They were both attending Messiah College, yet they’d never met, despite the fact that several of their mutual friends had been scheming and trying to set them up. However, due to Allie’s friends’ nagging insistence, she finally sent a facebook friend request Aaron’s way. Aaron recounts the story now, chuckling about his reaction upon seeing Allie’s invitation, “I don’t know you… I’ve never met you… buuuuuut, I don’t really want to be rude, so… ok! ACCEPT.”

And that was that. By the time graduation rolled around, they’d still never met. Allie even says she remembers watching him walk across the stage to receive his diploma, suppressing her giggles as she recalled the irony of, “Oh hey, I think that’s the guy I friend requested that one time. Nice.”

Fast forward two years. Aaron posted a status about his interest in doing a half-marathon, asking his network of friends if any of them were interested in joining him. Allie, an avid runner herself, happened to read the thread. After debating whether or not to chime in, since she’d still never met or talked to this guy even once in her life, ultimately decided, “Sure, why not comment… what can it hurt?!” She, too, actually had been looking to participate in another half-marathon and wanted to offer her training tips in case he’d find it helpful.

So comment she did. Which led to a series of private messages, where the conversation topic quickly turned from half-marathon training strategies to just good life discussions. After a month of online communication, they agreed to meet up in person and make this friendship official — more for their mutual interest in each other than in all things half-marathons. ;)

Well, what could have been an hour or two of general superficial getting-to-know-you chit chat, lasted more than eight hours, with Aaron leaving their time together that day knowing this was the woman he was going to marry.

And so, here they are now, nearly four years after that uncertain friend request, preparing for the day they will become man and wife. It’s so clear that these two are truly meant for each other in the way the Lord has been so faithful in bringing them together, and I can’t wait to document their incredible day in store on May 11th, 2014! It’s going to be AMAZING! Aaron + Allie, I adore the two of you and hope you enjoy a few of my favorites from our time together! Xoxo!