Kailey and Will McNamara met at the 2023 YCP Conference. They left the weekend knowing they’d see each other long before the next conference rolled around. This is the story of how they met, how they navigated long distance, and how they discerned their vocation to marry one another.

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Kailey:
We’re Kailey and William McNamara — and if you’ve ever wondered if God uses coffee tumblers and conference lunch tables to write love stories… He absolutely does.

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Apparently, Will spotted me first — in the bustling crowd at the 2023 Young Catholic Professionals Conference in Dallas. I was weaving through the chaos, clutching my beloved Notre Dame travel tumbler, when he walked up and tried to start a conversation. 

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“Notre Dame, huh?”

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“Yep!” and then I disappeared in search of my sister. (Sorry, Will.) But God — and Will — are persistent.

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Will:
I spotted Kailey at lunch with her sister and some new friends. I thought, “Yep, that’s our table.” This time I played it a bit less direct.. 

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Kailey:
We all laughed through lunch, sharing family stories and points of view. 

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Will:‍

I probably knew within about 15 minutes that I wanted to date her. 

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Kailey:

I’ve always been protective — of my sister, of myself, and honestly, of my heart — so it’s rare for me to feel fully at ease around someone new. But something about Will’s presence disarmed me. He was steady, funny without trying too hard, and genuinely curious about the people around him — not the kind of guy who talked just to get attention.

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Will:
My quest to spend the rest of my life with Kailey started that evening in my attempt to sit with her at dinner. I had two seats saved for her and her sister, but I gave the gala seats away right before they got there! Luckily that wasn’t a sign of things to come. 

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Kailey: 

I thought it was so sweet that he’d even thought to save them. As the night went on, it became clear we both didn’t mind finding reasons to keep crossing paths. We exchanged numbers on the Gala dancefloor, spent the rest of the night together with friends, and solidified our connection over brunch on Sunday after mass. I hugged Will before we left, “I’ll see you at next year’s conference,” I said. 

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Will:

I knew that we would be seeing each other a lot sooner than that. We actually were engaged almost a year to that day. 

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But that year was not easy. Sooner than that required a lot of commitment on both ends. I flew Kailey to Chicago for Memorial Day weekend.  Beforehand, she made it very clear that she didn't expect this to be a ‘casual visit.’ We both knew this trip would enable us to decide our future together. 

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It was a weekend filled with Mass, laughter, challenging conversations, Chicago pizza, and a calm sense of peace. We tried our best to be present, patient, and truthful about who we are. It was already clear to me, but I trusted that God would make it clear to Kailey. By the time she flew home (and after my third attempt) we were officially dating. I will never forget the way she looked over at me and said, “Will, I truly want to be your girlfriend.” What an incredible feeling. 

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Kailey:
About a month later, right as I was finishing my 54-Day Rosary Novena for my future husband, Will landed in Hoboken, NJ. We’d both done long distance before and knew the fleeting feeling a perfect weekend could bring. So, our plan was to be around each other every day for a month – Will in an Airbnb across town, close enough to walk but far enough to keep things interesting. Spending each day together was filled with joy and discomfort. 

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Will:

Midnight walks home after an intense conversation followed by early morning mass became the norm. But we continued to align our ideals together. This level of sacrifice allowed us to steadily fall deeper in love.  

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Kailey:

I received consolation after consolation. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect — almost as if Mary herself was nudging me, saying, “See? I’m in this.”

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That month confirmed it all. From there, we both packed up and traveled!

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Will:

It was time to meet the parents! We went to Chicago, Steubenville, Tampa, Orlando, back to Chicago and finally, Hoboken, NJ — all road trips.

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Both:
We were married in May 2025, honeymooned on a Catholic Pilgrimage to Greece and Rome (met the Pope!), and are now joyfully expecting our first baby this coming Valentine’s Day, 2026.

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The YCP community has been woven through every part of our story — from the moment we met to the friends, mentors, and memories that shaped our discernment. It’s a place where faith comes alive, where you find your people, and sometimes… your person.

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To anyone wondering if God could really use a professional networking event to change your life — the answer is yes. Say yes to the invite, go to the lunch, bring your coffee mug, and let Him do the rest.

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Kailey and Will’s story shows us that when we keep Christ at the center, all else will fall into place. Whether you are happily married, navigating the dating world, or discerning what vocation the Lord is calling you to serve Him through, the key is to keep Him in the forefront, trusting that He will guide every step–from the inspiration to initiate a conversation, to saying ‘yes’ to a lifetime commitment.