Trust The Timing Of Your Life.

I can't remember the last time I blogged, but I'm back with an exciting, yet bittersweet, announcement! I am leaving the wedding world and Wedding 101 Nashville. Will this make it hard for me to collect love stories? Well, kinda. But, this is just another challenge and motivator for me to get out there and talk to people. Not just talk, but engage with them in a real, meaningful conversation.

Why am I leaving the wedding industry...after working for free for one year, after giving up all free time and weekends to work weddings (while in college), after finally landing an awesome position in the wedding world where I didn't have to work weekends? 

The answer is messy, but it's spilt milk that's already spoiled. So instead of explaining, I'm moving on. The one majorly critical reason for my decision was that there was no room for me to grow professionally or personally unless I wanted to open my own company. Which, I certainly do not. I learned so much, helped amazing couples, and made so many dear friends during my time in the wedding industry. I will carry all of those lessons with me into my new adventure.  

I am moving into the optical world, my glasses wearing friends. I was offered a position on the founding team of Warby Parker's corporate Nashville office. I will be working alongside 14 other awesome people to launch the customer experience branch! I'm so excited to start this new journey with such an amazing company. I am very blessed and thankful for the opportunity, and I can't wait for the new people, lessons, and experiences ahead! 

If you've never heard of Warby Parker and their Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program, then check it out! 

(Blurry to Clear)

I'm Back!!! With A Very Special Love Story!

It has been several weeks since I've had anything new. June was beyond busy, and I have been quite distracted with my own love story! To be horribly and embarrassingly honest, LoveStruck was very low on my priority list until just last week. What better way to end my hiatus than to get things started back up with my brother's love story....with his now FIANCE'! 

Like many love stories, their's doesn't start out very pretty. But it is real. It is full of emotion. It's beautiful to see someone grow and heal with love. I'll let Shannon tell the rest...

Most every love story begins with them emphasizing that “this isn’t your usual fairy tale”. Well that’s the case for me as well; our story was definitely not Disney worthy at first.

 Jonathan and I met when we both worked at the Murfreesboro Athletic Club. I should tell you that when I say met I mean I would walk by him with googly eyes and drool coming out of the side of my mouth. I worked in the childcare while he worked the smoothie bar. I didn’t know much about him other than he was older, was the quiet type and was freaking gorgeous. All the childcare girls and I would refer to him as the hot smoothie guy. I would suggest we all get smoothies all the time just so I could go out there and see him (not talk, just stare). My shy side was definitely apparent at that age in front of good looking men. I never considered making any kind of move because in my mind there was no chance. He was older and would never go for a 17-year-old with braces and an awkward personality.

He eventually left, the childcare had to find new boys to talk about and his Facebook status changed to in a relationship. As was mine; I continued a relationship with another boy. This went on for a few years until one day I received a Facebook message Christmas Eve from Mr. Jonathan telling me it’s been awhile and he wanted to know how I was doing. I wish you could have seen the look on my face when I opened that. HOT SMOOTHIE GUY RETURNS. We started having small talk and began talking regularly. When the time came for him to ask me out on a date I reply with….” I have a boyfriend.” Yes, I was still in a relationship. We had been on and off for about three years. Honestly, the relationship should have ended a lot sooner but I was stuck. I kept telling myself that he would change and be what I needed if I just stayed around (but that’s a whole other story). So you understand my eagerness to talk to a boy who was kind and heck, actually talked to me! My current boyfriend at the time came and went as he pleased. He would talk to me when his phone wasn’t “lost” or he was bored at his house. So when Jonathan heard this he was rather shocked, of course! We decided to grab some food together, but ditch the term “date”. We met at Nachos here in Murfreesboro. I ordered food but barely touched it because I was so nervous. I just kept thinking…holy crap he’s gorgeous. Please stop smiling, it’s too much to handle. Haha. We talked about our families, his career, me being in school and anything else we could think of. We had to get kicked out of the place because we stayed until after they closed. I was thankful my mom motivated me to go meet him, because I was too indecisive and nervous to go without a push.

