May 9, 2025
Raleigh, NC
Lydia Santogade & Ben Palmer
Love at First Sip
Our first date was on December 6th at a restaurant in Raleigh. Ben picked the spot, made the reservation, and, in typical fashion, arrived early. I, of course, was running late, giving him time to grab a drink while he patiently waited for me.
When I finally walked in, we locked eyes, smiled & hugged hello. I asked what he was drinking. He told me it was an Old Fashioned and I brightened, telling him that was my favorite. I’ll never forget how he lit up, the unguarded way he reacted, or how he offered me a taste before I got my own. It was my first glimpse of his easy exuberance, his generosity & the first time I heard his infectious laugh.
When Ben tells this story, he jokes that he started falling for me then, because he'd never dated someone who shared his go-to cocktail. But we both know it was more than that— it was the easy way we clicked and how, even in those first moments, we were discovering the things we'd come to love most about each other. One sip, and we were smitten.
For all the days along the way
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