Their story
Bailey Newcomb, 28, has had a crush on fiance Will Faulkner, 31, since they were children.

“We swam at the same neighborhood pool,” Bailey said. “I had such a big crush on him that when he came to swim I would get out of the pool and walk home.”

As they got older, life led them down separate paths. But in 2007, fate put them in the position to reconnect when they ran into each other with a group of mutual friends, where Bailey revealed her childhood crush to a friend. A few days later, Will got Bailey’s number and asked her to go see Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix .

“She went on the date, but didn’t like the movie,” Will said. “But she didn’t tell me until eight months after we’d been dating.”

One particularly special aspect of the couple’s relationship has been Will bonding with Polly, Bailey’s three-legged rescue dog.
“Will gave up many Saturdays during football season to go through extensive training classes with her,” Bailey said.

Will wanted to earn Polly’s trust and loyalty because she is an important part of Bailey’s life, he said.

When Will finally decided to pop the question, he had lunch with Bailey’s father to ask for approval.

“I was really really nervous, but when I shook his hand, a calm came over me and I knew it was OK.”

Her father said yes, so Will faced the challenge of planning his proposal. After much consideration, he decided to propose to Bailey at her house.

On May 8 of this year in Bailey’s living room, Will recited a poem from memory asking Bailey to be his wife. She gladly accepted, and Polly approved.

“She was jumping up and down,” Bailey said. “I asked her ‘Polly, do you want Will to be your dad?’ and she put her paw on my ring.”

On the morning of June 30, Bailey’s house was broken into. Several items were stolen, including her engagement ring. Although the couple is devastated at the loss, nothing can stand in the way of their happiness.

The wedding will take place in on Saturday, Sept. 12. The couple is planning a traditional Southern wedding with their close friends and family present.

“It’s the easiest thing we’ve ever done,” Will said. “It just feels comfortable and the right thing to do.”

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