Our love story began five years ago at the most unexpected place—our high school jobs at Publix!

After many conversations at work, Elizabeth decided on October 31, 2020 to ask a coworker for the last name of the cute boy who had caught her attention—as she happened to be looking for a date to an upcoming high school dance. With the Junior Grace dance coming up, she decided to follow Connor on Instagram and ask him to go with her, only to discover that Connor was already following her!

What began as casual conversations at work soon continued outside of Publix. Before long, we were talking every day. One day at work, we discovered that Connor's sister attended Baylor University, where Elizabeth was planning to go to college. Out of all the schools in the country, and being from Alabama, that connection felt like more than a coincidence. It became the first of many “Godwinks” throughout our relationship.

As the months went on, our busy schedules as student-athletes meant we only saw each other outside of work about once a week, which made those moments even more special. Some of our favorite memories were simple Taco Bell runs that turned into long drives around Huntsville, talking for hours about anything and everything. Somewhere along the way, we became best friends and realized how much we genuinely loved being together.

We both knew there was something special between us. At the same time, graduation was approaching, and we knew that pursuing a relationship would mean stepping into long distance almost immediately. Instead of rushing into anything, we spent time praying about our next steps. For a few weeks, we decided to remain just friends, but neither of us could find peace in that decision.

In February 2021, Connor invited Elizabeth to dinner with him and his friend Jonathan. What seemed like an ordinary night turned into one of the most important nights of our lives. After dropping Jonathan off, Connor asked Elizabeth to drive him to his car, which he had intentionally parked farther away so the two of them would have more time to talk. During that drive, Connor shared his feelings, and Elizabeth expressed that she felt the same way. That night, we decided to take a chance on each other, knowing that long distance was just around the corner—and it's safe to say it was more than worth it!

Although we had already begun spending so much time together, Connor decided to make things official with a snowy hike up Cecil Ashburn. At the top of the mountain, with snowflakes falling around us, he asked Elizabeth to be his girlfriend on February 16, 2021.

Looking back, God was writing our story all along. One day, Elizabeth came across the name “Elizabeth Rigby” printed inside a random book she had pulled from a bookshelf. It felt too specific to ignore and became another one of those unmistakable moments that reminded us God was guiding our steps. Around the same time, when Elizabeth originally asked Connor to Junior Grace, he couldn't attend because of a basketball tournament. Then, unexpectedly, the dance was rescheduled due to Covid, allowing it to become one of the many events we attended together that spring.

Six months later, Elizabeth headed to Baylor and Connor headed to Union, beginning four years of long distance. Though we were miles apart, those years strengthened our relationship in ways we never could have imagined. We made memories in both Texas and Tennessee, met each other's friends on weekend visits, spent time with each other's families, and had the privilege of watching one another grow and thrive during some of the most formative years of our lives. More than anything, those years gave us a deeper confidence that we had found the person we wanted to share our lives with.

After much anticipation, Connor asked Elizabeth to marry him in Cerulean Park in WaterColor, Florida, on March 14, 2026. It was a moment years in the making and one we will cherish forever.

Through every season, God has been faithful. Looking back, we can see His hand woven throughout our story, guiding us from a simple friendship between two coworkers to the life we are building together today. We are endlessly grateful for every step of the journey and are so excited to begin our next chapter as husband and wife!