I met Ally through a mutual friend and thought she was wildly beautiful. After a while, I decided to slide into her Instagram DM's, and luckily she responded! From then on, we talked constantly. I was drawn to her love and joy, which I soon learned was a product of her being a Christian. We hung out for the first time in a group setting in late November 2020. However, Ally and I really started spending time together once my parents got our dog (best wingman ever). Little did we know that Ally's name suggestion, "Bear," would be the one that stuck. :) As we spent more time together, I noticed how naturally faith was woven into Ally’s life. Her kindness and steadiness made me want to understand the source of it. On December 30th, 2020, I asked her to be my girlfriend, and she said yes. Looking back, it's sweet to see how that season changed everything for me in ways I didn’t even realize at the time.

- Daniel

Throughout our high school years of dating, Daniel attended my many dance competitions, while I attended his theatre productions. Many nights were spent in the Whaley's living room playing a new game Deborah had found, or around my dinner table sharing a meal my mom had been saving to make especially for Daniel. At the time, you probably would've found us walking Bear to the dog park, taste-testing the new Crumbl cookie flavors of the week, or going on drives to the Waller Buc-ee's. Many of my favorite memories together are also tied to our first few summers of dating, when Daniel convinced me to join him in working at his church's day camp.

Our senior year of high school, I was absolutely thrilled when Daniel told me that he had also chosen to attend Baylor! When I reflect on the most meaningful parts of experiencing college together, getting to know each other's people has by far been one of the greatest joys. It didn't take long for many of Daniel's friends and mentors to become people I also couldn't imagine my life without. Daniel has been my biggest cheerleader throughout many late nights of studying and Sing practices. What a blessing it has been to say I've never attended a Tri Delt Semi, Formal, or date event with anyone else! :) Even more importantly, Daniel has been an unwavering source of encouragement throughout the many hardships of college, always pointing me back to the love of the Father. During Christmas break of our sophomore year, I got invited on the Whaley family vacation to South Carolina, where I would meet his extended family for the first time. It was on the last night of that trip that I knew I wanted to marry Daniel one day. And praise God that after almost five years of dating, on September 6th, 2025, he asked me to be his wife!!

- Ally