You know what they say: the heart wants what the heart wants. And for one North Carolina couple, that was true even when they were just five years old.

Adrian and Brooke Franklin served beside one another as ring bearer and flower girl at a wedding 17 years ago. Last month, the two got married in that same church. Brooke remembers that back then, she had a crush on Adrian, though he was very shy. She said he “really started to come around” in middle school and the couple started dating in their teens.

Adrian said some people have said they’re too young to be married, but they believe God brought them together, saying “we know our steps have been ordered by the Lord.”