We met by pure luck, to say it was love at first sight, that’d be a lie! I barely chatted with Kristin when we first met. I was busy catching up with Stocky, a college buddy who I hadn’t seen in some time and Kristin was catching up with an old college friend of hers. As the evening went on and the drinks continued to flow, it was very clear to me at this point that she had an infectious personality and a smile that could light up the darkest of rooms. It was also clear that she noticed my wit, well, perhaps it was my brogue! We were able to spend time over the next few days with some close friends and it also gave us time to get to know each other. There was plenty of cheeky banter back and forth as we shared plenty of laughs and Craic in Columbia, KY and Nashville, TN over the course of 3 days. That was time enough for me to know that when we had to say Cheerio at Nashville airport, I had to slip my number into her pink Motorola Razr flip phone!!! Figured I’d chance me arm! The rest, as they say is history!

We met in April 2009. I was traveling from the women’s basketball final four in St. Louis to visit friends in Kentucky that year and Debbie was currently living in Kentucky. Debbie came over to one of my college friends house in Louisville, KY to visit our mutual friend. The whole day we didn’t even talk until the very end of the night, but then we stayed up all night/morning talking!! Debbie had to leave out early the next morning for graduate class, and 2 days later my friends and I continued our road trip down to Columbia, KY to visit Debbie at her house (this was already in the plan), we had SO much fun together. She was quite the little entertainer, & I thought her accent was adorable! The following day my friends and I planned to go to Nashville, TN and then fly out 2 days later. Since Deb and I hit it off she decided to make the trip south with us! Debbie had me laughing so much that weekend and we have many great memories from that trip. After 5 days of spending time together and getting to know one another the trip was over! We were sad to say good-bye and I was hopeful we would keep talking...but didn’t want to be too forward! Debs dropped us off at the airport and somehow she sneakily got my phone and called herself to have my number, as well as storing her number in my phone (very clever)! As you can imagine...the rest was history! An unexpected & lucky find in Kentucky....lucky us!

After a decade together, Debbie told me in April 2019 “I’ve got a plan.” We had a busy few months with weddings & trips in spring 2019, so I figured later in the year! Between Debbie & my bestie Sue, I was convinced she was proposing in the fall! Getting married in Ireland was our dream! Since I was getting proposed to that fall, we decided to take the time while in Ireland to venue shop! We looked at several different venues...breweries, hotels, & castles! We finished venue shopping on the Tuesday before Gwen & Ray’s wedding weekend. On Wednesday, Gwen came up to visit with her wedding dress! Gwen had barely arrived & Deb decided we HAD to show Gwen Bellingham Castle (one of the venues). She kept saying “I want Gwen to see it.” I was giving Deb the stink eye, and she wasn’t getting the hint. I gave her such a hard time & didn’t want to go back to Castle Bellingham because it was Gwen’s wedding week & I thought it was rude! Finally I oblige. I grab my purse & jump in the car with Gwen (instead of Deb), apologizing on the way to the castle that Deb was making us visit! We arrive at Bellingham Castle. The rain had just stopped and Deb recommended we walk the property before we go inside. At this point I was excited to be back & could really see us getting married here! Debbie asked Gwen to take a picture of us with the castle in the background. I should have known something was up! Then Deb said “Lets do one of us looking at the castle first,” so I turn around looking at the castle and start fluffing my hair for a back shot. I turned to then say something to Debbie and BAM there she was with this box open and this beautiful sparkly ring! I WAS SPEECHLESS & SO SURPRISED! We visited a pub & celebrated with Debs fam & best friend Peter back at the house over lots of champagne! I spent all night FaceTiming fam & friends! (Thanks to everyone who answered my mid-day FaceTimes). We knew then Castle Bellingham was definitly a special place to us! (Good one Deb)!

I’m not too sure how many of you reading this have had the pleasure of buying an engagement ring but it’s not an easy feat! Luckily enough I had Kristins BFF and hubby with me to give the nod on the purchase, and luckily enough for her she got not 1 but 2 rings. This was due in part to the fact that I waited so long, and Kristin’s constant reminder that she would need a ring sizable enough to not look small on her hand!!! Ring 1 was to represent the past, ring 2 for the present, and future intent to spend the rest of my life with my soulmate. If anyone would like to know how to transport a ring from the US to Ireland on the down low, buy me a pint someday and I’ll fill you in! The proposal was not 100% thought out however I did know I wanted to do it at Bellingham Castle! I wanted to get married there and I knew it would make it difficult not to make that beautiful place our venue once the question was popped there!!! I was extremely fortunate to have some dear friends present for the engagement however extraordinarily blessed to have my Mum and sister there for the special moment too. With the fabulous backdrop of Bellingham Castle and the River Glyde I asked Kristin to marry me, I’m not even too sure when she said yes as she was busy removing the fake ring from her finger that she had been wearing!! Thankfully at some point in the blissful craziness she said YES! We enjoyed celebratory drinks that evening in the local pub with family and friends, both in person and via FaceTime.