Zach and I first met in middle school in 2005 me in 7th grade, him in 6th. He played football, I was in marching band. Total opposites. I moved away the next year, and we lost touch for over a decade.
In 2018, we reconnected through Facebook. We’d liked each other’s posts for years but never talked until I messaged him about liking my college alumni page. That led to small talk, exchanging numbers, and hours of texting. We were so eager to meet that we had a “pre-date” before our official first date.
Both of us were busy me in grad school, him in nursing school but we squeezed in hikes, Jeep rides, baseball games, and time with friends. A few months later, he moved in with me and my kitten, Luna. By May 2019, Zach had graduated, we’d bought a house, and I had no idea a proposal was just weeks away.
On July 26, 2019, during a trip to my college town, Zach pulled me in for a hug at Woodburn Circle and said, “Let’s get married.” When I joked that he needed a ring first, he pulled out a wooden box, got down on one knee, and asked, “Mara, will you marry me?” Tears flowed instantly. Moments later, a stranger approached, congratulated us, and offered to pray over our future.
We planned a June 2020 wedding, but COVID changed everything. We chose to keep our date but pared it down to 18 masked guests at the small chapel Zach grew up in. I wore a dress from Amazon; we called it our “Amazon wedding.” Our biggest surprise? I was 7 weeks pregnant with our first child.
The months ahead were filled with pandemic worries, working full-time, and preparing for a baby. In January 2021, after 30 hours of labor, we welcomed our daughter the first Lambert girl in over 30 years. Because of hospital restrictions, no one could visit, so we soaked up those first days as just the three of us.
That summer, we finally had “Wedding Part 2” our vow renewal. It was smaller than originally planned but still magical. We said our vows overlooking Summersville Lake, surrounded by family, friends, and even a few curious boaters.
Our love story hasn’t followed tradition. We’ve learned to be patient, flexible, and grateful, even when plans change. We’ve conquered challenges including a pandemic together. Marrying Zach the first time was amazing, but saying “I do” to him again was even more special.
