Backstory: Over the span of 3 years Boy asked Girl out 3 times and on the 3rd time Girl accepted. The 1st time Girl lived in Huntington, WV and boy lived in Bluefield, WV(3 hours apart), Girl had a boyfriend and Boy wasn't really in the best state to be starting relationship(another story). 2nd time Boy asked Girl out he had gotten his act together, but she had kind of lost her mind for a couple of years and wasn't ready for a relationship (again another story). 3rd times a charm! Girl had moved home and was attending college at MSU in Beckley, WV. Boy was working and living in Beckley as well. Both being chewed up and spit back out by the world were very guarded and untrusting of people, but thought they would give it a chance.
1st Meeting - Sometime in July: Girl meets Boy at Applebee's.
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Which neither Boy nor Girl are really crazy about, but Boy believes that all girls love Applebee's, not this Girl give her a steakhouse any day. Anyway...Smiles exchanged, sparks flew and most importantly past baggage was all dumped out on the table right there at Applebee's, and Boy & Girl still liked each other.
2nd meeting: Girl had been down such a bumpy road,
well disastrous road, in the past especially when it came to stupid boys. She didn't really trust her own judgement anymore. So she invited Boy to her little cousins baseball game in order for him to meet her family so they could give their opinions. Opinions that she used to not want, but now she gladly accepts. First impressions are important, but Girls family already knew some of Boys history, because let's acknowledge the small town and its cliches. But Girls family being the awesome people they are wiped the slate clean and accepted Boy. Boy made a good first impression and was welcomed and the blessing was given to date.
1st date: the perfect date, dinner (outback).
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and a movie, but those are just details. Boy was sweet and charming and most importantly REAL, and girl just lit up when he was around. Boy was a light of hope in a dark dreary world she had seen during the past few months. He was her real life Knight in Shinning Armor (as corny as it sounds...it's so true). Boy was comfortable with Girl and falling for her fast, because he knew she wasn't like any other girl he had ever met before.
Burnt rubber & pigs skin: Boy and Girl continue to date growing closer every passing day. They spent every waking minute together that they could. Boy lived in Beckley, and had his own business so he set his own hours. Girl lived partly at her Grandparents in the holler at Hanover, and partly with her uncle in Beckley when she had classes.They went on dates and took trips:
Bristol NASCAR Race
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WVU Football Game
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Trouble in paradise: Boy and Girl both love music so they decided to take a trip and go to an outdoor concert (X-Fest).
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Excitement, fun, and entertainment then oh no PROBLEM. We won't go into details because Boy and Girl do not need to relive the drama, so let's just say that they are both very stubborn, and they had their first REAL fight. Which led to them breaking up, leaving early, and having a miserable silent trip home. Girl cries and then gets angry. Finally Boy comes to his senses and calls Girl. Girl calms down, they talk, and eventually peace and harmony are restored and the relationship is saved.
Again Boy and Girl grow closer and are realizing that while neither Boy nor Girl are perfect, they are perfect for each other.
I love you: life has been GREAT for Boy and Girl. A few bumps in the road, but in all it has been wonderful. Oh no here comes one of those silly little arguments that keeps escalating because both are too dumb and immature to just SHUT-UP! Arguing back and forth and finally Girl slaps Boy on the arm while saying, "...because I love you, you dummy!" instantly boys expression changed, "I love you, too" both smiled, kisses and hugs, and once again all is right with the world.
The Engagement:
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"Let's Get Married!": Boy and Girl are very down to earth and simple people. They don't like crowds, drama, or big to do's. They decided after only being engaged a month that they did not want a big lavish wedding, they wanted an everlasting marriage. They hadn't set a date for a wedding or made any plans, they just decided to go with the flow. Boy and Girl set off towards Beckley because they thought they had to get Boys birth certificate from the court house in order to get a marriage license (which you do not have to have). Girl wanted to look at the consignment shop beside the court house for a dress. She had looked at dress shops and while she saw some gorgeous dresses she never saw anything that seemed to "fit". Girl went in shop, browsed dresses, then found the perfect dress. It looked somewhat like a maid Marion (from Robin Hood)dress, what she had always secretly wanted. Girl tried dress on...IT WAS PERFECT! She opened the dressing room door, and showed Boy. Breaking tradition, but nothing about this wedding was traditional, except the vows of course. Boy loved it! Boy buys Girl $60 brand new with tags, white wedding dress, and $2 pair of perfectly matching, perfectly fitting shoes.
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1 court house down, 1 to go: So Boy and Girl headed home to Wyoming County to get a marriage license. They had previously jokingly stated that if everything went smoothly and Girl found a dress they would get married in 3 days which was the waiting period from the time you got a marriage license. So Boy and Girl were on cloud 9, they were going to be married in 3 days. So they parked in front of the 2nd court house and went in to obtain a marriage license. This is when they found out that there is no waiting period anymore, but decided to make it 3 days anyway, which would make their wedding date New Year's Eve.
Announcing the News: Boy and Girl arrived at Girls grandparents home where they sprung the news to Girls family. "hey Mamaw what are you doing on New Year's Eve...would you like to attend a wedding?" Boy went home to clue his family in. Needless to say they were all shocked.
