Unexpected Love Stories

Dawn Lawson Pruszkowski
  • 5.0 (4)
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  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Would you buy a wedding dress before a proposal? Have you met someone who knew she’d meet her husband by Christmas? Love is unpredictable—it finds us in the most unexpected places and in ways we never imagined. Here, real people share how they met, fell in love, and built a life together. From whirlwind romances to love that defied the odds, these stories will surprise you. Subscribe now and celebrate love with us!

  1. 28 | They Had a Crush on Each Other for 3 Years, But No One Said a Word. The Mr. Darcy Slow-Burn Love Story of Andrew & Lara Pilcher Began with One Brave Sentence

    FEB 18

    28 | They Had a Crush on Each Other for 3 Years, But No One Said a Word. The Mr. Darcy Slow-Burn Love Story of Andrew & Lara Pilcher Began with One Brave Sentence

    They had a crush on each other for three years, but no one said a word. Working side by side in theatre and ministry in Perth, Australia, Andrew and Lara Pilcher quietly admired each other — building productions, sharing faith, and guarding their hearts. Lara’s feelings grew bolder. Andrew’s remained hidden behind steady friendship and restraint. When Lara finally chose courage and told him how she felt, he admitted he felt the same… but hesitated to act. Words were spoken. Nothing changed. Frustrated and ready for clarity, Lara stepped back. Then came a masked New Year’s Eve party — and the one sentence from Andrew that changed everything, “I want to journey with you.” In this episode of Unexpected Love Stories, Andrew and Lara share the tension of waiting, the cost of hesitation, and the courage it takes to finally speak. If you’ve ever been stuck in the “almost,” wondering whether to wait or walk away, this story will remind you that sometimes the right love is already beside you — just waiting for someone to be brave. Listen now — and don’t forget to follow Unexpected Love Stories for more real stories of faith, timing, and unexpected love. More info and photos of Andrew & Lara Bianca here 👇 Don’t forget to subscribe and share this unexpected love story on ⁠Spotify⁠ 📲 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@unexpectedlovestoriespodcast⁠⁠ Follow us on TikTok: ⁠⁠@theunexpectedlovestories⁠⁠ Follow us on Facebook: ⁠⁠Unexpected Love Stories Podcast⁠⁠ 🌐 More stories and info at: https://unexpectedlovestories.com/ Music credits: Sophie's Dream by Philip Ayers | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Where to Next by Ritchie Everett | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Additional music by ⁨@JoeEPmusic

    1h 2m
  2. 27 | Cheryl McKay Price Wrote the Love Story Before She Met Him… Then It Came True — How the Award-Winning Writer of Never the Bride and Finally the Bride Waited Decades for Real Love

    FEB 4

    27 | Cheryl McKay Price Wrote the Love Story Before She Met Him… Then It Came True — How the Award-Winning Writer of Never the Bride and Finally the Bride Waited Decades for Real Love

    What happens when the story you wrote about love starts unfolding in real life? Cheryl McKay Price is an award-winning writer and screenwriter, known for Finally the Bride and Never the Bride. For years, she wrote honestly about waiting, surrender, and trusting God with a love story she could not control. What she didn’t expect was how closely her real life would one day mirror what she had written on the page. In this episode of Unexpected Love Stories, Cheryl and her husband Chris share the journey that took them from decades of singleness, to reconnecting after many years, to a love story that still leaves them in awe of God’s timing and details. This conversation is for anyone who has waited longer than they hoped, wrestled with discouragement, or wondered whether God is truly at work behind the scenes. ✨ In this episode: What decades of waiting taught them about faith, identity, and trust How their relationship began after years of knowing each other The surprising connections between Cheryl’s books and her real-life love story What it looks like to keep surrendering even after the “finally” 🎙️ Guests: Chris & Cheryl McKay Price 📚 Books: Finally the Bride, Never the Bride 📖 Now co-writing: Finally One If this episode encouraged you, follow the podcast, share it with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review so more people can discover these stories More info and photos of Chris & Cheryl ⁠here ⁠ 👇 Don’t forget to ⁠subscribe⁠ and share this unexpected love story on ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ 📲 Follow us on ⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠@unexpectedlovestoriespodcast⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on ⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠@theunexpectedlovestories⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on ⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠Unexpected Love Stories Podcast⁠⁠⁠ 🌐 More stories and info at: ⁠unexpectedlovestories.com⁠ Music: Sophie's Dream by Philip Ayers | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Where to Next by Ritchie Everett | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Additional music by ⁨@JoeEPmusic

