How We Met
Gerard and I initially met in junior high. I had the biggest crush on him but was always too afraid to admit it. I was known as the super shy, book worm that always followed the rules and did what I was told. He was a year older than me and liking/dating someone older than you was a huge deal at 11 years old (I’m talking in between class hallway gossip kind of huge deal). Come to find out, he liked me too!! Unfortunately, nothing serious came out of it. We never truly stopped crushing on each other and actually ended up “almost dating” two more times after that: once in 9th grade and once in 10th grade.
I admit I was always the one too scared to commit at such a young age (I know what you are all thinking… This girl thinks way too much! Try it out and see where it goes). I finally listened to my heart instead of my overactive brain, and we officially started dating my 11th grade year. It’s so funny because I’m still teased, on a weekly basis might I add, about how I turned him down three times, and now here we are, six years later, falling even more in love than the day before and crushing even harder on each other than our junior high days. Gerard was my first and only boyfriend, my first kiss, and my first true love. Following my heart was the best decision I could have ever made. It led me straight to his kind, compassionate, oversized heart, and I haven’t looked back since.
how they asked
We planned a trip to Paris, France earlier in the year. We were both anticipating graduating college, celebrating our 6 year anniversary, and my 23rd birthday all in the month of December. We had also both landed full-time jobs so this was the perfect opportunity to get away and celebrate all the exciting things that were happening in our lives. On the first day of our trip, Gerard had planned a nice dinner to start everything off. On our way to dinner, we detoured and stopped in front of the Eiffel Tower. Gerard set up his camera to take a couple of shots while we were there. This wasn’t anything out of the ordinary because he was into photography, and who wouldn’t want pictures in front of the Eiffel Tower. I turned around to view the Eiffel Tower, take it all in, and pinch myself to see if I was dreaming or if this was real life!! When I turned back around, I knew this was the moment I had been dreaming of since I had met this man!
It’s as if time stood still as he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife in the most beautiful city and in front of the most beautiful attraction I have ever laid eyes on. Nothing or no one else mattered in that moment. It’s as if it was just him and I standing there and everything aligned together in the most perfect way. It rained pretty much all day in Paris, but when he proposed, the rain stopped, the sun became visible through the clouds, and a rainbow appeared along side the Eiffel Tower! I don’t even think I let him finish asking the question when i said yes!!!! I think my smile shows just how excited I am to be this man’s wife. The night continued with the most romantic boat ride down the Seine River. It’s safe to say I’m marrying a real life Prince Charming!
