They Vowed To Marry In Preschool, See Them Today

People find love anywhere and most times in the least expected places. How it starts with cluelessness and uncertainty and then leads to an unexplainable feeling of security, trust, and happiness around this one person, we can never truly be able to encapsulate. Okay, we’re not about to get all philosophical and cheesy about this topic of discourse, but this is definitely a love story, and who’s it about? Hang on; we’re just about to find out!

Erin Adams and Annie Patel met when they were both three years old in pre-school and formed what we would describe as an amazing friendship. Their bond was truly special, and it was glaring for all to see. However, they left for different schools when they grew older, and the distance didn’t do them any good. Before they knew it, their communication dropped and eventually stopped completely. But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again….

Erin and Annie’s journey started around 25 years ago at their pre-school in Phoenix, Arizona, and They quickly moved to become close buddies. Not every friendship hits it off like that. Anyone could tell this was fate, but let’s not jump to any conclusions.

The first time Erin observed Annie was on the playground and immediately decided that he wanted to be her playmate, so he began following her around. Annie also warmed up to Erin real quickly, and the two became inseparable. As parents of little kids, parents of both Erin and Annie didn’t think much of their friendship but only saw it as adorable. They were only small children, after all.

Although Erin never pretended about his intentions towards Annie, he knew his goal wasn’t just to follow her around for no sake but to be able to get closer and closer. In a catch-up interview with an online newspaper interested in their love story, Erin claimed not to particularly remember the last time he saw her. Still, all he knew was that he was following this adorable girl around, and she didn’t seem to have a problem with it.

As expected, Annie replied by saying how creepy she actually thought he was at first, but she warmed up to him after getting a little closer and catching a glimpse of his charming personality. This phase gave them a smooth transition to becoming best friends who did everything together, from sitting together in class to working on classwork together, playing, and of course, getting mischievous together. Luckily they were still clever enough to escape getting punished most times.

 

Their friendship was about to face a milestone as they were about to move from just being friends in school to the outside of school – we know, we also anticipated playdates to come out of this.

Obviously, playing and seeing each other in school wasn’t enough when you form such a bond. This pair wanted more, and it was easy to transition into this next level since their parents already knew each other. Now they had the weekends to play too, Erin couldn’t be happier. They would both look forward to their weekend playdates right from the week, and sometimes, they get to go out together in the company of their parents. Probably visit the zoo or go to parks. Whenever Annie got scared on their visit to the zoo, Erin would hold her hand, and she said it usually felt like everything else didn’t matter because as long as Erin was there, she felt a different kind of assurance.

We could see what this relationship was evolving into at just seven years old, and Erin wasn’t scared to let everyone know how he felt about Annie.

Looking back at the journey from the beginning, Erin made a joke about some of the silly things he did to impress Laura. Whether it was from showing off his stack of Pokemon cards so he could share with her or swinging so high on the swing, he simply wanted her to see the best of him always, even if it was in the goofiest ways. He recalled how he used to recite every line of their favorite movie ‘Beauty and the Beast’ each time they saw it together.

 

The difference between how Erin tried to impress Annie and how Annie impressed Erin was that while Erin put a lot of effort into showing off his best, this came naturally for Annie as she was so intelligent. He did learn a lot of things from her. From learning to tie his shoelace properly to rubbing off her tidiness on him and even a safer way to swing higher on the swing, Annie was doing the most and all the more reason why he would want to be around her. Naturally, we desire to be around people who can improve us and help us become a better version of ourselves, and we’re rather impressed that Erin and Annie, even as kids, could recognize this.

By the time they were around eight years old, it was so glaring for everyone to see and acknowledge that the two were little love birds, which was even more exciting for Erin. One day, he stood in front of the class to say he would marry Annie and asked them all to watch and wait. But of course, no one took this seriously as they all considered it a phase and knew that it would soon pass away. But there goes the saying, never say never right!

Throughout grade school, Annie and Erin continued to be best of friends. Still, they did everything together, including adding more friends into their cycle, engaging in the same extracurricular activities, and planning their birthday parties.

However, contrary to the last transition their relationship faced, which was beneficial, Annie and Erin’s friendship was about to go through another change that may not be so beneficial and even have the potential to end it forever. It was almost time to move into high school, and it was going to be the biggest challenge their relationship was going to face so far.

