wow! I wish I was getting married in NY!

Zeph says knew he wanted to marry me the first time he laid eyes on me. I knew the first time he cooked me dinner. Now we're planning to get married and start our own business together where we can cook together all day. I have no doubt that he's the perfect partner for the rest of my life. I learn something new from him every day and lucky for me, he finds me endlessly delightful!

Very excited because today we finally set the date and confirmed the venue…October 3, 2010 at Studio Square’s Empire Suite in Long Island City, Queens.

Our story is…well…I kind of think it’s out of a movie. You know when you watch a romantic comedy and the girl doesn’t like the guy at first and then they slowly become friends? Then the girl suddenly finds herself liking the guy more than just a friend and one night they kiss and everything changes?
That’s what happened with me and Dan. He is the executive chef at the restaurant I work as a waitress at. I’ve known him for 4 years and at first didn’t like him at all. About 2 1/2 years ago, his parents came into the restaurant and I waited on them. They were soooooo nice. You know when you just click with people and their personality? That day I thought, “There is no WAY that Dan can be that bad with parents that nice. They’re the kind of people you’d want as your in-laws.” From that day forward I made an extra effort to get to know him. Over the course of the past 2 years we would chat at work and laugh about silly work stuff, but that was it.
Then, April 29th 2009, we went out for a co-workers birthday party. That was it. We shared a cab back to Brooklyn and we kissed. “I love you” came formally in July, but both of us felt it before that. October 17th, he proposed. It was his birthday and we were in Long Island visiting his family. It was the most perfect moment. I photograph proposals for a living (men hire me to photograph their proposal as a surprise to their future fiance) so the first thing he said before he went down on one knee is “There’s no one hiding in the bushes taking our pictures”. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I did just fine with my iPhone afterward!
I feel very lucky indeed. I feel like there can’t possibly be anyone more in love with each other than Dan and I, though I’m sure some would argue that. :-) In any case, I found my perfect guy. The guy who makes everything in my life just better. I look forward to everything now. It’s a wonderful feeling.

I can’t wait for October 3rd!!!!

How unfortunate that i'm an engaged LA girl! But in the midst of all these wedding competitions, i hope all bride to bes will also try the crate and barrel wedding contest! http://www.crateandbarrel.com/ultimatewedding/default.aspx - It is too good not to share with other engaged couples!!

How exciting that something like this actually exists! My fiance and I live and Brooklyn and long to have a fabulous New York wedding! We met when I was thirteen and he was sixteen on a cruise that both of our families were on! We lived on opposite sides of the country though, which made things interesting. We kept in touch over the years, and my fiance and I eventually fell in love. After 7 wonderful years, my fiance proposed on the eve of my birthday, and we decided to make it official in our favorite city in the world. I am originally from Atlanta, and my fiance is from New Jersey. We live in an apartment in Williamsburg, with our cat Thrifty. We are hoping to get married on October 2nd, the prettiest weekend of the year. We would love to be considered for this as we definitely have a budget and feel sort of lost in the whirlwind of wedding planning!

Hello lovely Inspired Goodness creators! I met you this past weekend at the Chicago Indie Wed. My fiance and I were both wearing western shirts. I might have told you a bit about the wedding! We are getting married on September 11th, 2010 which will be our 10 year anniversary, exactly to the day! We are planning to get married in a barn in St. Louis, MO. Now, I know this doesn't qualify as New York Area, but I thought I would at least get my name out there. I am also trying for the Crate and Barrel wedding contest, but to be perfectly honest, I would rather work with you and your team! Your booth was so amazing, I gravitated right to it! I hope to stay in touch.....if you have a chance check out my blog... www.sarahsconfections.blogspot.com
I don't have many followers, but it is a great place to store all of my wedding ideas! Hope you had a safe trip back! I'm so glad to have met you!

Here's to the East Coast!
Sarah

Michael and I met in law school 5 and a half years ago. Our story is very simple - we got to know each other as friends, until I quickly realized what a catch he was and made a shy, but courageous, effort to pursue him. And just as I was about to give up, he finally asked me out. ;)

Since then, we've had so many wonderful experiences and have lived in NY together for a little over two years. We always talk about how our favorite time is waking up on a weekend morning, grabbing a coffee and going for a walk together. There's nothing we love more. And one October rainy day, we grabbed some fresh goods at the farmers market, made ourselves a nice brunch and had our special coffee date at home. It was perfect. And when Michael got down on one knee to ask me to marry him - well, it was the icing on the cake!

