I realized that I really need to get a move-on with telling the rest of our love story because after a year of Little Love Stories, I am only like 9 months into our relationship! I left our story off in the Spring of ’09 when Jacob squealed his way into my heart. I’m going to fast forward a few months to July of that year because this is when things got REAL.
It was July 25th, 2009, my older brother’s wedding day. It was a bittersweet day because, on one hand, I was gaining the sweetest sister, Ashley (you probably remember Matt + Ashley from the Little Love Story about their Christmas present or the one about “my type“), but unfortunately Jacob had booked a wedding for that day and could not attend the wedding. The day ended up being so busy with bridesmaid duties that I barely realized Jacob wasn’t there, that is, until the reception. I wanted so badly to dance with him, show him off to our family and friends, and to just be with him. Luckily, I had my other siblings and friends from high school to keep me company and dance with me throughout the night.
The night progressed with all the usual events. I smiled all the way through the slideshow of Matt + Ashley’s childhood and relationship photos. I teared up as they danced their first dance as husband and wife to “Divine Romance” by Phil Wickham. I laughed as my little brother, Stephen, gave the funniest, sweetest best man toast of all time. I bawled my eyes out when Matt brought my mom to the dance floor and surprised her with the song they would dance to, John Denver’s “Sunshine”. But when it was time for the bouquet toss, I got serious. You see, for the past few months, the realization had set in that I was only a sophomore in college, and although it had never been spoken, there was an unsaid “rule” in my family that you graduate before you get married. The problem was, that time was 2 YEARS away. I couldn’t imagine leaving Jacob every night for another 2 years. I knew my parents were in love with Jacob and that they had no doubt he was the one for me. But, I needed a chance to show them that it was “meant to be”. And this was it. This bouquet toss would be my chance to prove to my parents that it was time. I was ready to get married.
At the first note of “Single Ladies”, I stood up. The DJ called all the single ladies to the dance floor and as all the other girls were pretending they didn’t want to go out there, I walked with strength to the center of the dance floor. My time had come. And like it always does in the movies, it happened in slow-mo… Ashley danced, holding the coveted bouquet and waving it around in the air. Girls were chattering and laughing behind me, but I kept my eye on the prize.
She threw it over her shoulder and fear instantly hit me: it was going to go right over my head. I took a split second to gather the rest of my strength, I jumped higher than I ever thought possible, and for the first time in my life, I was happy I have the body type of Bigfoot, because I had caught it.
I then acted in complete shock, as if it was “meant to be”, that it had just fallen into my arms.
Rumors spread for the next few weeks that I shoved a girl to the ground before I hopped, but I cannot confirm or deny this story. All I know is that I caught the bouquet and that I would be engaged exactly one month later, but how that happened is for a different Little Love Story.
***For more of our Little Love Stories, click here.***