    58 min
  3. 26 | Alexia was intentionally single, waiting for God to reveal her husband, while God kept highlighting Troy—the friend beside her who already saw her as his ideal woman

    JAN 21

    26 | Alexia was intentionally single, waiting for God to reveal her husband, while God kept highlighting Troy—the friend beside her who already saw her as his ideal woman

    Troy and Alexia met in 2020 during the pandemic through country line dancing. For nearly three years, they danced side by side several days a week, building a deep friendship before romance began. Once Troy shared his interest in October 2022, everything moved quickly—courting by November, engaged in December, and married at the courthouse in February 2023. Their marriage began with both joy and challenge. Alexia became pregnant immediately, welcoming their first child later that year. In 2024, they experienced the loss of a miscarriage, followed by very specific prayers for the future—prayers God answered in full when Alexia became pregnant with their twin rainbow babies in December 2024. Now a family of five, they are entering a new season marked by less stress, deeper faith, and renewed dreams. With God first, marriage second, and everything else following, Troy and Alexia are building a life rooted in love, intention, and grace. More info and photos of Troy & Alexia here 👇 Don’t forget to subscribe and share this unexpected love story on ⁠Spotify⁠ 📲 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@unexpectedlovestoriespodcast⁠⁠ Follow us on TikTok: ⁠⁠@theunexpectedlovestories⁠⁠ Follow us on Facebook: ⁠⁠Unexpected Love Stories Podcast⁠⁠ 🌐 More stories and info at: ⁠⁠unexpectedlovestories.com Music: Sophie's Dream by Philip Ayers | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Where to Next by Ritchie Everett | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Additional music by ⁨@JoeEPmusic

    57 min
  4. 25 | He’s from Sweden. She’s from Washington. What Began as Friendship in London Became a Cross-Continental Love Story They Never Saw Coming

    JAN 7

    25 | He’s from Sweden. She’s from Washington. What Began as Friendship in London Became a Cross-Continental Love Story They Never Saw Coming

    Sam and Sharnessa’s love story begins thousands of miles apart—Sam in Sweden, shaped by military service and a call to ministry, and Sharnessa in Washington State, following a creative path that carried her from New York City to London. In 1998, their worlds collided at the International Bible Institute of London, where friendship slowly deepened into a calling neither could ignore. After graduation, their lives unfolded at a breathtaking pace. Sam stepped into leadership as an interim pastor, while Sharnessa joined the Christian pop group V*ENNA, recording and touring internationally. Marriage followed, and so did a lifelong rhythm of partnership as Sam joined the road as the band’s manager. Following years of touring, a brief stop in Nashville, and a defining return to Washington State after 9/11, Sam and Sharnessa poured themselves into youth ministry, church leadership, and creative work. They founded Fresh Attitude Dance Studio in 2001, nurturing hundreds of young artists, while serving together in ministry at Father’s House Church and creating theatrical musicals there. They also serve their local community together through civic engagement including work with Turning Point Faith Counsel. More info and photos of Sam & Sharnessa here 👇 Don’t forget to subscribe and share this unexpected love story on ⁠Spotify⁠ 📲 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@unexpectedlovestoriespodcast⁠⁠ Follow us on TikTok: ⁠⁠@theunexpectedlovestories⁠⁠ Follow us on Facebook: ⁠⁠Unexpected Love Stories Podcast⁠⁠ 🌐 More stories and info at: ⁠⁠unexpectedlovestories.com Music: Sophie's Dream by Philip Ayers | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Where to Next by Ritchie Everett | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Additional music by ⁨@JoeEPmusic

    59 min
  5. 24 | Christmas Eve Miracles: 4 True Love Stories- a Midnight Call, a Snowy Proposal, a Second Chance for a Widow & a Christmas Eve Wedding That Surprised Everyone