Since then, it's been a whirlwind of wedding planning! We're trying to focus on the big picture and use our budget towards what's most important to us. And it would be great to have some extra help to bring the little, special details to life! Thanks for considering us!

Jared was my first slow dance when I was 12. In high school I thought that he would instantly be my boyfriend. I was wrong. We ran in completely different circles. The night before my junior prom, all of my friends had decided to bring dates. I called him up and asked if he would come. Worst junior prom date ever. He showed up after all the pre-prom pictures were over. He did not dance with me, maybe once. Then had to leave early and missed my entire after party held at my house! 10 years later he runs into my cousin at a bar. Asks for my number and persistantly calls, instant messages, emails, etc. I turned him down the first entire month. I tried to set him up with my roommate just so he would stop asking me out. I succumbed and went to see a "friendly" movie with him. After he had walked me home he tried to kiss me. I was in shock. Had he thought it was a date? Soon after we became fast phone friends, email buddies and then dance dates. I went with him to a wedding of a friend of his that he needed a last minute date to as well. Jared proposed to be November 20, 2009 in our high school gym. He had recreated my junior prom with a table for two, flowers, photos and a banner that read "Shari and Jared's forever prom". He got down on one knee, held out the ring and said "I was your first dance, we danced again in this very room, and I want to be the last person you ever dance with. Will you marry me?" I took the ring, kissed and hugged him. He made it point to tell me in all the excitement I never even said yes! I exclaimed yes! Of course! We are getting married this October 9th, 2010 at Tappan Hill Mansion in Tarrytown, NY. I am marrying the only man I want to dance with for the rest of my life. Sometimes your past can turn into your future.

Sorry to double post - I forgot to leave our wedding details! September 18, 2010 at Twenty Four Fifth in Manhattan!

Brian and I worked together, but I didn't know him that well until we went out for a co-worker's birthday. I don't think I ever really saw him brfore that night. Unfortunately, he had a serious girlfriend. We became close friends in that "we would be dating but...." kind of way. Then he moved away for a new job and I spent the next 2 years trying to find a boy like him.

He moved back home after breaking up with the girl and we spent 3 months doing a back and forth until New Year's Eve. Through some misunderstanding, each thought the other was supposed to call. I finally got through to him at 5 am and, being a couple of cocktails in, decided give him hell for standing me up. After a few minutes of me yelling about how he needed to figure out what he wanted in the time it took to hail a cab to my apartment or forget about it, the buzzer rang. There was Brian, with chocolate doughnuts and Yoohoo, telling me he loved me.

That was 4 years ago, and we'll be married on November 6 at my childhood church with a recption at Landmark on the Park.

Anthony and I met at a camp-out on Fire Island five years ago. I am not usually a spontaneous person (much more of a planner/overthinker) and was invited on this trip at the last minute by a mutual friend, who was raving about his friend's campfire cooking. I don't know what came over me - I didn't even have a tent! - but I decided to go along for the ride. Anthony made very delicious pulled pork, I brought a jar of my homemade pickle relish to add to the mix and, lo and behold, the combo was a big hit. We talked a bit that weekend, had a lot in common, but didn't exchange numbers and each went our own way on Monday morning.

Two weeks later Anthony sent me an email requesting the recipe for my pickle relish; a month of wordy emails and missed connections followed. One night at 2am I decided enough was enough, we needed to go out on a date and told him so (again, completely out of character). We went out that was it for both of us. Within three months, we were living together; now we're cooking together every night, making jams and pickles and preserves as often as possible, camping on Fire Island every summer and planning a for a wedding this November.

Your website is an inspiring breath of fresh air in the fluffy wedding world. It has been so overwhelming (and sometimes downright difficult) communicating our ideas and interests and staying true to ourselves - and our budget - as we begin to plan. Thanks for your consideration!

