Preschool Best Friends Reunite 12 Years After Being Separated & Get Married

May 05, 2023 by apost team

What's meant to be will always find a way — just ask Natalie and Austin Tatman. The newlyweds have quite the story to tell. 

Although they've only been married a short while, the pair have known each other for over two decades. Their amazing love story started out in Ocala, Florida, where they attended the same preschool class.

From the moment they met, Natalie and Austin were inseparable. Everything from trick-or-treating to school field trips, the pair did everything together.

Natalie recalled that the two were enjoying a fun afternoon of making Rice Krispie treats at Austin's house. Natalie didn't realize that when her parents picked her up that day, it was the last time she'd see her best friend for over a decade.

Years went by, and although Natalie often asked her mother about Austin, the two never spoke or saw each other. With her living in Connecticut and him in Florida, reconnecting seemed nearly impossible.

That was until one fateful day in July 2012. Natalie, then age 17, came across a worn address book while rummaging through her family's home in Connecticut. For some reason, she immediately flipped the letter T, where she came across Austin's name. 

Feeling inspired, Natalie did some detective work online and found Austin's Facebook page and messaged him. After chatting for a while, the pair agreed to meet up when Natalie visited her father in Florida a few weeks later.

Upon meeting, they realized the same spark they shared as youngsters was still alive. After attending college at nearby campuses and dating for five years, Austin proposed. Their incredible love story culminated with a fairy tale wedding on April 13, 2019.

“We just automatically became best friends and our parents realized it,” Natalie told People in 2019. “It’s strange when you’re that age — you don’t usually hang out with the opposite sex. But from when we were 2 until we were 5, we were constantly together.”

Unfortunately, the two friends were torn apart when Natalie's parents divorced when she was 5 years old. 

“I remember the very last day that I saw him, not knowing that I wouldn’t see him for over a decade,” she shared with People. “My last memory of him is (when) we made Rice Krispy treats in his parents’ kitchen… and then we were separated," she remembered. 

Once Natalie got older, she said she still thought about Austin. “I briefly remember when I was 8 and 10, I would ask my mom about Austin and she would say, ‘I’m sure if you remember him, he remembers you,'” Natalie recalled. “But I had no way of getting in touch with him at the time," she added. 

Years later, Natalie realized she might be able to locate her long-lost friend. She found her mom's old phonebook and started looking. 

“I knew his last name started with a T, but I don’t know why — I still have no idea to this day why — I went to his name out of all the names that were in there. This thing was full,” she explained. “As soon as I saw (his name and old address), I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I remember him.’ There was this overwhelming feeling of ‘I better go find him on Facebook before I miss out on this opportunity,'” Natalie shared. 

Natalie and Austin reconnected in July of 2012 and have been together ever since.

apost.com

Do you think Natalie and Austin will live happily ever after? If this beautiful story restored your faith in love, be sure to pass it on so others can enjoy it, too.