Many things had to align in order for us to meet. Nick was in Cabo San Lucas on a very last minute invitation from his grandparents. Brittany was also in Cabo for a spur of the moment trip with her friends. We both had no intension of meeting anyone on this trip, but thanks to some encouraging from Brittany's friends, she downloaded a dating app "just for fun." Thanks to this dating app’s location settings, we were able to connect. We didn't meet in person, but began talking back and forth. Once we were back home (Nick in Illinois, Brittany in Texas), messages turned into long phone conversations and video calls. A really solid connection was formed over a short time, and we decided it was worth meeting in person.

Nick booked a flight to Texas shortly after in March of 2020. Once he landed in Houston, we were planning to drive to Austin for a weekend away. Brittany's mom Carrie said she needed to meet him first "just in case she needed to pick him out of a lineup." Needless to say, we had a great trip and were so excited to plan the next time we'd see each other...just in time for a global pandemic.

We dated long distance and traveled back and forth that year, staying for extended periods of time. We really couldn't remember a time before each other, and we realized both of us felt just like "home." Brittany moved to St. Louis later the next year, and we love the life we're building. We've walked through a lot together over the past 3.5 years, and have supported, encouraged, and loved each other wholeheartedly. We balance each other with Nick's optimism and steadiness, along with Brittany's creativity and enthusiasm. We're both open minded and up for most things - so Nick has adopted Brittany's love for the theater, and Brittany is Newcastle United's newest super fan.

We are convinced that God writes the very best love stories, way better than anything we could have come up with on our own. It's been a journey and we're looking forward to all that's in store as we continue to grow in our faith, chase after our dreams, and live this beautiful life to its fullest. We're so grateful for the wonderful family and friends we have, and are so excited to celebrate with you!