Ray and Elise briefly met in high school at a Fourth of July party with no thought that they would end up college sweethearts and engaged to be married one day. (Well at least Ray didn’t, but Elise kind of thought he was cute.) They did not meet again until Ray returned from studying abroad in Nantes, France during the fall semester of his junior year at Grove City College. Elise was entering her second semester of freshman year and was quickly smitten by this young engineer, newly returned from Europe, who swept her off her feet (literally onto the dance floor!) They met at swing dance club and soon discovered that most of their extracurricular activities overlapped. Their two favorites were ballroom and swing dancing. It was at one of the ballroom club dances that Elise decided that she would date Ray Bromen one day. Their other pastime pleasure was and still is discussing theology, which meant Ray began to ask Elise on meal dates to “get to know one another better.” It just so happened that their first meal date accidentally fell on Valentine’s Day. Oops.

Ray and Elise officially started dating in the fall of 2017, Ray’s senior year of college. A few of their favorite date memories are ice skating around the giant Christmas tree in downtown Pittsburgh, going on a late night Cheesecake factory adventure for Valentine’s Day, hiking through Great Falls, VA over spring break, and picking blueberries in Elise’s childhood state, North Carolina. They fondly remember the date night that an older couple paid for their dinner when they saw Ray praying over their meal and asking God to bless his relationship with Elise. When they returned to school for Ray’s last semester, Elise’s mom, Glynnon, asked Ray what he was most looking forward to in his last months of school. “Spending time with Elise,” Ray responded without hesitation. Elise remembers this as the moment when she thought, “Wow, this guy really likes dating me. Phew.”

After Ray graduated in May of 2018, he started working for Turner Construction. His move to Columbus, Ohio marked the start of their long distance relationship, which they spent in separate states for over two years. Long distance challenged their relationship, but allowed them to see how much they love each other and want to spend every day together. They hope that this season of separation will stand in their memory as an Ebeneezer, a reminder to never take each other for granted.

Ray and Elise are counting down the days until they are married. They are overwhelmed by all of the love and support they daily receive from family and friends and praise their gracious King for His kindness in giving them to each other.