Earlier this summer I met with Kristy and Brian in the cafeteria at IKEA. With the smell of Swedish meatballs and DIY furniture in the air, they proceeded to tell me one of the most romantic stories I had ever heard. Kristy was so sweet and Brian was so calm, like “Yeah, no big deal, I hopped a flight in the middle of the night…” I scribbled down notes as fast as possible while trying to appear calm when in my head I kept thinking, “I can’t believe this actually happened. I can’t believe he actually did that.”

Kristy and Brian were married on October 1st. Shortly after their big day, I contacted Kristy to congratulate her and to let her know that their story would be on the blog this week. Kristy replied with this (unsolicited I swear!) sweet message:

The story was the best part of our ceremony!!! Sooo many people complimented us on it – got lots of laughs and even more tears!! … Thank you again so much – was one of the best investments we made for our wedding.

Laughter and tears – what more could I ask for. Here is their beautiful story.

The Meeting

It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, 1999.
In a few short weeks Kristy would be moving to Arizona.
But for that night she was still in the suburbs of Chicago.
And that night something else had her attention.

Someone else.

In a house filled with a smattering of friends in town for the holiday weekend, one person stood out.

His name was Brian.

He was cute. He was funny.  And they couldn’t help but spend the entire evening caught up in conversation.  Without an awkward moment, without any effort, the hours passed one by one as the party happening around them faded into the background.

Though it could have been the beginning of something, Kristy was moving.  Across the country.  This was certainly not the time for a “beginning.”

In the early morning hours, after the party had dissolved and the guests had fallen asleep, Kristy made a decision.  When Brian awoke, Kristy was gone.  Without a goodbye, without any way to reach her, she snuck off like a thief in the night.

Even if the thought had crossed his mind that perhaps that night could have been the beginning of something … Kristy’s stealthy exit made it clear; it was not.  And when he learned she was moving he knew for sure…  it had just been one evening of good conversation with a pretty girl.

A pretty girl who, in the back of his mind, was always there…
A pretty girl… who never forgot him.

The Second Meeting: Kristy’s  Side of the Story

Seven years later, it was the day before Kristy’s brother’s wedding. November, 2006.
It was not a good day for Kristy.
She was running late all day.
A run in with the dry cleaner meant she had to wear khakis and a sweater to a formal rehearsal dinner.
And she was without a guy at her younger brother’s wedding…
Without a guy because she was single and without a guy because she couldn’t bring just anybody to this wedding …

It wasn’t until after the rehearsal dinner that Kristy started to feel better.
She had a conversation with her cousin, Joe, and Brian happened to come up in conversation.
Brian, who Kristy talked to for only one night.
Brian, who Kristy hadn’t seen in seven years.

Brian, who Kristy never forgot.

Joe suggested calling Brian, and before she knew it, she had left him a voicemail.
And before she knew it, he had called back.
And when asked if he would fly across the country to be Kristy’s date,
he said he would see what he could do …

It was then that Kristy knew, this wasn’t just anybody.
It was Brian.

The next morning she awoke to a text message.
“Wish me luck, I’m boarding the plane.”

Her mind was flooded with “What Ifs”…
What if she and Brian didn’t have the same connection that they had before?
What if they didn’t have anything to talk about?
What if he looked totally different from what she remembered – would she recognize him?
What if he flew all the way there and regretted it?

But when she saw him for the first time at the reception, all of the “What Ifs” completely dissolved and all she could think was “Wow.”

Shortly after dinner, Kristy and Brian shared a dance or two.  And conversation rolled as if it had been barely a week since their last meeting, not barely a decade.

Where they picked up was better than where they left off.

There was no doubt this wasn’t just anybody… 

The Second Meeting: Brian’s Side of the Story

It was a Friday in November, 2006.
A pretty normal day for Brian.
He went to work.
He went to a friend’s house after work.
He had a drink.
And they watched a movie.
A pretty normal day.
Until, at midnight, he received a voicemail.  From Kristy.

Kristy, who Brian hadn’t seen in seven years.
Kristy, who snuck away like a burglar in the night, leaving not a trace.

Kristy, who Brian never really forgot.

Even though it was midnight,
and even though he hated to fly,
when asked if he would travel across the country to be Kristy’s date for her brother’s wedding,
he started looking for flights.