    12/24/2025

    24 | Christmas Eve Miracles: 4 True Love Stories- a Midnight Call, a Snowy Proposal, a Second Chance for a Widow & a Christmas Eve Wedding That Surprised Everyone

    Grab a cup of hot chocolate, settle into a cozy spot, and join us for a heart-warming Christmas edition of Unexpected Love Stories. This special holiday episode celebrates true-life romances that unfolded at Christmas: stories of love that began on Christmas Eve, surprise engagements under twinkling lights, and even a Christmas Eve wedding that feels straight out of a Hallmark movie. Host Dawn Pruszkowski and social media manager Lauren Tauber revisit unforgettable moments from four couples whose love stories remind us that God’s timing is always perfect: ✨ A midnight Christmas Eve phone call that changed everything ✨ A snowy lawn proposal complete with an original song ✨ A widow’s journey from grief to new love and a Christmas engagement ✨ A faith-filled Christmas Eve wedding—planned in just five days If you’re longing for hope, healing, or your own unexpected love story, this episode is for you More info at our website 👇 Don’t forget to subscribe and share this unexpected love story on ⁠Spotify⁠ 📲 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@unexpectedlovestoriespodcast⁠⁠ Follow us on TikTok: ⁠⁠@theunexpectedlovestories⁠⁠ Follow us on Facebook: ⁠⁠Unexpected Love Stories Podcast⁠⁠ 🌐 More stories and info at: ⁠⁠unexpectedlovestories.com Music: Sophie's Dream by Philip Ayers | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Longing for Christmas by Speedy The Spider | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Where to Next by Ritchie Everett | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Additional music by ⁠ ⁨@joeepmusic⁩

    27 min
  6. 23 | They shared a hospital nursery as babies, met again as teens & one night Julie prayed she would marry Brian. A year later, they had their 1st date. A divine love story decades in the making.

    12/10/2025

    23 | They shared a hospital nursery as babies, met again as teens & one night Julie prayed she would marry Brian. A year later, they had their 1st date. A divine love story decades in the making.

    Julie and Brian’s story began long before either of them could imagine it—side-by-side as newborns in the same hospital nursery. Their lives brushed past each other again at sixteen, and once more at twenty for a single unforgettable evening. That night, God woke Julie at 2:30 a.m. with a clear prompting to pray that she would one day marry Brian. A year later, Brian re-entered her life… and this time, he stayed. Their first date was a flop, the second date reset expectations, and then came the summer of 1982 when they both knew a match had been made. Three years of long-distance followed while Brian was in medical school, and still no ring until just two weeks before the wedding. And then—finally—they stepped into their own happily ever after. However; ten years of medical training and six children caused seasons of deep trials, but after an unforgettable medical mission together in Africa almost cost them their lives, they learned to trust each other and become a team. Since then, their love and relationship have grown stronger every day. More info and photos of Brian & Julie 👇 Don’t forget to subscribe and share this unexpected love story on ⁠Spotify⁠ 📲 Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠@unexpectedlovestoriespodcast⁠⁠ Follow us on TikTok: ⁠⁠@theunexpectedlovestories⁠⁠ Follow us on Facebook: ⁠⁠Unexpected Love Stories Podcast⁠⁠ 🌐 More stories and info at: ⁠⁠unexpectedlovestories.com Music credits: Sophie's Dream by Philip Ayers | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Where to Next by Ritchie Everett | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Other music by ⁠@JoeEPmusic

    49 min
  7. 22 | She was a single mom of faith; he was a Hollywood actor searching for purpose. When Cameron Arnett called BJ after years apart, God began their love story

    11/26/2025

    22 | She was a single mom of faith; he was a Hollywood actor searching for purpose. When Cameron Arnett called BJ after years apart, God began their love story

