We're getting married!

We met through mutual friends at a graduation party and it was a set up! I know what you're thinking... set ups never work! You're right, they usually don't! We met, had a fun weekend together and then nothing more than a friendship came from the weekend. A few months later, me and my girlfriends were on a trip in Europe and our two groups decided to meet up in Turkey. I didn't really know what to expect with seeing him again. To my surprise, we laughed a lot, and hit it off even better than the first time! I loved that he could be silly and that he didn't take life too seriously and I loved how warm and kind he was to everyone he came in contact with. Once he left Turkey the energy of the group was completely different. He made the group so much fun and when he left to go back home, my heart was so sad! That's when I realized there was something more there. I hated to see him go! On the way home from Turkey, we started chatting again and I told him that I wanted to get to know him better. He agreed and the rest is history! From those agonizing first 3 months without seeing each other, to his frequent trips to MI every 3 weeks to see me, to now spending time in Florida for 3 months, its been a wild ride! But I've enjoyed every second of it and we've had so much fun together. I will cherish this time and these memories forever. It's just the beginning and I'm so excited for what's in store for us!

The circumstances surrounding my initial meeting with Jackie were quite different from what I would have imagined. A friend picked me up from the airport in Asheville, North Carolina to attend a graduation. Unbeknownst to me, a group of girls accompanied him with Jackie sitting in the front seat. I was immediately stunned by her beauty. As we spoke in the car, I noted her poise and quiet confidence. Enamored, I was convinced that I had to discover more. We raced each other at Dave and Buster's, worked on our putting at Top Golf and danced the night away at the graduation. We had a lot of fun together! During this weekend, I “allured” her by masking my feelings with a mix of hesitant interest and fake indifference, a miscalculation that earned me the moniker of “friend.” Disappointed, we both left the weekend with the thought of wanting something more. Two months later, we both met up in Istanbul, Turkey as a group and it was apparent that we shared feelings that ran deeper than we originally thought. Without the pressure of an obvious setup and in a different context, we were free to learn more about each other without restraint. In her I saw depth, an honest readiness to help those in need and a kind heart. Once again we had a great time together and from then on an interest ignited that set the stage for our relationship. With frequent trips to Michigan and an extended stay in Florida, I have loved every second and will always cherish the memories we have built and will continue to build. It only continues to get better when I don't think it possibly could!