Couple Who Met as Toddlers & Wed in Their Teens Celebrates 64th Anniversary of Their Happy Marriage

A lovely couple looked back at their love story as they celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. They married as teenagers after knowing each other since toddlers and share six children, over two dozen grandchildren, and dozens of great-grandchildren together!

Not every day do we come across a love story that has stood the test of time, more so of couples who have known each other since they were babies. Such relationships prove that true love is real should both husband and wife do everything possible to make it work.

One couple from East Idaho can't deny that their relationship was unique. While many people got married in their teenage years, not a lot could boast that they had known each other since they were babies.

Growing Up Next to Each Other

This was the reality for Joel and Carolyn LaPray, who grew up next to one another as neighbors. Their parents were friends, and by the time the two were toddlers, their parents made them meet so they could have play dates together.

Since meeting when Joel was 23 months and Carolyn 14 months, they became acquainted and considered each other very good friends. Their first photo, which they still have a copy of today, was taken in 1941 or 1942 (they could no longer recall the exact year), right before World War II.

During the war, both families moved away from their native West Idaho and lost touch for a while. When the war ended, however, they reconnected when both families moved to Logan, Utah.

Life After World War II

While they were in the same area for years, Joel and Carolyn didn't do much together as they were of the opposite sex and had different interests at the time. It was only when Joel asked Carolyn to go with him to the military ball when they were sophomores in high school did they interact with one another again.

At the time, it was clear to Joel that he liked Carolyn. When they were out together, he said to himself, "I kinda like her; I think I'm gonna marry her someday."

Unfortunately for Joel, the same couldn't be said about Carolyn. Joel shared how Carolyn thought he was boring, which was true – she recalled how he didn't say two words the entire night they were together!

Falling In Love and Reconnecting for Good

When they were seniors in high school, they finally reconnected for good and began dating each other. As Joel told their story, Carolyn echoed his words by saying they "fell in love."

As for their secret to a happy, lifelong marriage, Joel quickly answered, "Compromise."

Joel and Carolyn went to Utah State University together the following year and continued dating. By the end of their freshman year, they were sure of one another and got married.

A Beautiful Memory of their Wedding Day

During their interview with East Idaho News, Carolyn held onto a photo frame with their first photo together, then she proceeded to tell an adorable story about their wedding.

Carolyn revealed that Joel's mother had retrieved their black-and-white photo together and asked a friend to paint it. The friend put the colors in, and up until today, her work can be seen in the photo they've kept throughout the years.

After getting the colored photo years ago, they put it in front of their wedding cake. It read: "Joel and Carolyn, their first date." Carolyn was proud to tell the story, claiming, "That was special, too."

Their Secret to a Happy Marriage

Since getting married, Joel and Carolyn have built the best life together. They raised six children, who gave them 25 beautiful grandchildren. They also have 33 or 34 great-grandchildren they adore – Joel admitted that he stopped counting! As for their secret to a happy, lifelong marriage, Joel quickly answered:

"Compromise. We each had different opinions, we compromise – we do it her way."

Carolyn laughed at her husband's statement, but she agreed. "If mama's happy, everybody's happy," they both nodded before Joel added, "If papa's not happy, nobody cares!"

More than compromising, their love for one another and their strong foundation as friends have made their marriage so successful through the years. Nate Eaton, who interviewed them, wished for them to reach 70 years of marriage or maybe even 80, and they both agreed. "We'll see," Carolyn smiled.

Click here to read the unique story of a couple married for 59 years celebrating the birth of their 100th grandchild.