They still had fears regarding whether they would be in the same class or not, and adolescence was definitely setting in. This means that even though they were worried, they might not play and see each other more frequently. They were both at the stage of their lives where making new friends and forming new bonds was also inevitable.

 

Eventually, Erin and Annie were not only in different classes, but they were also not enrolled in the same school. Of course, this wasn’t a conscious decision on their parents’ part; rather, it was dictated by their location.

Even yet, the best friends were disappointed when they discovered they wouldn’t be able to hang out so much any longer. Their parents didn’t appear to realize how close their children were and simply told them that they would still be able to play together on weekends.

Annie and Erin had no idea that they would be so distant that postcards would be their only way to keep in touch in days to come. They began to see each other less frequently as the years passed. While they used to play every day and even took Christmas photographs together, the old pals now only communicated through their families’ Christmas cards.

Despite the fact that they missed each other, they were preoccupied with school, homework, family, and new acquaintances. They appeared to be just going through the routines of daily life.

 

Altough distance indeed makes the heart grow fonder, this is not always the case, at least with Erin and Annie. After a few years, the two longtime friends no longer looked forward to receiving fresh Christmas cards; it was almost as if Annie and Erin had forgotten the tradition. They were both growing up and leading separate lives.

It’s all too easy to forget about our history as we grow up and continually learn new things, meet new people, and have new experiences. It appeared for a brief moment that Erin and Annie had shared a beautiful childhood bond before growing up and moving on.

Now the pair were around 16 years old and already getting set to enter the sophomore year in high school. They were once again enrolled in various schools. The old friends didn’t think about one another much at this time. It had been almost a decade since they had been truly close.

But then something incredible happened. Annie was on her friend’s phone during the fall of her freshman year when she noticed a familiar name crop up.

She would never mistake that voice. In fact, she could recognize it in her sleep. Erin Adams was the one!

Annie was definitely not expecting to see or hear Erin when she did, so she was shocked, but still, the sweet childhood memories came flooding back! She asked her friend how she knew Erin, and apparently, they had met in middle school. Suddenly, the world was feeling much, much smaller!

As expected, Annie excitedly told her friend, Lizzy, about her childhood romance with Erin. Although Annie just wanted to share some memories, Lizzy clearly had other ideas with the smirk she had pasted on her face.

 

She was planning to set up Erin and Annie! Lizzy considered it and concluded that it might be a nice fit.

Annie’s friends suggested it to her, but she was skeptical at first. After all, she hadn’t heard anything about Erin in a long time. Years had passed since the two had spoken. Things would never be the same again. Wouldn’t they?

Annie was naturally terrified about being paired with Erin. She wasn’t only nervous, but she also wasn’t sure if she should have a boyfriend at the time.  Annie’s friend, despite her worries, had a good feeling about her two friends meeting again. She went ahead and handed Erin his old bestie’s phone number, and she didn’t see his reaction coming…at all.

 

Erin texted Annie shortly after getting her number, and the two were soon speaking and planning a meet-up. They made plans to go see a movie together and picked a date.

When the two finally met, it was as if no time had gone at all. Erin even admitted that it was like love at first sight all over again for him. The old pals struck it up right away, just like they did in pre-school!

Sure, the pair had been great friends in pre-school, but there was no way of knowing how well they would get along as teenagers. Their first date went off without a hitch, and before Lizzy could even suggest any more dates, Erin and Annie were now official!

It was simpler to keep up with their relationship now that they could drive, even though they went to different high schools. They were inseparable once more, attending high school dances, meeting each other’s friends,  and letting each other in on what was happening in their worlds.

However, with college around the corner, it looked like they may be lingering on to another separation.

 

The pair faced a difficult dilemma as their senior year progressed, and college now seemed closer. They had previously been separated and did not want to be parted again. They were, however, attending different institutions in various states and didn’t want to lose out on any opportunities.

In an interview, Annie remarked, “Right after we graduated from high school, we were pretty cautious.” “We were debating whether or not to stay together.’ ‘Should we make an effort to make it work?’ They had previously attended various schools, but this time they would be 1,000 miles apart, and what made it so different this time was the fact that they were now officially together.