    BJ hadn’t found lasting love, but the two men she admired most—her grandfather Clay and her kind-hearted friend Cameron Arnett—showed her her worth and helped lead her to Jesus. Life separated them for years, and when BJ faced an unexpected pregnancy, she chose faith over fear and trusted God completely. She named her son after the two men who had shown her true character and later asked Cameron, now married, to be his godfather. He flew across the country for the dedication. Years later, after losing her stepfather, sister, and birth-father in a short span, BJ was deep in grief when Cameron unexpectedly called. After a painful season in Hollywood, God told him, “Reconnect with BJ and your godson.” That phone call lasted five hours—and God whispered to Cameron, “This is your wife.” To his surprise, BJ felt the same peace. Though they weren’t “in love” and hardly knew each other anymore, they said yes to God’s plan. Nine months later they married, dedicating their first year to healing and learning to love as God loves. Today, BJ and Cameron Arnett are joyfully “crazy in love,” living a life marked by God’s restoration and abundance. More info and photos of BJ & Cameron Arnett 👇 Don’t forget to subscribe and share this unexpected love story on ⁠Spotify⁠ 📲 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@unexpectedlovestoriespodcast⁠⁠ Follow us on TikTok: ⁠⁠@theunexpectedlovestories⁠⁠ Follow us on Facebook: ⁠⁠Unexpected Love Stories Podcast⁠⁠ 🌐 More stories and info at: ⁠⁠unexpectedlovestories.com Music credits: Sophie's Dream by Philip Ayers | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Where to Next by Ritchie Everett | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Other music by ⁠@JoeEPmusic

    47 min
  8. 21 | Disney animator Tom Bancroft helped make The Lion King but proposing to Jen was chaos. High school sweethearts, long-distance love & a bachelor party prank that stopped a plane—this story is wild

    11/12/2025

    21 | Disney animator Tom Bancroft helped make The Lion King but proposing to Jen was chaos. High school sweethearts, long-distance love & a bachelor party prank that stopped a plane—this story is wild

    Tom and Jennifer first met their senior year—he and his twin brother ran the high school art club, she was on the drill team. One walk to class turned into every walk to class, and a sweet high school romance began. Jen ended the relationship before heading to college, but shortly after she left, she realized how much she missed Tom. Daily phone calls turned into long-distance dating until she moved closer to where Tom was studying animation at the prestigious California Institute of the Arts. On Valentine’s Day, after a series of failed attempts to find the “perfect moment,” Tom proposed in his dorm room—and Jen said yes. Soon after, Tom and his brother landed an internship with Disney in L.A., but several months later they were relocated to Orlando, launching Tom’s legendary animation career. Jen finished her Special Ed. degree in California, and together they navigated long distance again until their wedding day—despite a bachelor-party prank that caused Tom to be kicked off the plane. Married life took them from Florida to Chicago and back, raising two daughters and then twin girls while Tom animated films like The Lion King, Pocahontas, and Mulan. Jen dedicated herself to raising their girls, and afterwards continued to build her career as a speech-language pathologist, later earning her Ph.D. and becoming a university professor. Today, Tom is the CEO of Pencilish Animation Studios, and Jennifer teaches at Austin Peay State University—still choosing each other after decades of creativity, laughter, adventure, and love that started in a high school hallway. More info and photos of Tom & Jen 👇 Don’t forget to subscribe and share this unexpected love story on ⁠Spotify⁠ 📲 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@unexpectedlovestoriespodcast⁠⁠ Follow us on TikTok: ⁠⁠@theunexpectedlovestories⁠⁠ Follow us on Facebook: ⁠⁠Unexpected Love Stories Podcast⁠⁠ 🌐 More stories and info at: ⁠⁠unexpectedlovestories.com Music credits: Sophie's Dream by Philip Ayers | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Where to Next by Ritchie Everett | Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Other music by ⁠@JoeEPmusic

    1h 5m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Would you buy a wedding dress before a proposal? Have you met someone who knew she’d meet her husband by Christmas? Love is unpredictable—it finds us in the most unexpected places and in ways we never imagined. Here, real people share how they met, fell in love, and built a life together. From whirlwind romances to love that defied the odds, these stories will surprise you. Subscribe now and celebrate love with us!

Information

  • Creator
    Dawn Lawson Pruszkowski
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dawn Lawson Pruszkowski
  • Show Website
    Unexpected Love Stories