Chris and I met in front of ice cream truck during an art opening. We first started talking about the environment and our respective art practices. Shortly afterward we rode bicycles and checked out art openings in the Lower East Side and Williamsburg. It was the first time for me to ride across the Willie Bridge, and so for me that alone made the evening memorable. For Chris, he knew he had a chance because I showed up wearing a skirt. (He borrowed a neighbor's bicycle for me.) Our second date was two days later to go to Bike Shorts at Solar One in the Stuyvesant Cove. Bike Shorts premiered two of Chris' short films. We've been inseparable ever since.

A year later we rode our bicycles from East Village up to Central Park to have an anniversary picnic. (Chris's first gift to me was a bicycle, and he gave me it me so I could ride my first Critical Mass.) After dinner, he gave me an "I love you" charm for my charm bracelet, which was huge. I've had this charm bracelet since childhood. Chris said "I love you" after a week of dating. I felt and responded "I love you". Then he gave me a box that supposedly had my charm bracelet so I could put the charm on it. When I opened the box, I began crying when I saw my engagement ring. I looked up at Chris and he said the magic words, "Will you marry me?" I said "Yes!"

During the first week of our engagement my mother called everyday with wedding ideas. By Saturday Chris asked me to stop wedding planning and simply enjoy being engaged. A week turned into a few months. Now I'm planning our engagement party and wedding dress shopping. Chris surprised me at Christmas with a website he designed about us and our wedding.

Our wedding date is set for September 25, four days after the day we first met, love at first sight. We're going to get married on
Governor's Island at Picnic Point with the Statue of Liberty behind us. We renting bicycles and pedicabs for our guests to join us.

As artists, we treasure visuals and communication. Thank you for this wonderful contest and introduction to your work! Plus letting me share three very dear and extraordinary days of my life.

The first time I saw Ben in my co-ed college dorm, he was cooking a giant New York Strip steak in a confectioners oven. I knew right away that any guy with that much perseverance was someone I’d like to get to know. Soon I came to realize that this guy who kept popping up in that unimpressive kitchen, the laundry room, and the local diner was the same guy I’d been staring at from afar in the giant lecture hall class I had two days a week. Something was drawing me to him everywhere I went.

And then, one day, as I waited for the subway to come, there he was, standing next to me. We talked about music and college and what brought us to New York City and then we cooked together in that dreadful kitchen (I prepped, he played chef). Six years later, Ben cooks for me every night from the Brooklyn apartment where we live.

I hope that our upcoming October wedding will be a reflection of some of these simple life pleasures that we’ve enjoyed together over the years. When it comes down to it, we both want our wedding to be a pure, merry showing of our love -- a reflection of who we are as a couple. And if we could have some Inspired Goodness to help make that a reality, all the better!

Thanks for hosting this contest :)

I went to New York to study a diploma. I was staying at my sister's house. She told me about a restaurant she wanted us to go to. After a long shopping day,and lots of walking I wasn't to happy when she mentioned she couldn't find the place. Ciprani (soho) was just infront of where we were standing, so we went it.

On the bar, a very good looking man was seated stearing at me. He was wearing a blue polo shirt with a raised collar. He said -Bon soire-. I answered -bon soire-. My sister and I kept walking to our table. Some minutes after he sent us two bellinis. I sent him a note thanking him. He then came to our table and introduced himself.
He told us he was french and had been living in New York for 7 years. I told him my story as well.

It was fantastic. We just clicked. He asked what we were going to do that night and I said we were open to ideas. He invited us to the Gold bar. My sister and I went home (which was very close) to change clothes. He asked for my phone number. He kept asking me to swear I would come back. I obviously came back and we went to Gold bar.
After a few more drinks he tried to kiss me. It was an alcohol reaction, so I felt disapointed and left.
The next day he called me wondering if I was up for a walk in Central Park. I had been all day thinking of him, so I went. We were together for one month in NY, but then I had to go back home (Mexico). The day I left he told me he was going to visit me in two weeks. He showed me his ticket. For one year he went to Mexico every two weeks. I spent christmas and other holidays with him in New York. Long story short, we are living together now. He proposed on december 19 with a small rally. It was lovely. I can't wait for our wedding. We are planning on getting married the first week of december...
We haven't set up the details, but we want to get married on the first days of december.

