Dylan's Perspective:

It all started on January 21st, 2011—honestly, I had no clue at the time, but that day was about to change my life. That’s when I first saw Sydney, and little did I know, I was looking at my future wife. I can still picture it like it was yesterday. She was walking around the barn at the Livingston Parish Livestock Show, rocking these platform flip-flops and somehow managing to look unbothered, even though she was surrounded by pigs that smelled terrible. Anyone who knows Sydney knows she wasn’t exactly a huge fan of showing pigs, but she loved hanging out with everyone at the show. I remember her walking up to our “group” and asking if she could join us, and honestly, I had no idea that the girl standing in front of me would end up being my best friend and the love of my life.

Fast forward a few years, and Sydney and I became super close. She was always the first person I’d call to share any exciting news. We’d spend hours on FaceTime every day, just talking about everything and nothing. It was always so easy with her. She was there to listen through all my highs and lows, and there was no need to be anything other than myself around her. It just felt natural—like home. We did so much together growing up—dances, camping trips, all kinds of adventures. Our families became really close too, so it was never weird for us to hang out as “just friends.” For the longest time, I convinced myself that Sydney was just a really good friend—nothing more. Even though our families would joke about it, I told myself it could never happen. Dating my best friend? Nah, that would be weird.

After we graduated high school and started college, things shifted a little. We couldn’t talk every night like we used to, and we were both figuring out this whole "college life" thing. Then, one night, Sydney called to catch up, and I remember us talking for hours—it was just like old times. That night, Sydney invited me to attend a game night at her campus ministry, saying she wanted me to meet all of her new friends.

I wasn’t sure at first if I even wanted to go, but honestly, I missed our friendship so much that I just told myself I had to show up. I was nervous, since we hadn’t seen each other in a while, but the moment we were together again, it felt like nothing had changed. It was just like old times. After that night, we started hanging out more and talking on the phone every night.

Then, in December of 2021, Sydney and I went to a Christmas Soiree as “friends.” But on the drive home, we ended up talking for hours about what we wanted for the future (career goals, family visions, etc.). That’s when it really hit me—I wanted Sydney in my future, but not just as a friend.

So, I decided I was going to tell her how I felt. One thing we always loved watching together was The Office, and if you know, you know about the whole teapot scene with Jim and Pam. So, I got this green teapot and started writing her a letter with some of my favorite memories of us. I planned to sit her down, give her the teapot, and tell her that I wanted more than just friendship.

Here’s where things get wild, though. Later that same week, Sydney texts me out of nowhere, asking if I wanted to hang out at one of our favorite coffee spots, Luma in Hammond. We spent hours just hanging out, like always. But right before we left, she said she had something in her car for me. We walked outside, and she pulls out a teapot from her car and hands it to me. I froze. I knew exactly what was going on. I was filled with joy, even though I guess she technically beat me to it. lol Fast forward to us both exchanging letters and talking about our feelings. We both realized we wanted to take things to the next level and start dating. It’s crazy—being with her felt like we were meant to be together, we just hadn’t seen it for years and were truly in denial.

The last few years of dating have been amazing, and I can’t wait for the next chapter of what God has planned for us.

Sydney's Perspectives:

“I walked into the Livingston Parish Livestock Show nervous since I didn’t know anyone there. I was helping my dad set up the pig pens and help getting them situated when we saw this group of “really cool kids” (I thought) sitting on a small staircase behind the white barn. I, of course, was nervous to walk over; I was the new kid lol! But with some encouragement, I walked over and from there I found my “pig show friends”. And within that group of “really cool kids” was this adorable little dude with a total Bieber Cut. I was totally in love with him… in the fourth grade… so of course it was just a massive crush. But nonetheless, be still my heart!

Fast forward a couple years and that boy, still rocking the Bieber Cut btw, and I were on Facetime everyday. It didn’t matter if we were doing separate things we were still going to be on the phone. It became a routine we would come home from school, take care of our pigs, and call each other for hours. We kept this daily ritual from our 6th grade year to our senior year of high school. I was still entirely in love (in a massive crush) with that boy the whole time. My parents swore up and down I would marry him and I swore up and down that I wouldn’t be marrying him.

Our livestock show days came to an end but we knew we would still talk and keep in touch. Somewhere in those years he became my best friend and the thought of losing him would send a pang of fear through me. From there, specifically, I knew this crush had to go away. I couldn’t stand the thought of not getting to call him and tell him all about my day, to cry about some goofy thing, or to excitedly share my ACT score because of course he was the first person I told. So, we began college, we texted each other almost everyday, we called in the late hours of the night when we finished our homework and I would leave my dorm to go sit in my car and talk as long we wanted.

As things happen in college, they change. We didn’t talk as often, he met college friends, I joined an on-campus college ministry, and we just got busy.

We, of course, still talked and he was still my best friend but it was just in the big moments. Well, January of 2022 I went to a conference with the ministry. I tried to get him to come but he was going on a skiing trip with his family. We talked on the phone for nearly an hour my first night at the conference just catching up and gladly hearing each other’s voices. At the conference, there was one specific talk I didn’t want to go to. It was a “relationship” talk and (if you know, you know) almost every “relationship” talk in a church setting is just about the same. I didn’t really care to be told the same things over again I had heard at least a million times but all my friends were going, so, I went.

I had already been realizing that I was starting to develop real, true feelings for that boy with the Bieber Cut for all of elementary, middle, and high school who was now grown (and no longer rocked the bowl cut). I sat through that talk and at every mention of what to look for in a partner all I could think of was him. Walking out of the conference, I finally admitted to myself that I did indeed have a crush on him and I had to tell him.

Luckily, in Chattanooga there are an abundance of antique shops and I knew just what I needed. He and I loved “The Office” and I knew I needed a teapot… and a heartfelt letter. I found the perfect navy blue, simple teapot and now all I needed was the letter.

We left the conference, headed home, excited to give him the letter and teapot but I felt terrible. I got home and found out I had Covid. I was devastated. All I wanted to do was give him the letter but now I had to wait 5 more days!

I eventually escaped quarantine and made it to give the teapot to him. I was a nervous wreck the entire time we were our favorite coffee shop Luma. I decided to wait and give him the letter when we were leaving. I by the grace of God parked right next to his truck. As we were leaving, I handed him the teapot and my heart sank when he opened it but didn’t take it out or read it.

We went our separate ways and I went to my parents house to give them an update about the whole situation. I got home and my dad had me walking a pig from one barn to another and sent him a snapchat of me walking it. He left me on read for 2 hours… I was terrified I had ruined out friendship and I wouldn’t have him in my life anymore.

He finally messaged me back and, like the perfect fairytale story we have, he had planned to do the same thing. He had a teapot in his amazon cart and a letter typed out that almost mirrored the one I had written him. He told me he had wanted to share it with me for a while but had been afraid to lose me. I firmly believe that I made the first move here and I am responsible for our relationship lol.

Anyway, we coordinated our first date and the rest is history! We dated for 2 years and, my amazing, perfect fiancé orchestrated a hot air balloon ride where he proposed, got all of our friends together for a dinner to celebrate and now we get married so soon! I can’t wait to share this wonderful day with you guys! Thanks for reading!” ~Sydney

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