Boogie Blazon

Since the engagement a couple weeks ago, I’ve been on wedding planning alert, except between the hours of 8-6, Mondays-through-Friday. Some of the things I’m working on are the wedding website (via TheKnot.com), filling up my wedding binder and trying to nail down the important details — which isn’t easy when your Mom is 3,000 miles away on one coast and your fiancé is on a boat in the middle of an ocean somewhere.

One thing that G and I are trying to do is write down the stories of us to share while they’re fresh in our minds. He’s been working on the Proposal story (since my part begins about 3/4 of the way through his!), which I can’t wait to share. First though, we’ll give you a little taste of how we met:

- late July, 2008 -

[G] I had been looking to find a soccer team to play on for the summer but didn’t know anyone around the Jacksonville area so I used craigslist and found a coed team.  About a week after my 23rd birthday I attended a party at the team captain’s house to celebrate the end of the season.

[L] About three months after I moved to Jacksonville (in 2008), I attended a young professional’s happy hour event. The host group, Social Spirits, also supported sports teams in the area rec leagues. I was invited to join the group’s soccer team when the new season started and gladly accepted the offer. The team captain invited me over for a team barbecue so I could meet the team members while they celebrated the end of the season and start of a new one. I didn’t know anyone else who would be there, but figured I had nothing to lose by going. (Best decision of my life)

[G] I think the first time I saw Lauren was when she was in the living room talking to some of the other girls on the team.  I thought she was cute but I wasn’t really trying to hit on her…at first.

[L] I first saw Garrett when he was in the backyard, playing with two little boys. Based on the other introductions I had just made, I assumed the kids were his (there were a few families there) and tried to figure out what girl at the party was with him. Garrett was one of the two cute guys I had noticed at the party, so I was a little bummed until I realized a) the kids weren’t his and b) he was alone at the party. The afternoon barbecue continued late into the night as we all played games and got to know each other.

[G] We soon started talking and flirting as the afternoon turned in night.  As the night came to a close I decided to make a move and go in for the kiss which she completely denied me.  I was undeterred by this and got my kiss in the end.

[L] As the evening went on Garrett and I flirted over board games and switched phone numbers. When he tried to kiss me as the party wound down, I denied him at first…but his crooked smile and cleverness wore me down by the end of the night.

[G] The next day I had duty but I told her I would call which of course I did.  Our second date was extremely romantic…we went to see The Dark Knight at the movie theater after she cooked me dinner!  I held her hand the entire way through and I haven’t wanted to stop since.

[L] The next day I went to mass and said a few extra prayers, asking God to let this guy be one who actually called when he said he would, and to “let me keep him around for awhile.” We had our first date the next night and soon after Garrett’s friends were teasing him that he would end up marrying me. Fast forward 18 months and here we are!