Kaytlin O’Neall and Drew Brown from Texas are a happy young couple, both 21 years old, who are engaged and planning to get married soon. But there is something unique about this young couple.
They have set strict boundaries in their relationship and vowed to take pride in maintaining their purity.
“Before I started dating Kaytlin, we discussed our physical boundaries, and she mentioned that she wanted to wait until our wedding day to kiss,” said Drew, a business finance student at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
“I asked her father for permission to date her and had a man-to-man conversation with him, telling him about our chaste dating and selflessly pursuing her heart. It was one of my favorite conversations with him.”
Kaytlin, who runs her photography company Kaytlin V Photography, said that after asking God for guidance on setting boundaries regarding physical intimacy, she “felt that God told her” to save her first kiss for marriage. Soon after, Drew agreed to this idea.
“Do not go with the flow,” he said. “Your character is crucial, it’s a part of your body… so don’t compromise it for anything.”
This couple has never dated anyone else and has spent many days together. Currently in a long-distance relationship, they make sure to see each other every few weeks. It’s not easy, but they say it’s worth it.
“Relationships aren’t about doing the easy things—it’s about choosing who you want to face life’s challenges with,” Kaytlin said.
She mentioned that setting physical boundaries helps them connect on a deeper emotional level. While they have friends who freely kiss, Kaytlin emphasizes that they “never judge” others for their choices.
“Deciding to wait until our wedding day to kiss doesn’t mean we look down on others who do kiss, or that we think it’s wrong,” she says. “For us, not kissing is a powerful decision to uphold our commitment to purity.”
Drew shares the same view. “I believe kissing is significant,” he says. “Kaytlin and I have always seen kissing as an intimate act, something we don’t want to give away easily. For us, it’s a gift we wait to unwrap, and we are excited to have our first kiss on our wedding day!”
They admit that waiting until marriage to kiss is not always easy. When they feel tempted physically, they find comfort in reading the Bible together, changing their environment, or being with friends and family who support them.
“There are many times along this journey when we renew our thoughts every day,” Kaytlin says. “Focusing on gratitude for each other and our relationship, rather than what we can’t do now, keeps us grounded.”
The couple hopes to encourage those who want to pursue purity but feel it may be too late.
“No matter what journey you’ve been on, what has happened, or what choices you’ve made, each day is a new beginning,” Kaytlin says. “… The fact is, God does not despise anyone because of their past. Instead, if we’re willing to walk with Him, he wants to guide our choices every day.”
Brown adds, “You may have faced struggles in maintaining purity in relationships. That doesn’t mean it’s too late or you can’t start. God’s grace covers everything… Kaytlin and I believe in you. No one is ever too late.”
Kaytlin advises couples in relationships to communicate openly, identify their personal triggers, and then set boundaries.
“Regardless of your faith or worldview, physical intimacy is very personal and restrictive on a psychological, physiological, and even spiritual level. Someone who truly respects and values you deserves to have such intimacy, not to be shared casually with anyone,” she says.
Drew agrees that this can be challenging but emphasizes the importance of men taking on a protective role. “As a man, putting aside my desires and truly protecting Kaytlin and my own purity isn’t always easy,” he says. “But as a man, our mission is to lead, not to be passive. Passivity is really taking over the world now, especially among men, so don’t be like everyone else.”
Kaytlin and Drew’s story dates back to seventh grade when they met and built a friendship. Their relationship began to change during high school.
“When I got to know Drew and saw his heart, I knew he was the person I wanted to build a relationship with,” Kaytlin says. “We both wanted to establish a strong foundation of friendship before bringing in the romantic elements to our relationship, so we spent six months focusing on friendship before officially starting to date on January 5, 2021.”
Drew says they did this because they wanted to take it slow, be patient, and “date someone worth marrying.”
On October 5th, Drew successfully proposed to Kaytlin. With the wedding approaching, this couple looks forward to sharing the special moment of their first kiss.
“This is something we cherish and hold dear; we want to keep our first kiss,” Drew says.
The original article, titled “Young Couple Saves Their First Kiss for Marriage, Says ‘No One Is Too Late’ to Pursue Purity,” was published on the English version of Epoch Times website.