No one is entirely sure when Madison and Royce first met. Somewhere amid the whirlwind of freshman year at Baylor, likely at a wakeboarding party surrounded by mutual friends and sun-drenched afternoons on the Brazos. They shared many of the same circles and were both on the wakeboarding team, so it didn’t take long for their paths to intertwine.

By sophomore year, their roommates were dating each other, which meant they often found themselves in the same places at the same time. But it wasn’t until a wakeboarding competition in Oklahoma during their junior year, spent camping with friends and cheering on their teammates, that their friendship truly began to deepen. The trip was rugged and messy in all the best ways; they saw the most genuine versions of each other. Madison, true to form, spent the entire trip barefoot, wandering around the campsite like it was second nature.

When the semester ended, Royce invited Madison to fly with him in a small plane and asked her to be his girlfriend. Though she cared for him deeply, she declined. He had just decided to leave Baylor to pursue aviation in his hometown of Florida, while she was transferring to the University of Houston. Life seemed to be pulling them in separate directions.

A month later, fate intervened. Royce invited her to join him on a trip to Canada, and what began as a friendly reunion soon became something more. After meeting his family and seeing the life he was building, Madison realized their story was only beginning. This time, when he asked, she said yes.

The early months of their relationship were spent long distance, with frequent flights and weekend visits, until Royce eventually moved to Houston. Their lives fell naturally into rhythm again, just as they were always meant to.

A year later, while in New York, they took a walk through Central Park and climbed to the top of Cat’s Rock. There, surrounded by the city skyline, Royce proposed.

What began as two college students on a lake has become a story of enduring friendship, shared resilience, and unwavering love. Now, they look forward to beginning their forever surrounded by the people who have been part of their journey all along.

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