Erin and Annie eventually decided to go to their different institutions, but they would try to make their long-distance romance work. Erin moved to Chicago to attend Columbia College while Annie attended Northern Arizona University. They were 1,600 miles apart at this point.

When they were younger, the distance may not have made their hearts grow fonder, but this time was different. They were determined to make it happen!

 

The pair realized that being so far apart would be difficult, but they cared so much for each other that they were willing to go to any length to make it work. Annie and Erin made it a point to thoroughly immerse themselves in college life while also maintaining a healthy relationship.

This wasn’t always simple, especially because they were on opposite sides of the world. They were able to “see” each other every day owing to social media and Facetime. They even traveled to see each other in their new houses on a regular basis, and they still had some time to bond and make memories.

Even though they had social media and Facetime to keep in touch, they still couldn’t see each other in person for long periods. The longest time they went without seeing each other was over six months, getting to the end of an entire session, but it didn’t really strain their relationship.

They both discovered something significant while in college: they genuinely desired to be together. However, they wanted more for both of them — especially Erin — and he realized he needed to take action.

Soon enough, it was the senior year all over again, except this time they were in college. Erin knew he wanted to do something special to mark this milestone in their relationship as a couple and as two people who were about to finish college. He had an idea for a beautiful date while they were both at home for the summer.

He wanted to surprise Laura with a peaceful and romantic evening because they had both been working so hard in school, and he organized a picnic at their pre-school! Isn’t that lovely?

And still, Erin had more surprises up his sleeve for this night.

 

Erin had not only arranged a calm and romantic picnic at the lovely spot, but he also had other plans.

“I persuaded Erin that we were going to a pre-school picnic. I framed it as a wonderful relaxing date because we had just finished our junior year of college,” Matt told Today. Erin had never seen his surprise coming even though they had been together for years.

Erin was so touched and excited.

Annie was aware that Erin had planned a picnic for the two of them, but she had no idea that he would hold it at the pre-school where they met nearly two decades earlier.

He was also overjoyed at the prospect of surprising Annie with the gesture. He believed the pre-school would be a great way to commemorate their connection. He was genuinely moved by Erin’s unique love story with him and wanted to take her back to the beginning.

 

As much as Erin tried to conceal this surprise, Annie noted he was nervous before they arrived at the pre-school. Throughout the entire car ride, he seemed to be squirming in his seat. She assumed it was because he was taking her somewhere unexpected.

Annie was completely overwhelmed by the considerate gesture when they arrived at the pre-school. She already considered herself fortunate to have Erin in her life, but her emotions were suddenly at an all-time high.

They had this picnic which Annie still hadn’t gotten over. But she was about to have an even bigger shock when Matt got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend.

Annie was taken aback. “Oh my god, is this really happening?” I said. ‘This is wonderful,’ I thought when I saw the ring. I’m delighted with it.’ She told Today, “I had no idea.” But, of course, she responded with a resounding “YES!”

How did Erin pull off this unexpected proposal?

 

Erin may have proposed to Annie in June, but the big occasion had been in the works for months. He had already purchased Annies’ stunning engagement ring months before proposing, and he had even sought her father’s approval before proposing.

He also made sure that his younger brother was hiding in the pre-school so that he could film the engagement. The sweetest part is that Annie utilized his parents’ old picnic basket, which his father had used to propose to his mother! His parents even included sparkling cider and wedding magazines in the basket.

Despite the fact that Erin and his heartthrob were both still in college, he opted not to wait until they both finished. Annie was The One, and he wanted to make it official. So he resolved to keep his pre-school promise.

Erin joyously recounted to Today, “I proposed to her at the location where it all began… our pre-school classroom.” “When you like someone, you just kind of stand up and say it,” he continued. That’s precisely what Erin did 20 years ago when he asked Annie to be his woman forever.

However, this evening is still on the run, and Annie still had one surprise in store for her.

 

Erin told her he wanted to get married as soon as they finished college, and they got married at the Arizona Historical Society in December of the next year. As if the pre-school sweethearts weren’t already the picture of true love, they chose Elton John’s “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” for their first dance, a homage to Erin’s many Disney one-liners when they were little.