A few hours later, without any sleep, Brian boarded the plane.

In the back of his mind were a few “What Ifs” …

What if he didn’t recognize her brother? – It had been a long time since they played baseball together in the backyard…
What if they didn’t have a spot for him to sit?
What if he couldn’t find his way to the reception?

Brian didn’t have any “What Ifs” about Kristy…
He liked who she was 7 years ago … and he doubted that had changed.

Nevertheless, it was a lot of pressure to be the date flying down on the day of the wedding.  And when he saw Kristy for the first time, he could only muster a, “You look beautiful.”
Though it was corny, it was true.
She looked better then than she had 7 years ago.

Shortly after dinner, Kristy and Brian shared a dance or two. And conversation rolled as if it had been barely a week since their last meeting, not barely a decade.

Where they picked up was better than where they left off.

And no one snuck away like a burglar in the night.

The Proposal

Every relationship has its strengths and its areas that need a little work.  Brian and Kristy were no different.  And it was clear that one of those areas of improvement was in the area of gift giving.

Over the years they had been together, Kristy had put a lot of time and thought into giving Brian sentimental gifts and notes with heartfelt meaning.

Meanwhile, on various gift-giving occasions, Brian had either given (or gotten talked out of giving) Kristy practical gifts that he thought she would get a lot out use out of…

Like a leaf blower.

Though they both had different outlooks on gift-giving, they were working on it.  And when Christmas 2009 rolled around, Kristy was hopeful.  Hopeful until she unwrapped …

A wooden bill organizer.

Practical?  Yes.
Sentimental?  Not really.

Kristy was upset – there was no point in sugar coating it.
Kristy was so upset that all she could think to do was take a nap – right there, on the couch in her parents’ living room.

What she didn’t know was Brian had one more gift to give…
She didn’t know he had asked her parents’ permission to marry their daughter.
She didn’t know that while she slept, Brian slipped away like a burglar in the night, to retrieve the ring that had been in her family for years…

The ring that, when Brian woke her from her sleep, he was holding in his hand, asking that she marry him.

And all she could say was “Are you serious?”

…

From a chance meeting at a party in 1999, to another unlikely encounter at a wedding seven years later, and a move from the Midwest to the Southwest, here they were: Brian on his knee, giving her the best, most sentimental gift she could have ever imagined.

Kristy said yes.  After all, this wasn’t just anybody.

This was love, ten years in the making.

With Kristy, Brian knows these things to be true:

There will always be adventure.
She will always say yes to trying something new.

With Kristy, Brian will never have to wonder if he is loved – she will show him:
In her actions.
With her words.
And especially in the kitchen – with new ingredients, new recipes, new ways for him to express his passion.
In these ways, Brian knows that Kristy is always thinking of him.

With Kristy, he will no longer be the one who falls asleep first during a movie.
And he will always have to explain to her what she missed.

When life’s pace picks up, Kristy will still take the time
to help someone
to thank someone
to let someone know they are appreciated.

Her caring nature is contagious and admirable.
Her outgoing and thoughtful spirit draws people to her.
To simply be around her is exciting and comforting.
These are things he loves most about her.

With Kristy, Brian is a better person.
He can be himself.
He will be understood without a word.
Loved without condition.
Balanced without effort.

With Kristy, Brian knows his future will be filled with traveling to new places, trying new things, and having a family to eat all the leftovers.

He can’t think of anything better.

With Brian, Kristy knows these things to be true:

She will always be reminded what is important: Family. Friends. Food.
When life’s pace picks up, Brian will be there to remind her to slow down.
To relax. To enjoy the simple things.

With Brian conversation will be easy.
Road trips will never be boring.
And the grocery store will never be a chore – always an adventure.
There will always be new recipes to try and live Food Network Broadcasts from her kitchen.

She will wag less and bark more.

If ever the mood gets heavy, Brian will provide laughter at the exact moment it is needed.
She will be reminded that life shouldn’t be taken so seriously.
When she gets lost in sentiment, Brian will bring her back to reality.

With Brian, Kristy can be herself.
She will be understood without a word.
Loved without condition.
Balanced without effort.

With Brian, Kristy will never question that fate does exist and that the person you end up with can be better than what you ever imagined for yourself.