I am a sucker for a good love story. Fortunately I am in a profession which feeds me a steady stream of them. This week I would like to introduce you to a darling couple with an adorable love story.
Meet Lauren and Stephen. Their love story began at a very young age. Lauren explains, “Stephen and I met in 1991 when we were in 7th grade. Stephen sat in front of me in Social Studies class…or did I sit in front of him? Our friendship grew over the next two years. We had fun holding hands and kissing under the stars. As our puppy love dwindled our friendship strengthened. We remained good friends throughout the years. Although we both attended college in Vermont, we didn’t see each other much but our friendship was one that despite time and distance we knew we were always there for one another. On January 21, 2006 all that changed. The stars aligned and we both happened to be free on a Saturday night. I met Stephen for sushi and the rest is history. Stephen picked up the tab, planted a kiss on me and we never looked back. I truly am the luckiest girl in the world to snag such a big, strong, handsome man!”
Stephen tells his version, “Lauren was super cute in 7th grade. She sat in front of me in the back left corner of the room. I was not super smooth, but I knew that if I pulled her hair enough she would eventually give in and go out with me. She finally gave in and we “dated” for 8 months (dated is in quotes because in 8th grade we did things like spend an afternoon sticking glow in the dark stars on her bedroom ceiling, watch bad television on her couch, and listen to lots of Pearl Jam). High school and life swept us apart more than it kept us together, and by the time we went to college, we were independently exploring the world, meeting new people, and growing up. Post college we saw each other every once in a while, often attending each other’s parties and seeing old friends. When we got together for dinner to catch up, we talked through dinner and then quite some time after dinner, neither one of us wanting our time together to end. Somehow we magnetized together into a kiss that lasted well into the night. That kiss was the beginning of a relationship that has been constantly developing, evolving, and growing into something that will last forever. Lauren is a very special person and I am very excited to spend the rest of my life complaining about all of the things that she does that drive me insane.”
In true form first came love for Lauren and Stephen, then, I will let them take it from here. Lauren shares her story, “Stephen is one sneaky devil. Having been together almost five years I have dreamed of the proposal many times but never did I expect it the night of Thursday, September 30, 2010. Thursday was my extra crazy day. For once I was actually going to make dinner (that never happened!) and planned to grocery shop after work. I ended up having time to go grocery shopping at lunch, so when Stephen called to find out my arrival time he was a bit surprised that I was already over the bridge at 7:30 pm! I pulled up to our house and I noticed the lights were off, but didn’t think much of it. As I was walking up the front stairs I noticed a tea light candle with a note card that said ‘Let’s play your favorite game.’ Ha! I knew where this was going…a scavenger hunt! Stephen is the sweetest and had done a fabulous scavenger hunt for me over the summer leading up to one of my most favorite presents ever, my Soda Stream fuzzy water maker! I must admit that during that scavenger hunt I definitely had some thoughts that it would be sooooo perfect if he had a ring at the end of the tunnel! As I entered our condo all the lights were off, there were candles scattered about, each with its own clue leading me from room to room. Finally I went out onto our back deck. The final clue was out there laying at the bottom of a 10′ ladder. It said ‘come up’! Eventually Stephen peeked his head down and offered me a hand. Once up there, I noticed that he had our two favorite beach chairs set up, with more candles and sparkling juice…pear and apple for me to choose from (ordinarily it would have been champagne, but I was in the midst of a 21 day cleanse!). Believe it or not I still had absolutely no idea about what was to come. A candlelit scavenger hunt around our home on a random Thursday night is just something that Stephen would do, especially after such a long, hectic week. As I was sitting there sipping my juice, he was standing over me. I looked up at him and said ‘Well, aren’t you sweet. You’re just full of surprises tonight.’ He looked down at me and said ‘I have one more surprise for you.’ and proceeded to reach into his pocket as he simultaneously got down on one knee. Stephen spoke three of the most beautiful sentences I have ever heard. I don’t think I gave him an answer for a few seconds and then after his prompting I said…’YES!!!’ I then looked at the ring, which was STUNNING and he said he didn’t know which hand to put it on. I stuck out my left hand and he sealed the deal. We sat on the roof of our home with the wind blowing and clouds whipping by overhead, soaking up what we had just committed to one another. I can honestly say with my whole heart and soul that that was the happiest moment of my life!”
Stephen recalls that special evening, “I remember the first time Lauren asked me to marry her. No, scratch that, asked me to propose to her. It was a crisp fall day in 2007… fast forward to fall 2010. Buying a ring is scary… very scary. On my first visit to the diamond store I saw Pauly D from Jersey Shore walk past me and go into the building next door. I was very excited to tell Lauren when I got home that day, until I realized that there would be no way to explain what I was doing standing in front of the Jewelry Exchange Building on a Tuesday at 3 pm. Fast forward a month or so to Wednesday, September 29th, I picked up the ring. By the next day, the ring was burning a hole in my mind. I had originally envisioned a camping trip that upcoming weekend, which we cancelled in a heated argument about how I never do anything for her birthday (except buy her a diamond ring). By 5:30 pm that Thursday night as work was winding down, I decided to do it. I biked home at top speed, put together the scavenger hunt while downing a couple of scotches, hopped in and out of the shower, and went up to the roof to wait. From the roof I could see her car pull up. She came up on the porch out of site, entered the house, and I waited. And waited and waited. It turns out she is not that good at her favorite game. By the time she got to the back porch, she was utterly confused and calling out my name. I peeked over the edge of the roof and invited her up. The sky was pretty and the sun had set, so darkness was falling. On adrenaline and scotch I wandered through the motions of talking about the yoga class she just taught and watching her smile and the sparkle in her eyes. When she said ‘you’re full of surprises’ I took the unplanned cue and pitched the most important one, to which she dumbfoundedly and silently reacted in facial expressions and the forward arm jerk. She eventually said yes, after the ring was on and I pressed her for a clear and specific response. Lessons learned from this experience: cargo shorts were a good idea on the roof (ring in right cargo pocket). Scotch soothes savage beasts (two little glasses). Planning is overrated (nothing I originally planned happened and it worked out perfectly anyway).”
I am so honored and delighted to be working with Lauren and Stephen to write the next chapter of their love story, their wedding, planned for 9.10.11. The save the date, designed by the couple, is as adorable as their love story.
by Sarah
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