Wedding Prep: Most girls dream of their wedding all of their lives, and major plans and energy are put into place for this MAJOR life changing, amazing event...well not this Girl. True this was a MAJOR, life changing, amazing event, but it was just the beginning not the finale. Girl had 3 days to plan a wedding. Most girls stress out when they have a year to plan, but not this girl...and she only had 3 days.
To add to the madness: The winter of 2009 included a huge snow storm, power and phone lines were down, roads had been blocked and people went weeks without power.
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During this snow storm Boy & Girl were moving into the apartment they would eventually share, and Boy worried Girl sick because he was driving across WV mountains in the storm. Then she and her Popaw journeyed home to the holler at Hanover in the blizzard...oh the INSANE fun. Boy and Girl were separated because of the snow, road blocks, and phone lines being down (cell phones...haha! No service in the sticks). So when power was restored and people were getting back to the normalcy of their lives Boy and Girl set out on their crazy wedding excursion. (phone lines were still out)
Girl Delegates: Mamaw made sure the church Girl grew up in was free, Mother of the bride was in charge of Brides bouquet (real red roses) & a cake topper, father of the bride was to take pictures, and father of the groom was suppose to video the event. Mamaw was going to cook, the correct phrasing would be a reception dinner, Girl called it a "Sunday kinda dinner"...and since the electricity had been off for so long, and the grandparents had been heating with gas and kerosene the house was "a little sooty", according to Mamaw. Mother of the groom was to bring a meatloaf and grandmother of the groom pasta salad. Boy was to get a song for Girl to walk down the isle to and dress himself (which he stopped doing after "I Do"). All members had a part.
A Cake & A Preacher: Two main ingredients to a wedding are the cake and the preacher. (get a close look at the topper)
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The phones were still out so all of Wyoming County had lost touch with the world. Luckily the town that had the bakery was the same town the preacher lived in. Boy and Girl went to order a wedding cake, and discovered the most awesome bakery with the sweetest, moistest, best buttercream icing that melts in your mouth, beyond delicious cakes, had burned to the ground. This upset Girl and if she were going to feel stress at any time during her 3 day wedding preparation period this would have been the moment, because let's face it Girl loves some cake. Boy found another bakery in town, but it was closed. Wait the owner was inside taking inventory, and Boy talked her into making the wedding cake. Come on after hearing this journey wouldn't you bake them a cake too. That is one reason Girl loves Boy so much! So cake - check, on to the preachers house. Boy and Girl asked the preacher to marry them, he asked, "are you in love?". They both replied, "yes!". Preacher asked, "when will the date be?". They replied, "day after tomorrow". Preachers eyes popped open wide, then he smiled and said, "alrighty".
The Wedding: Finally the day had arrived, shew didn't think it would ever get here. Girl is relaxed, excited, and so happy. She spent the morning with her family and her dog. Coffee, shower, and getting ready...her hubby to be awaited. Snow was still on the ground and it was very cold. The weather was the reason Girl's paternal grandparents couldn't make it to the wedding. Too short of notice and just too cold and wet for their health. OH and just found out...this grandmother, do to the rushed wedding, assumed Girl was prego...she was wrong. Everyone was waiting in the sanctuary for the wedding to begin, No need for extra primping Girl was ready. Popaw was going to drive Girl around to the front door, because it was a wet nasty mess outside, where she would be escorted down the isle by her father. Well girl slipped and almost fell out of the vehicle and she hurt her ankle, but she shrugged it off and kept going. Father of the bride was having a panic attack about which foot went first when walking down the isle (and the fact that his only little girl was getting married). Bride told him to just walk normal and kissed him on the cheek. Mother of the bride was told, "when you see Popaw come through the side door of the church you start the music (which was the wedding march on an electric guitar...this suited Boy & Girl) and we will come through the doors." She did this, but failed to inform anyone else in the church house that this was going to take place. So all of a sudden Popaw came through the side door, Mother pressed play, music started, grandmother of groom said, "you better get up there!" to the Boy, so he RAN to the alter (told ya), doors opened and Girl began walking down the isle, preacher quickly got into place and asked Boy, "is this practice?", Boy said "NOPE, this is the real thing!", father of the groom tried to get the video camera started (but there were issues so no video), and father of the bride was shaking so bad he vibrated Girl all the way down the isle.
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But in all the chaos Boy & Girl were calm. They were serene and were starring at each other like they were the only two in the whole world. They were young and in love and so very happy. It was like Girl floated to Boy as if drawn by a magnetic field that surrounded him...
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Vows sealed by 3 kisses:
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But wait what about the rings...
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Boy gave Girl ring, "You may kiss the Bride". But wait what about Boys ring...
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There we go all parts completed and something mentioned about taking from each others trough and the preacher said, "I pronounce you Man & Wife, Now you kiss him." And Girl did.
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The wedding journey is over for Boy & Girl, but the life long journey of marriage, life, and love for Man & Wife has just begun.
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I so enjoyed reading and reliving your wedding.
ReplyDeleteI learned so much about you because of this post. Thank you!!
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