Rebekah Hurford, 32, and Kirk Peter, 33, of New York, took a path less traveled in today’s world. They chose to wait until marriage to share their first true kiss and any form of physical intimacy, believing it would strengthen the foundation of their relationship.
For 19 months, the couple shared only brief pecks and hugs, even though both had been in intimate relationships before. Their patience was rewarded on their wedding day in September 2024, when they finally embraced a more intimate kiss — sneaking away during the reception.
"It's kind of funny," Rebekah recalled. "Our reception was in this old Gilded Age mansion on the Upper West Side, so we snuck into the bathroom and made out during our reception. It was great. It was as good as expected. A little awkward, but we figured it out."
The pair first met in February 2023 at the church where Rebekah works and where Kirk volunteers. Their meeting was unassuming at first.
"He started hitting me up and was flirting in my DMs," Rebekah said. "I wasn't interested at all. He wasn't my type. I was very picky."
But Kirk’s thoughtfulness soon set him apart. On their second date, he brought along a list of 30 meaningful questions to ask her.
"I thought, 'This is special,'" she said. "This is different."
By June 2023, they had committed to each other and decided to take a different approach than they had in previous relationships. They agreed to wait until marriage for a real kiss or sexual intimacy.
"Not having sex until marriage is a value I hold," Rebekah said. "Sleeping with people and doing other things — it didn’t work out. When I went outside these boundaries, it created an internal conflict."
Setting firm boundaries, the couple made it a rule not to sleep over or even stay in the same room during trips together. It wasn't always easy, but for Rebekah, it was about "honoring" each other and cultivating a "deeper connection."
"It's definitely not an easy thing," she admitted. "I had been a bit skeptical about it."
She added, "It's been a really beautiful relationship."
Kirk shared the same conviction early on.
"I told Rebekah really early on that I want this to work out, so I want to honor her in the way we do this relationship. I don't want her to think I'm just after her for her body," he said. "In past relationships, it was really easy to not think about that boundary and whether it had any significance at all. I told her, 'I don't even want to kiss you before we get married.'"
Kirk kept the bigger picture in mind as they waited.
"This is the shortest part of our relationship. What is this time next to forever?"
Though they remained committed to their choice, both Rebekah and Kirk acknowledged the challenges.
"We're very attracted to each other," Rebekah said. "It's hard not to move forward."
Kirk likened their journey to a gradual ascent.
"I just think of it as another level of us climbing the intimacy ladder," he said. "Hard things are worth it."
Their wedding took place in Central Park with a pop-up ceremony. Afterward, Kirk moved from Connecticut to New York to start their new life together.
"He proposed in front of the apartment building that we now live in," Rebekah said.
While they look forward to building a family one day, the couple is currently focused on Rebekah's health.
"We want kids at some point," Rebekah shared. "Right now, I am dealing with Lyme disease, so we're just kind of focusing on me getting better."
Throughout it all, Kirk has been a steady presence.
"He's doing a great job taking care of me and helping out with all the things. He's very, very sweet," she said.
Their story is a heartfelt reminder that patience, intention, and deep respect can build a love that endures beyond the moment, into a lifetime.