Our Story & Honeymoon Wish
Words can’t fully express how grateful we are for our village—our incredible friends and family. Whether bonded by blood or by love, you’ve all been a part of our journey, and we truly consider each of you family.
As we prepare to say “I do,” many have asked what we’d like for our wedding. The truth is, God has already blessed us with everything we need. We have a home filled with love, a strong foundation in our faith, and an amazing community around us.
But if there’s one thing we’ve always dreamed of—something we haven’t had the chance to experience yet—it’s a honeymoon. Just a little time away, to soak in the joy of becoming husband and wife, to reflect, celebrate, and start our new chapter together.
For those who don’t know our story, it's one that’s grown over many years. We first met in 6th grade, and like any great love story… I couldn’t stand Willie. He chased me around school, the playground, even the bus. And I made sure he knew how I felt with some not-so-nice words. But instead of being discouraged, he somehow liked me more after that!
By the end of that school year, Willie had become best friends with my brother—maybe his sneaky way of staying close to me. Over the summers, the three of us (and a few other friends) became inseparable. We ran around barefoot through Verdigris and Claremore, wild and carefree. During the school year, we shared a table group and a tight-knit circle of friends—many of whom are still family to us today.
We both tried (and failed) to make each other jealous through middle school flings, but by the end of 8th grade, we finally admitted how we felt. That summer before high school was where everything really changed. We were sneaky with our feelings, hiding our crush so Willie could keep coming over to “hang out with my brother.” But love doesn’t stay hidden for long. Once school started again, the secret was out—and we’ve been together ever since.
We became that classic “cheerleader and football player” couple. People called us high school sweethearts before we even hit high school. And through every season of life since, we’ve grown—sometimes through pain, sometimes through joy—but always together.
Willie is now an apprentice auto mechanic, and I own a cleaning business and a spa with my sister. We’ve built a life full of hard work, love, and most importantly, faith. We’ve been through our share of challenges, but one thing we’ve learned is that God’s plans are always bigger and better than our own.
Our journey into premarital counseling has been one of the most beautiful blessings—it brought us even closer to each other, to the Lord, and to an amazing church community we now call home. We’ve always believed in YHWH, but we never imagined how deeply He would work in our lives and draw us even nearer to Him and to each other.
We are so excited for this next chapter. We are beyond grateful for the love and support we’ve received—and if you feel led to give, to help us make this dream honeymoon happen, just know it means the world to us.
With all our love,
William & Madilynn Petty
