The saying "You will find Love when you least expect it" is the best way I can describe the night I met Garrett. It was nothing fancy or super romantic, I was over at a friends studying, in a baggy t shirt, my hair tied up and more than likely no makeup on when her boyfriend and his friend came over to grab a few things from the house. He introduced himself, as did I, and in his ever so charming manner he gave me a nickname... "Wilson". Looking back on it now another saying comes to mind. "Blinded by Love" because I was just so smitten by this cute boy giving ME a nickname, that I didn't even realize how cheesy it was, or more importantly how it made no sense.... haha. Like I said, nothing fancy, but even so we both still remember that night like it was yesterday! Some time had passed since that first initial meeting and many efforts were made (by Garrett) and on my 21st. birthday I finally let myself fall for this super handsome, funny, romantic, sweet, guy that called me by the name of a volleyball off of the movie Cast Away! Being Garrett's girlfriend these past five years has involved every emotion, and the occasional obstacle :) but most importantly, and my favorite part, growth! I did not realize it at first, but in those early stages of dating I learned so much about Garrett, and myself! We would talk and talk for hours, about the good stuff and the bad, our favorite memories, and our regrets, what we wanted in life, where we wanted to be 10 years from now and everything in between. It feels so surreal that many of those conversations have become reality, and that we have made it this far together, getting to enjoy each other in every stage. I think the thing I am most excited about is, I truly feel that years from now, when we've been MARRIED for 10+ years, we will still be having those special conversations, challenging each other, learning from each other, laughing at each other, and being each others best friend.

After Garrett proposed all I could think about was 1. WOW. OMG. This is such a beautiful and special day and one I will remember for the rest of my life. HE REALLY JUST ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM, THIS IS REAL! He is so sweet, everyone is here, Ahhh!! 2. This is going to be so fun, I cannot wait to dance all night long at our wedding! Garrett has always been extremely thoughtful in everything he does, and September 7th. was no exception. He took me to a place that is very special to him and his family, and a place that I feel blessed to be apart of. We walked hand and hand and he got so nervous, squeezing my hand so hard, he looked at me and said "I love you so much, you make me the happiest guy in the world, and I had so much in my head that I wanted to say and I just completely forgot.." I was shaking and laughing, and crying, and I said "it's okay, you're doing great, I love you, just ask me!" haha :) for me, just the fact that he was on one knee, and we had made it to this point, choosing each other, and taking the next step in life, it was a proud, and sentimental moment for both of us. We spent the rest of the night celebrating our happiness and excitement with some of our closest family and friends, it was a perfect day!