After that things just kind of started rolling; I left my boyfriend and got more serious with Jonathan. I was experiencing things I didn’t know were possible; a boy actually intimately talking to me daily, about my thoughts, plans, goals, etc. I hadn’t experienced that in … awhile. He cared, he listened, he came to visit me at work, he engaged with my family and so much more. I was blown away by this boy and so in shock that men like him actually existed.

And then…

Walls came up; many walls. I didn’t want to be touched. When he would try and cuddle, I’d cringe and try to move away. I was rude, cruel and hurtful. I started telling him we weren’t compatible, that we had nothing in common and this wasn’t going to work. But I stayed; I continued to talk to him every day. I continued to miss him and eagerly await his text messages. So why was I being such a (pardon my French) bitch? I was hurt so badly from my past relationship, that I didn’t even give Jonathan a chance. I was used to having to be on my own in a relationship and being manipulated. I was pushing away. This is the part in movies and books the audience is always exclaiming “NO you idiot! He loves you, let him in!” His friends and family were asking him why he was putting himself through this. He was getting hurt on a daily basis. I would tell him he deserves better and to just leave me be. But he didn’t. He kept telling me he saw something in us and he would do whatever it takes, and that’s exactly what he did. He tried and tried and eventually those walls started to disappear. He began to teach me what he looked for in a girlfriend. Because for the past 3 years I wasn’t one; I was basically single with a boy that would randomly enter my life. Jonathan showed me what love was coming from a boyfriend and just… changed everything. I told him I’d be his girlfriend and told him I loved him within a matter of months. We started building a life together and learning about each other.

A year and some months later, we moved in together. A week ago, we got engaged.

We still have our struggles; not being on the same page, not communicating like we need to and other little things of the sort. But we are so closely connected it is unreal. I’ve never felt a connection like it. He sees me, like really sees me. He knows what makes me tick, what to do to make me happy and even what I want to eat. (I make him order for me quite often). I have been in love before, but this is a whole other experience. The engagement wasn’t all butterflies and rainbows, because I’ve known I was going to marry him. Now I just have a ring and a Facebook status to show it. Don’t get me wrong, I am freaking excited. But I have been, every day since I received that text message Christmas Eve.

 
So my message to everyone would be: don’t let one relationship change your outlook on every relationship you have. Don’t let your past effect your present. Be open-minded and willing to change, because from that comes happiness and new experiences—like marrying the hot smoothie bar guy. ;]

Shannon, we love you and can't wait to have you as an official member of the family. I also am beyond excited to attempt to micromanage your wedding planning!

Lindsay + Andrew

It's been a while...but I was waiting for summer, and with summer comes a new love story! Lindsay and Andrew were models for one of my Wedding 101 style shoots. During the long, 8 hour day, I had plenty of time to talk to the couple and hear about their story. I LOVED it...not because something dramatic happened but because it is something most relationships go through now, long distance. While this can be emotionally trying for most people, enough to break the relationship, the distance wasn't enough to stop these two...

(Nyk+Cali Photography)

"Andrew and I attended the same college, and had many mutual friends. But the first time we officially met was on the set of a short-film that Andrew and his friends were making. I was playing the role of "the girl in the bloody dress." I remember Andrew coming out and greeting me as I walked toward the building and giving me a big hug. At this time however, we were both otherwise romantically entangled.  So we saw each other from time to time, but that was it.

Then about a year and a half later, after we had both graduated, Andrew had a dream about me. He sent me a Facebook message, asking if I was still around San Diego and if I would want to hang out. He and his roommates were hosting a 4th of July party at their house, and he invited me. That night, we held hands. A few days later Andrew took me out on our first date. We went to La Jolla, spent some time at an art museum, walked out to see some sea lions, and ate sushi. 

Things got a little complicated very soon after, because I had several (4) gentlemen callers other than Andrew that I was seeing at the same time. We talked about it, and Andrew decided that he didn't want to be one of five. So we took a hiatus. I spent the next couple months taking care of my unresolved romantic business. 