Mat and I met via a friend at a Razorlight concert. He was my plus one and I thought he was very cute. My friend told me he was in a band, and although I'm in the music biz too, I tend to stay away from dating musicians. Plus he spent most of the evening talking to the lead singer of another band I won't mention about pedals and instruments, so I was bored.

After a couple of months of hanging out, I realized that he was not your typical "boy in band", not even close. He is incredibly genuine and sincere and caring. I could tell that I was starting to like him, so I invited him over for dinner one night. At the same moment I asked him over for dinner, I got embarrassed because I never ask out guys, so I told him that it was actually a little dinner party with two other friends of mine.

Trouble was, I hadn't actually invited my other friends yet, so when they stumbled onto the conversation and Mat said "so I'll see you guys for dinner tomorrow", they weren't aware of my plans. I told them they were invited too.

The next night when everyone arrived, it soon became clear that it was meant to be a date with me and Mat, but then here were two more guys in the mix. It was awkward to say the least, but I did prepare a nice 4 course meal so everyone seemed pleased.

From that night forward, we were a couple. It's hard now to imagine my life without Mat. He makes everything ten times better. When it's right, you just know it. It's like a switch that goes off and all those other cliche's that people speak about love and that are suddenly true when it finally happens to you.

As a couple, we're always making each other laugh. We love going to see bands play in our neighborhood (we're in the LES). True to his Aires nature, Mat is very adventurous, so he's always taking me out to some great little restaurant or on a fun date in the city. He's also very handy, and we've been spending the past few months fixing up our place.

Our best moments, are when we're home together, curled up on the couch, with our little kitty sitting on our lap. We just want to be together for the rest of our lives and that's the decision we've made. December 2010 will be the month and our wedding will definitely have a romantic rock n roll fantasy vibe.

We've got most of the style and feel of the wedding planned out, just looking for exact vendors to help us execute the look.

She & Him

I met Jacob at a vegan restaurant in Vancouver, Canada. The floors are dusty, the place is small, the wood is tattered, the patrons are loyal, the aroma of the restaurant was of thai peanut sauce, and in that moment my world was simply perfect. Unfortunately at that time, Jacob had a girlfriend.

I didn't forget him though.

Four years later, Jacob and I met again- but this time, in Jerusalem. I was living there, and he was visiting his family. A plan to go to the park as friends turned into a 10 hour long conversation, with us wandering the streets and sitting on the curb- totally unaware of our surroundings- and interested only in each other. From taste in films to thoughts about Purell to our personal ethics, it was a match. We both knew it. I certainly knew it. Only one problem- now I had a boyfriend.

I broke up with the boy and decided to move back to Vancouver- and to this day wont admit that it had anything to do with those witty emails we were sending back and forth ;)

When we started dating, Jacob was full of surprises. In Jerusalem I mentioned in passing that I loved swirls because they remind me to stay centered and to breathe. In order to prove that he knew that day in Jerusalem that I was the one, he bought out an entire Jerusalem artist's market of all their swirl jewelry- and gives them to me on special days.

Last May, Jacob took me back to our favorite vegan restaurant where we also met. He took out a box that looked like it packaged yet another swirl- a reminder of how fast he fell in love. But that day, on those same dusty floors which we had met five years earlier, he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. It was a huge surprise.

I couldn't be happier.

We are now living in New York and plan to get married Spring 2011 in the city. Jacob is a filmmaker and I study environmental ethics and photography, so we hope to incorporate our aesthetic in to our event- we want everything at our wedding to reflect our taste.

Side note: Jacob LOVES superman. So much so in fact, that he secretly wishes we could get married in the "fortress of solitude". As much as I want to make his dreams come true, an ice castle just doesn't go with our spring wedding! ;)

We love the vintage chic look; most of our furniture pieces are 'dumpster dive' finds off the streets of new york that we've treated and refurbished (and cleaned!). We love listening to old records, and often slow dance in our tiny apartment. I hope to give our guests a sneak peek in to our lives on our special day!

Kal and I (Elizabeth) definitly have a unique story...

