Long before their paths crossed on campus, Lea Sims already knew Jaylon Miskel by reputation, his name woven into casual dorm room chatter and passing stories shared by her roommate. One serendipitous meeting between the Americans was all it took to bridge the gap between a familiar name and a forever love.

The first chapter of their romance began in September 2017 during Jaylon and Lea’s studies at Ball State University in Indiana. Thanks to a mutual friend’s endless praise, Lea’s curiosity was already piqued.

“She always talked about what a great friend he was, but to me, he was almost like a ghost: Always hearing about him, but never actually seeing him,” Lea shared with Tuesday Style Vows (TSV).