Erin’s uncle even officiated their wedding, putting it brilliantly, “For most kids in pre-school, it’s about finding snacks and sleeping mats, but for them, it was about meeting their soulmates.”

And this marriage was only the beginning of a forever story.

Erin and Annie’s wedding was certainly a beautiful day for them, but being able to share their love story with their friends and family was even more special. The nicest gift they could have received was having everyone they care about come together to celebrate them and dance the night away.

In the interview with Today, Annie and Erin remarked, “Our favorite part of the wedding was the dancing and having everyone we love there to celebrate with us.” “We tore it up on the dance floor, and it was fantastic to be surrounded by everyone who helped us come together and played a part in our journey up to this point,” they continued.

 

It was time to continue the celebration now that the both of them were formally married. After saying their vows, the pair jets off to Maui, Hawaii, for their honeymoon. They spent nearly two weeks on the island, taking in everything it had to offer. More importantly, they were able to spend quality time together.

Annie was ecstatic, but she wanted to find a sweet way to share their love story with the rest of the world. The pair had no idea what was going to happen next.

Their friends and family had been telling them how amazing their journey was for as long as they could remember. Annie had always known their relationship was unusual and special, but now that she was an Adam, she wanted to tell the world about it!

With “How We Met,” Annie presented a cute photo of the two at pre-school alongside a recent photo, with the narrative of how they met. Her story was one of several that the Instagram account regularly posts, and they knew they had to share Annie’s story as soon as she submitted it.

 

In the post she published, Annie and Erin explain their whirlwind affair, which began when they were just three years old. Erin stated, “I was enamored with Annie as a child, and I am still enamored with her till today.”

The newlyweds’ story was presented on ‘How We Met,’ and it quickly went viral! The narrative of Erin and Annie’s love was a hit with everyone. While the pair anticipated that people would like their narrative, they did not anticipate such a positive response.

When the How We Met team first shared Erin and Laura’s story on “How We Met,” it earned over 30,000 likes and nearly 1,000 comments. Ennie was notified that their story had been shared with nearly 400,000 people on social media. However, before they knew it, a slew of media outlets was contacting the pair to learn everything they could about their love story.

The Today Show and a couple of other online magazines contacted the couple and even aired a full-length feature on them.

 

So, where do the Adams go from here? The couple has been married for almost two years and is enjoying every moment of it. Erin and Annie both volunteer for non-profits that aid foster children in their home state of Arizona, where Erin is an account executive at a digital marketing agency and Annie is a Creative Director at a digital marketing agency.

They also purchased a new home and have been enjoying every bit of making this space their own.

Is this one of the couple’s major anniversaries in the last two years? They started a family… sort of. Matt and Laura welcomed a cuddly friend to their family after their wedding: a lovely dog named Kiela.

Annie and Erin have their hands full with their new home, puppy, and full-time work schedule. But that doesn’t rule out the possibility of having a child. In fact, a baby could be on the way in the not-too-distant future.

Despite the fact that the young couple’s hands are currently full, children are very much in their plans. In Today’s interview, Annie stated, “We would love to have kids at some point.” “Right now, we’re concentrating on Kiela, our new puppy, our new home and kicking ass at our jobs.”

It’s no wonder that they’re putting off starting a family. After all, the two have had a hectic few years between graduation, engagement, wedding, home purchase, and dog adoption!

Annie and Erin had surely had a once-in-a-lifetime love story, from meeting at pre-school when they were three years old to not seeing each other for eight years until rekindling their friendship and eventually falling hopelessly in love. And they make certain they never forget or take for granted what they have!

They told the magazines, “The best part about our relationship is that we can be both silly, but we enjoy it and appreciate each other every day. When you’re in a long-distance relationship, you quickly realize how important the other person is to you, and we appreciate our time.”

Although Erin and Annie are still newlyweds, they have been together for years and believe they know how to make a relationship work. They place a high value on motivation and optimism.

Annie adds, “My favorite thing about Erin is his sense of humor; he constantly makes me smile, and he is the most driven person I know.” Erin, on the other hand, added, “My favorite thing about Annie is her infectious grin and her passion for helping those who are less fortunate.” It’s inspiring to be with her every day because she’s a force for good, and I believe that together we can conquer the world.”