I wanted to write all of this down, even if it is just on my corner of the internet, because it’s a memory I never want to forget. For those of you who don’t know, my boyfriend, oh wait, FIANCÈ, & I have known each other for almost six years, & have been dating for two. He’s my best friend, & everything I could have ever asked & prayed for. This is going to the story of how we met (3 times in fact) & how he proposed! I may also spill some details on the wedding!
January 2015, the first time I saw Colton Cleveland. I was in my eighth grade year, & he was in his junior year of high school. I was at an event for my younger sister’s school & I saw this really cute guy & his friend working the bouncy house, surrounded by kids. Anyone who knows me knows that I have no problem shooting my shot, which is exactly what I did! I walked over & started to help a child I knew get on the bouncy house, & not so slyly introduced myself to this random guy. He had an infectious smile (& still does) & we immediately started talking. After about twenty or so minutes, my mom came to get me, saying we were leaving. I never got his name, but I got in the car & couldn’t stop talking about this guy. I thought about him, but since I never got his name, I didn’t dwell on it.
October 2016, I was walking around the Lumberton Village Creek Festival with a childhood friend of mine, when we ran into someone he sang in choir with. They chatted for a minute or so before I was introduced, & learned this sweet guys name. We started talking, & minutes turned into a half hour, & then two hours later, we realized our mutual friend was no where to be found & we had basically been exchanging our whole life stories. I finally got his name, got in the car, stalked him on Instagram & followed him. An hour later, he was in my DMs with a meme, which you know is the sign of a GREAT relationship. We talked, went to a few events with each other & our friends. I didn’t have a phone, so we met every Wednesday after church at Barnes & Nobles & swapped a notebook, where we each wrote daily/weekly letters to the other, & then we would give it back to the other person. Eventually he asked me to a Jingle Bell Ball, which we lasted at for all of five minutes. After we left the dance, we went a looked at Christmas lights, & took pictures under a gazebo at Alter’s Gem Jewelry, the first photo we ever took. After a few weeks, I realized Colton was leaving for college, & everyone told me a senior & a freshman in high school weren’t going to work out. We parted on good terms, & great friends. Before he left, Colton sent me a song, “I Will Wait” by Mumford & Sons. Ironic, right?
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October 2018, I was leaving church with my best friend, (& now, Maid of Honor) Jamie, where we had basically sworn off all guys together. I remember sitting in her truck, talking about how the next guy I dated was going to be my husband, & God was just going to have to drop him in my lap. Give or take about fifteen minutes, & God did just that. I walked into Chick-Fil-A, & low & behold, there was the sweet, brown eyed boy looking straight at me. I still had his number, so I texted him after, saying it was really good to see him, & let it sit on my heart about how I felt. Christmas Day, I texted him saying “Happy Holidays!” with GIF from the movie, ELF. It’s basically been history ever since. We started dating on Easter, April 21st in 2019. Want to know some sweet facts? Colton held onto that journal for almost 3 years until he saw me again. We still sing that song together, & it means the world to us. & on April 21, 2021, he got down on one knee in the very same place we took our first picture.
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So for anyone who is on this website, you already know I’m a photographer, & I have a tendency to always make time for it. My biological mom, Jennifer, had told she had two friends who wanted to get some of their photos done for their anniversary, which happened to land on the same day as Colton & I’s two year anniversary. I called Colton & told him I would be done by 5:30pm, so we had plenty of time to go to dinner & church after. He agreed, so I started getting ready. Jennifer picked me up at five, saying she would bring me, that way I wouldn’t have to worry about meeting them, or wondering where to go. I didn’t think anything of it, but hindsight is 20/20. I arrived to Alter’s Gem Jewelry wearing a sundress & Chacos, my all time favorite sandals. Jennifer told me I might want to switch my shoes & get out of the car & follow her. I’m pretty go with the flow, so I’m asking her about her friends & where they want to take pictures or maybe how the might want to pose. I walk up halfway to the side of the building, & I see my sweet man standing under the gazebo, & it hit me. Today was the day. I made my way to him & he grabbed my hands, & told me he wanted to adventure with me for the rest of our lives. He promised to protect me, to love me, & cherish me until the day he died. Of course I said yes!! After the shock wore off, I had another surprise in store. Another fifteen minute drive, & I was greeted by all of my family & his, as well as Jamie, at the restaurant where we had our first date, Napoli’s.
I can honestly say I never thought I’d get so lucky as to marry a man like Colton. When I was little, we always had fairy tales & Prince Charming, but as I grew up, I thought all that magic faded away. I’m so glad he proved me wrong, & continues to love me in new ways every single day. He’s the best Prince Charming a girl could pray for!
Absolutely no lie, I dove head first into planning. My Pinterest board went public, like I was making some BIG moves! Luckily for me, I have a pretty decent amount of experience in the wedding industry, so it was just enough to get me kick started into planning! We are getting married next fall, our favorite time of year, on a beautiful eight five acre, family owned ranch, surrounded by our friends and family. I’m thinking about making a blog post on all things wedding, but maybe later this year? I have a lot of tips at tricks, so go to my Instagram, & vote about what you want to see & hear about. I can talk about everything from dresses, to invitations, to decor, & my favorite, photography & videography! Here’s to all new & exciting things, & a lot of fun memories to be made!
On November 19th of next year, in Montgomery, TX., we get to promise forever to each other.
Jun 1, 2021