I think every high school girl has that moment where she thinks “I wonder if I have met my husband yet?”. Turns out whenever I had considered that- I had met my husband already! I just had no idea my husband would be Welden Willis.

Welden and I both went to Trinity from kindergarten through senior year, but he was two grades above me, so we did interact some but not much. There are a few interactions that come to mind though, him calling me “Tori Kelly” at a youth camp then sticking with that for a while (because I had much larger, curlier hair then), seeing him perform in show choir and the play, and seeing him a lot on the LA trip the dance ensemble and show choir went on his senior year (my sophomore year). Though our interactions were small, I always thought highly of Welden and how kind he was to everyone around him. He was always one of the “nice older guys” in my opinion.

Fast-forward to June 2023, I was home being the youth intern at FBC and my family and I went to a wedding for dear family friends of ours (shout-out to Mary Ann!). After the ceremony ended and we were walking back out of Stakely, I saw Welden walking out of the row right behind us. I just said hello to him quickly and had the normal quick conversation given to someone you used to know but had not seen in years. And then we went on to the reception. At the reception, Welden sought me out and we enjoyed a much longer and in-depth conversation. I don’t really remember exactly what we talked about, I just remember enjoying every moment of it and being disappointed when he said he had to leave. We said our goodbyes and aside from a sweet text from Welden that night, we did not talk for several months.

I had made my peace with nothing coming from that (I will admit, I had been hopeful). But in November, Welden suddenly asked me on a date over my Thanksgiving break. Great news- it went fabulously! The Lord’s timing in bringing us together is proof of His faithfulness and goodness to us.

Since then, Welden has become my best friend in every way. He is the first person I want to tell when something happens, he makes me laugh exactly when I need it, and he is the most thoughtful and considerate man I know. I am incredibly blessed to get to know and love Welden the way I do. On December 19th, Welden proposed! In true Welden fashion, he had thought of everything and worked so hard to make it all come together. The Lord has been evident in every step of our lives, and I know He will continue to be as we begin a life together. Thank you Jesus for Welden Willis!

Taylor and I obviously knew each other and had crossed paths many times throughout our youth in Montgomery, but little did we know how beautifully the Lord’s timing and plan would be revealed to us in its perfection.

Taylor and I grew up in the same city, at the same school, and at the same church, and I always thought to myself that she was an awesome young lady and obviously drop dead gorgeous. When our loves for Dance and Music crossed paths in our high school dance and show choir programs, she caught my attention with her beautiful curly blonde hair. It became something I would comment on often when passing in the halls or sitting in class together. Aside from her gorgeous hair, she was also always so kind, funny, and quick-witted in every interaction we shared, making for a fun, friendly, and curious dynamic between the two of us. Unfortunately, our age in high school seemed insurmountable back then.

Fast forward a few years to my post-grad life in Atlanta. Taylor and I had followed each other’s lives through social media in college and through mutual friends ended up attending the same wedding in Montgomery. Neither of us knew the other was in attendance, but I noticed a few pews in front of me a beautiful young lady with beautiful curly blonde hair. As we were leaving the ceremony, I heard a voice call my name and I turned to see the one and only Taylor Griggs. She was exactly the girl I remembered from high school, but better, wiser, and more mature. After catching up for a bit at the wedding and reception, I returned home with my friends telling them incessantly, “I’m going to marry that girl” to which they wisely advised me to take it slow. And that I did…extraordinarily slow.

As my high school curiosity of potentially dating Taylor was rekindled, and the issue of being three years older softened, I maturely waited four months before asking her to dinner – This is a total lie…it took four months for me to work up the courage to ask her out. We had the most wonderful dinner together, and I knew from the second it started that this is how it feels to find your person. With every word that was exchanged, I could feel the Lord saying to me, “This is it. I told you the wait was worth it.” He could not have been more right. We both have grown and changed so much since our high school days and the girl I used to think was cute with her crazy blonde curls is now the beautiful woman that I have the privilege of marrying! She has become my best friend in every way. Her heart for the Lord and her love for sharing His goodness with everyone around her is truly incredible, as is her beauty, her laughter, her strength, and her steady heart. I am so excited and blessed to choose to love Taylor every day, and I cannot wait to celebrate the final chapter of our dating story and the beginning of our life as a family with all of you!