie inviting me over for dinner, totally oblivious to another setup. Two days later, I texted her. She had moved back to Colorado for the summer, and I was still in Charleston. We had a conversation about expectations over the phone and decided if she ever came back to Charleston to visit, we would have to go on a date. Two days later, she was hopping on a plane to move back. I took her out, and as adults do, we ate ice cream and talked about unicorns. On the second date, we drove home, and I asked Elise if I could kiss her. With a smile, she said, “I don’t think you can kiss me unless you’re my boyfriend.” Driving away from that moment, I thought, oh my gosh, this is something different and special. We spent a couple more weeks just learning about each other. I asked her to be my girlfriend on the sidewalk of Continental Blvd. She said yes, and we kissed! Little did we know that with that first kiss, I gave her Coronavirus. We spent that first week dating in quarantine. Shortly after that, the summer was over and she went to school. Our fall and winter months were filled with FaceTime, phone calls, and texts being virtually inseparable. That fall, I was invited to spend Thanksgiving with her family. The week was full of amazing meals, spending time with her family, and Christmas tree hunting. Before the winter was over, I had told Elise that I loved her. The next summer, while visiting her family in Wisconsin, I asked her Dad if I could marry Elise. After some wise questioning, he welcomed me to the family. In secret, we discussed engagement plans. Elise always said how she would love to spend the day celebrating with her family and I wanted to make that a reality. On July 22, we pulled up to Continental Blvd again. Between me pacing around a gazebo and a not-so-subtle photographer, Elise had figured out what was happening. I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me. We spent the weekend celebrating with both our families. When Elise eventually went back to school, it was with confidence, knowing that when she is done…we can start!