Love Story

Happy Valentine’s week! In honor of tomorrow’s holiday, I’m sharing the love story blog questionnaire that’s been making the rounds this month.

In other goings-on, I’m also thrilled to share the news that my 2012 wedding trends article, featuring advice from top industry pros, has been published at The Favour Shoppe. Please feel free to stop by and check it out! 

And now, without further ado, our story. 

How long have you and your significant other been together?

We started dating six years ago in September 2006.

How did you meet?

Stephen went to college with one of my best friends, and while I remember meeting him a couple times back then, he doesn’t! Nevertheless, we both ended up in Washington DC post-graduation, along with our mutual connection, and started spending time together as friends for a few weeks before going on our first dates. The very first was to a congressional meet-and-greet function for CSU alumni and the second, more "official" date, was to dinner at a fun Asian fusion restaurant.

If married, how long?

We were married on June 4, 2010, which I can’t believe is now almost two years ago!

Image Source: Alex Neumann Photography 

If you are married, where did you get married? Big or small wedding? 

Our wedding was held in my hometown of Thousand Oaks, California. The ceremony took place at a local Catholic church and the reception at a beautiful golf course nearby. We invited just 75 guests for a small and personal celebration.  

Do you have any nicknames for one another?

Honestly, we don’t. Nicknames, cutesy or otherwise, aren’t really our thing.

Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

He’s a genuine, driven and truly compassionate man.

Image Source: Alex Neumann Photography

Tell us how he proposed.

Stephen planned to propose down at the DC Tidal Basin during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, but the hordes of tourists and lack of parking thwarted his plan. Instead, he took me out to dinner, picked up some cake and champagne, and then asked me at home. Since I had picked out my own ring and we’d already mutually decided we wanted to get married, it wasn’t exactly a surprise to begin with.

Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for V-Day, or strawberries, champagne and rose petals?

Last year, when I was incredibly stressed about work projects on Valentine’s Day, my husband surprised me with chocolate fondue, strawberries, marshmallows, brownies and a delicious raspberry dessert wine. We kept the tradition alive this year over the weekend.

Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

I do like going out and planning special occasions, but when I’m especially busy and exhausted, I truly love to just relax at home while sipping a glass of wine in my PJs.

Last year's fondue Valentine. 

Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant other one day, if you could do anything and go anywhere.

I’d love to cruise around the world, exploring new places and sharing fabulous adventures.

Tell us what you plan on doing this Valentine's Day.

On the actual day itself, I plan to attend class for three hours and continue to work my butt off toward completing this crazy master’s program. As he always does, my husband will have a delicious dinner waiting for me when I get home, unless we both decide we want Chipotle or Potbelly instead, which is always a good deal in my book.

Give us one piece of advice for keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

Communicate.

Show us a picture of what love means to you.

Image Source: Alex Neumann Photography 

What's your love story?