How We Met: Sterling and I, bumped into each other one Friday evening on October 4, 2013. My friend Angeline and I had decided to have an early dinner at a popular restaurant downtown. After being told it would be a three-hour wait for a table, we walked out. I had no idea the man of my dreams would be waiting for me just outside the restaurant door! In fact, I almost didn’t speak to him.
Rooted in nothing but God’s plan, Sterling and a friend were already outside when Angeline and I left the eatery because the delay. After inquiring why we were leaving, Sterling and his friend offered to walk us to a neighboring restaurant where we hung out and talked for a while. The whole way there and at the restaurant, Angeline and laughed at inside jokes, asked random questions and made casual conversation. He was such a gentleman and a darn good sport! He asked me for my number and I declined. He still insisted on paying our tab and was polite, not pushy.
Before they left, I invited him to a birthday brunch I was having the following Sunday. I’m sure the “what are you doing look” from Angeline convinced me to offer him an invitation. I gave him the name of the restaurant and we parted ways. When I showed up for brunch, he was the first person I saw sitting there and so our love story began. And the rest, as they say, was history!
how they asked: Sterling had been telling me he wanted to take pictures to “document” or capture our time together as we passed our one year mark in January. I admit, I thought it was silly at first, but I thought it would be nice to have some professional pictures. After going back and forth on the location, we finally agreed on Hermann Park. We even took a trip there the week before to check out where we wanted to take the pictures. When the day came around, the forecast called for heavy rain, but we lucked out as the sun peeked through the clouds, allowing us to take some great pictures. The park was beautiful, especially Centennial Garden, which was located in front of a beautiful waterfall and our last location for the shoot.
Once at the waterfall, Sterling told me that he loved me. I remember smiling and encouraging him to take the pictures so that we can go eat! He smiled, shook his head at me and told me to look up because we had company.
When I looked up, I saw that I was suddenly being surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues from all over! I kept asking what was going and started to cry. In the midst of all this, Sterling got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.
I shouted, “Thank you Jesus” and then a very heartfelt “Yes!” The guard at the park said we were the first engagement to take place there.
I guess Sterling was pretty confident that I would accept. He had already planned a brunch to celebrate the engagement and to thank everyone for participating and sharing in our joyous occasion.He even had menus made! I’ve got to give it to him. It was very original, totally surprising and really well planned. It was one of the best days of my life!
Photography: Kevan