"He's both my rock and the yin to my yang. He keeps me centered when I'm frazzled. I appreciate his quirks, even when he's using them to be intentionally obnoxious (seriously, how does 1 person have so many dad jokes), and he makes me want to be a better person"
-Jennifer
"I had been waiting a long time to find someone like her & it was worth the wait. She is kind, beautiful, smart, funny, and understands me in a way that no one else has been able to. I feel lucky to have found someone I truly enjoy spending time with."
-Chris
Chapter 1.
Once upon a time there were two beautiful people and one day they met each other...
Jennifer:
We grew up within 20 minutes of each other, went to the same high school district, frequented the same restaurants, bars, and music festivals all while never knowing the other existed.
My friend (C) and Chris's friend (J) briefly dated in 2007, maybe 2008. J had invited C on a friends' vacation and C brought me as her plus one. This is where I originally met Chris, although we only have vague recollections of each others' presence from this weekend. I'm not entirely sure we even spoke to each other.
FF to 2017, both of us swiped right on each other and took the convo off Bumble to text. He went radio silent after a few weeks so I deleted his number and match. No biggie; ghosting is all part of the swiping game, right?
A month or two went by and I got a text from a number I don't recognize. It turned out that work had sent him suddenly to Puerto Rico re: Hurricane Maria aftermath and since he didn't have internet or cell service he couldn't get in touch with me.
I had no clue who this phone number was and we weren't Bumble-matched anymore. I was ready to let it go. As luck would have it, he remembered that we'd also matched on Tinder.
After a few months of dating, Facebook sent me a notification of two of us in a picture together. Our relationship had just began, so I had no idea what picture Facebook was trying to show me.
It turned out that it was J's Facebook album from the vacation so many years ago & this is how we found out that we had spent 72 hours together before we (technically) even met.
Chapter 2
The-Sparkle-Moment.
We'd only been dating for 2 months when I asked him to come on a ski trip with me & some friends. I didn't think he'd say yes, but he did. We survived a 4 hour trip up going through wet, dark, sleet covered, winding mountain roads without GPS and made it to our destination still wanting to spend the remainder of the entire weekend together...
That was it. The sparkle.
Chapter 3.
"Will you marry me?"
Jennifer:
He'd chosen our favorite holiday to propose.
I knew it was coming, but I didn't know when. He'd been building himself a mancave in our basement....remember this bc it's important later.
Christmas 2020 I woke up and something was *suspect*. He wanted to bring me breakfast in bed.
Cute, but why? It's Christmas!
He also wanted to shower and put on real clothes before opening presents.
Again, but WHY?
COVID was new & still a big unknown at the time, so we were spending Christmas by ourselves Presents were opened, none of them were even close to the size of a ring box.
A big dip in the roller coaster of emotions!
Then we did stockings. Roller coaster of emotions is back on the upward swing!
IDK why we did presents/stockings backwards, but I was convinced it was bc there was a ring in the stocking. Negative & this fun little roller coaster of emotions dropped again.
We tidy up and start getting into our respective presents.
He grabs a beer.
He never day-drinks at home "just because". When I called him out on it, he said it was to relax while he watches bball.
He's a huge fan, but also *SUSPECT*.
But, presents were done and there was NO RING so I thought that was the end of that. Some time goes by & he says he's going downstairs to set up the gaming chair I'd gotten him as a gift. He comes upstairs a little later and says he needs help moving some furniture around. As I go down the stairs I see he'd decorated the stair railings w/ christmas lights all the way down and in the main area he'd lit some candles in the shape of a heart with flower petals sprinkled in the middle.
He'd created a playlist consisting of all the artists whose concerts we'd gone to together & that was already playing.
He asked.
I happy cried.
Here we are today.
Chapter 4.
The Wedding
We had 2 years to plan bc pandemic. We're both incredibly laid back, so Chris thought he'd have some breathing room between proposal planning and wedding planning.
But I am a BIG planner. Give me a date and an objective and I'm a dog with a bone - can't stop, won't stop.
I was never one to dream about what my wedding would be like.
At best, I had a list of friends I'd ask to be MOH/BMs, but that's it.
We venue shopped for *weeks* until Chris happened across the Golf Club that would be our venue.
The location was perfect! I also have a very clean/modern & romantic style, so the ceremony and reception decor was simple, elegant, and was chosen with "romantic" vision in mind.
I only went to 1 dress store and bought the first dress I tried on. BHLDN has a webform you fill out pre-appointment. One question asks you to link the dress style you think you'd most like. The dress I populated in the form was the first one I tried on. I tried on a few others, but the first one was the winner!
The reception was the best part of the wedding.
Being surrounded by all of our loved ones. Our friends and family live all across the country and some of our long-time friends have never met our respective families. It was great to be surrounded by so much love.
Dear Jennifer & Chris,
We're incredibly honoured to witness the celebration of your unique love story and capture your
Happily-Ever-After.
Fairytales are real.
Sincerely yours,