Background about us is that we are an interfaith/interculture couple. Kal is Palestinian Muslim and I am German/Scottish/American Indian Catholic. I work as a registered nurse and Kal works in the IT dept at a hedge firm in Manhattan.

We both were not looking for love when we met, but I can definitly say I truly believe in fate and love at first site!! I met Kal at a time in my life where I was just having fun with my friends and was not looking for anything serious...for Kal the same...he wanted to marry a Muslim woman to make his family happy...So one night I was on my way to Pt Pleasant, NJ to meet up with some friends and heard halfway there that there was a blackout. So plan B was Belmar, NJ. And that is where I met Kal. I was hanging out with my best friend and saw Kal standing in a group of people...and our eyes just locked. I seriously couldn't take my eyes off of him...He came right over and immediately asked me out to dinner the following week. I honestly felt something draw him to me and I still can't explain it. Which is a little embarressing now for me lol. If it wasn't for that blackout, I would have never met my groom to be!

So after a year of monogomous causual dating, we decided to really go for it and try to make it work. I love learning about his religion and culture and his family embraced me with open arms. And same for Kal...I couldn't have met a better fit for myself and my family! I honestly never pictured myself marrying outside of my religion/culture but Kal truly is the man I have always been looking to share my life with. He is the type of guy who would not only take the shirt off his back for you, but also give you his socks!!

So fast forward three and a half years (December 23, 2008) and Kal takes me to the restaurant Cabanas (in the South Street Seaport) where we had our first date. After dinner, the waiter brings over the dessert menu and on the special of the night it reads "Elizabeth...will you marry me". I was totally shocked and of course said yes. I love that he did it at the place where we had our first date and has such a special meaning to us both...and did it on a memento that I can keep forever (that is now in a frame on my nighttable!) The night is still such a blur for me, but I remember staring at me ring with the biggest smile on my face as I fell asleep that night. (We also took our engagement pictures at the South Street Seaport in homage to his proposal there!)

Kal and I are now planning a wedding on Staten Island on 10/10/10. We are incorporating both of our cultures into the ceremony and reception (belly dancers for example!!) and we are really looking forward to a big beautiful wedding. Our colors are plum, gold and champagne and are looking to have a warm, romantic, classy feel.

We would love to be considered for your contest. We would love to incorporate some amazing and unique paper goods that show us as a couple and both of our backgrounds.

Thank you!
Elizabeth & Khaled
10/10/10

i love this idea..

Here's our love story :)

A little over 2 years ago, my friend Regina invited me to her birthday party at a restaurant in Brooklyn. I was going through a REALLY rough time with guys and really did NOT want to attend this birthday, knowing that all the people there will be coupled up. My best friend, who is also best friends with Regina, called me and almost begged me to get out of the house and go there. I finally decided that it was time for me to get off my bootayyy and get out of the house. I got dressed in whatever I could find in my closet (which actually looked kind of cute), and went. On my way there, I called my cousin and cried my eyes out to her about how much I didn't want to be surrounded by couples and how much I hated love and everything about it, to which she said "just go, you never know, what if you meet someone there tonight??". I parked the car, waited until my eyes weren't as puffy and red, got myself together and walked to the restaurant. When I got there, I said hello to everyone and I sat down. I looked to my left.. and I saw my best friend with her boyfriend, next to her was my other friend with her boyfriend, and so on.. On my left however, was this guy.. I've never seen him before..and he was sitting next to me.. looking all sorts of good.. lol. He leaned over and asked "Hey, is anyone taking care of you?" To which I said "Not yet".. And then after some sarcasm and laughs, he leaned over and said "By the way, I have a secret, but you have to promise not tell anyone" .. I thought to myself...OH GREAT.. HERE WE GO.. and then he said "I'm the prince of the world".. AHH SARCASM <3 .. To which I responded "NO WAY, I'm the princess of universe" lol. (We've had a few drinks in our system already lol).
That night, as he left the restaurant, he texted me 5 minutes later with "You're SO hot".. And I think we've spent every single day together since then until now.
Our Engagement..
We decided to go to Costa Rica for New Years with 2 other couples.. The morning before New Years (12/30/09), Arthur (my love) woke me up at 6am and asked me to go take a walk on the beach with him to see the sunrise. Now, every other normal girl would probably say HERE IT COMES!!!! But not me! My fiance is the type of guy who does stuff like that.. He's very loving, romantic and I love him for it. So after complaining that I'm still sleepy, I realized that this is our only moment to be alone on this trip, so I should probably just go. I woke up.. Put on a dress and we headed towards the beach. After we got to El Coco Beach, we walked around and just admired the view. (The moon was still out, and according to our Costa Rican waiter, it only happened once every 18 yrs that a full moon is out on New Years. ) All of a sudden he sat down and asked me to sit next to him.. to which I said 'No thanks, I'm in a dress and I'm not in the mood to get sand in places it doesn't belong" lol. He got up and took a little memo book our of his pocket and said "Should we write some stuff down?". I saw that something was already written in it, and I asked to see what it was. When I first opened the book, the first page said something along the lines of "Baby, we've been together for 2 years, 22 days, 14 hours, 34 minutes and 17 seconds and you're my best friend, I can't imagine my life without you".. He crossed some stuff out.. so he then told me to go on because he wrote a few drafts. The next page said almost the same thing but more.. and some stuff was also crossed out.. the 3rd page was the same and some stuff was crossed out. He told me to keep going and so I did.. The 4th page said IRINA, the 5th page said WILL, the 6th page said YOU...and I never got to read the rest of it..He was down on his knee (crying)..and I was in complete SHOCK!!!!!! I couldn't believe this was happening...It was BEAUTIFUL and I couldn't image my life any other way!!! As I write this, I tear up, mainly because I still can't believe how LUCKY i am to be with my best friend, my love, the best thing to ever happen to me.. And how LUCKY I am that he picked ME to be his forever!!! <3

