The first kiss with my now-husband happened on our first date in our second year of college. We went to the movies with the mutual friend who introduced us. We dropped her off, went back to his parent’s house where he was staying during break, and he kissed me in the car. It sounds really, really cheesy, but it really cemented for me that he was my person. Physical connection and compatibility are important, but for newlyweds Kaytlin O’Neall and Drew Brown, they were determined to make their first kiss extra momentous.
The couple, who identify as nondenominational Christians, decided when they first started dating in 2021 that they were going to put off their first kiss until if and when the big day should arrive. In an exclusive interview with People, the couple detailed what it was like to finally get their magical moment in front of 160 of their closest friends and family.
“The moment of the kiss was absolutely magical, the most surreal experience!” O’Neall told the magazine. “It felt so natural, so right, and everything we had been waiting for.”
“Actually kissing her… wow. So natural, so special, and so unifying. It was just awesome,” Brown agreed. “She’s perfect, and waiting for that kiss was so beyond worth it … Truly, waiting for that gift of marriage — and for our first kiss — was more rewarding than words can express.”
The two actually met in seventh grade but didn’t end up dating until years later. They claim there was no pressure from their faith or from anyone in their lives to put off their first kiss. Instead, it was more they “felt this conviction from the Lord” to wait.
“All we’ve ever wanted is to honor each other and the Lord through our boundaries,” O’Neall told People. “When you love someone deeply and have built a strong emotional connection by truly knowing them, the physical aspect of the relationship is a natural, added blessing.
“We didn’t want any regrets from crossing physical lines prematurely,” she admitted.
Though the couple holds no ill will toward anyone who chooses differently, they say the electricity of waiting made it worth it. They claim the venue filled with cheers as they locked lips for the first time and believe it made the beginning of their marriage even more special.
“If there’s anyone wondering whether they should wait for some of those physical elements or not, I would really encourage you to wait if you want to,” advised Brown. “It’s so rewarding when you can give those things to one person you’re in covenant with. The peace, joy, and completeness you feel are just really special.”
