Weddingbee Blog

Whenever someone asks how Sparks and I met, I usually laugh and ask if they want the long version or the very short version. The short version goes something like this:

“We met at school.”

(Like I said, it’s a very short version)

Now, the long version is what gets me laughing. Not that it’s particularly funny, but I just never expected this:

Would turn into this:

It all started our sophomore year of college. I packed up my things in Virginia, drove down to North Carolina, and moved into my sorority house. Meanwhile, Sparks packed up his things in Ohio, drove down to North Carolina, and moved into his fraternity house. And just like that, we were neighbors.

It only took a few days for my friends and I to notice the cute boys across the street, and we decided to set up a little wine and cheese “meet and greet” party for that Saturday. Sounds classy, right? Well, if red wine beer pong and white wine flip cup sound classy to you… then it was the nicest party you could have ever attended. It was at this high class shindig that I first met Sparks.

I can remember exactly what he was wearing when I first noticed him. This could be because he was 30 minutes late to his own party (Sparks is a pro at making a fashionably late entrance), but I like to think it was love at first sight. Or something like that. Anyway, I kept my eye on him all night until one of my roommates noticed me staring and introduced us. After that, we spent most of the night chatting on the back deck, or partnered up in some silly game (oh, college romance).

The next day, however, I rationalized that the connection I felt was more for my glass of wine than for the cute guy next door. So (thinking I was being smart) I decided to move on.

But moving on was easier said than done. After our little wine and cheese soiree, our two houses were nearly inseparable.

Oh Sparks, how could I not fall for that face?

Plus, Sparks was charming and persistent and seemed to pop up everywhere I went. I finally gave in when he asked for a movie date.

Well. All I can say is that I should have picked what we went to see. Because, for some reason, Sparks decided it would be appropriate to see a horrible, bloody, slasher film that night. That’s right. We went to see Texas Chainsaw Massacre on our first date.

This wouldn’t have been such a big deal (it was October after all), except that I absolutely hate scary movies. I do NOT like to be scared and I have nightmares for weeks after anything even remotely frightening. I’ll admit it, I’m a big baby. So I spent the entirety of our first date with my eyes covered, wishing we could get out of there. But despite the horrible choice of movie (and the nightmares I had as a result), I discovered I really liked spending time with Sparks. So when he asked me to be his date for a party the next weekend, I said yes…and so began the night when Sparks almost completely blew it.

(All personal pics)