I really missed Andrew during our time apart. So I called him and began to pursue our relationship again. He wasn't getting the hint...until I kissed him. After that, we were basically inseparable. It was a blissful 2 month until Andrew moved to Nashville. Originally we had planned to break up when Andrew left. But as the time drew closer, we decided to try to make a long distance relationship work. And we did, for 6 months. We talked on the phone every day, and texted far too much. 

At the end of the 6 months, I quit my job, and moved to Nashville. I was strongly advised against the move by basically everyone. And it was difficult, but it was much better than being in a long distance relationship. 

The moment we decided we wanted to get married, happened outside the Jimmy Johns on West End Ave. I don't remember how the topic of conversation got started, but we decided we wanted an October wedding. 

We actually had a September wedding, but that was because by the time Andrew proposed, September was the only month available at our venue. It was worth the wait though, because the proposal was perfect. Andrew arranged for my sister, and several other of our friends to be in town at the same time. He pretended to be working on a promo video for one of those friends, but in reality, he was making his video proposal. (Which you too can view on Facebook)

We recently celebrated our 1 year anniversary. And truthfully, it has been the most wonderful year. We have had many adventures, and my life is richer and more joyful for having Andrew in it. We love each other more and more every day. And I can't wait to be married for 60, 70 more years." 

(Nyk+Cali Photography)

Joanna + David

All of this pretty weather has definitely raised my quality of life and productivity. My toes are also sporting a fresh pedicure complete with metallic purple polish. Hello, spring...and April! I'm starting out the month with a new love story! I met Joanna at Wedding 101 last spring. During our chat, she shared her love story with me. Chill. Bumps. I knew her and David's story was one I had to share. This story will leave you feeling all bubbly inside!

"HE'S JUST SO CUTE! That grin - it's what drew me to him in the first place. We met for the first time on March 6th 2013. He was my barista at the Frothy Monkey in downtown Franklin. 

I was sitting at the bar editing pictures when I saw him. He was the cutest thing I had ever laid eyes on. After being there for two hours, I found a way to cut into his conversation with his coworker. We instantly clicked and spent the rest of the evening getting to know each other. 

Boy was I hooked! 

From then on, I went in just to see if he was working. He started taking his breaks with me and went from sitting ACROSS the table to sitting NEXT to me at the table. One day after he got off work, he said to me "I should probably get your number shouldn't I?" 

Uh..you think?! 

It took two weeks until we were officially together. 

On our first date, we realized that we had seen each other previous to meeting - also at Frothy. I was sitting in the back room when a blonde hair, blue eyed, very attractive male walked through the door, sat his things down, and pulled out his Bible and journal. 

Right there I should've known he was the one for me. 

I found myself staring at him. He caught me and flashed that grin that made my knees melt. That night I left and was too nervous to say anything to him. 

We never put together that we were the same people until our first date when I wore the same sweater. 

It took one week from that date for me to fall in love with him. 

We were walking the streets of Franklin after seeing a movie that night. I couldn't help but look at him and smile! He asked me what I was thinking and I just wanted to blurt out "I LOVE YOU", but I couldn't. 

I wanted him to say it first. I didn't have to wait that long because we got home, he looked at me, and just said it - out loud! He surprised me and he continues to surprise me everyday. I could not imagine my life without him. 

He proposed to me on October 11th, 2013 in Frothy Monkey...at the very same table I was sitting at the first time we ever saw each other. 

I love him so much my heart hurts. It's a feeling that I've never felt before. We've both been hurt by others, but I have never loved someone with such relentlessness. I know that in the next 50 years we will endure struggle and pain, but the love we share will go far beyond a physical or emotional hurt. He's my coffee making, piano playing, James Bond loving, Lego building, book reading, handsome looking love of my life. I can't wait to spend every moment with him." 

You should see these two together in real life...adorable! Their story is one of those that makes you believe in love at first sight. Joanna, thank you for sharing your story with me and letting me share through here! Wishing you and David nothing but continued happiness as you start this new chapter together!