I forgot to add that our wedding is on October 2, 2010 at Chinar in Brooklyn, New York!!! :)

I firmly believe fate brought us together, and I say that as a convert. Two years ago, I was set to marry another guy, with whom I had a serviceable, perfectly unremarkable relationship. I accepted it readily, as I never believed in fate or soul mates - I was the classic pragmatist and fancied myself too intellectual for such things. Boy, was I wrong! After beginning a new job, I sat down to chat with one of my new coworkers at a work event...and didn't move from my chair for 6 hours. Long after the group had left and the restaurant was closing, we were still talking...about politics, values, culture, friends, music, literature, and everything else under the sun. The next morning, I woke up, and I knew my life had changed completely and for good.

The story of how we fell in love is quite simple, but the way we fit together continues to amaze me. I never thought I'd meet someone who shared my values and my quirks, down to my love of singing silly made-up songs about the cat or quoting vintage Simpsons episodes (but really, who doesn't enjoy a good Ralph Wiggum imitation or a Taylor Swift rendition where our 20 lb tabby is the main character?). We have often remarked that we didn't think it was possible that a person like the other actually existed. I feel like the luckiest person on earth that I've met my true match.

So, when Gib asked me to marry him, it was more of a collaboration than anything else. As classic type-As, we had already worked out many of the basics and all that was left was the ring. Many people relish in the theatrics of a big proposal, but ours was private, sweet, and more of a way to wrap up what we had begun together, as a team. When we discussed the possible anti-climatic effect of a proposal after the date was set, he summed things up perfectly: "How could you ever be surprised, anyway? You've known this was coming since our first date!"

We are getting married in September 2010, in Garrison, NY with our dearest family and friends in attendance. We are also lucky enough to have many of the people who watched our relationship bloom standing up with us as bridesmaids and groomsmen. I feel like we have it all, right there, but we admittedly could use some help with the design elements of the party. We love a modern look with a touch of whimsy, and are seeking to use as many natural elements as possible to help the design complement, rather than compete with, the stunning natural beauty of the site.

The contest is a wonderful idea, and I've really enjoyed reading everyone's heartwarming love stories. Best wishes for a lifetime of happiness to all the brides and grooms out there!

We met on the historic aircraft carrier the Intrepid, "the most inspiring adventure in America".

We are driven and inspired by Guevara's Motorcycle Diaries, Hunter S. Thompson's antics, Tony Bourdain's attitude, Nina Simone's rawness, George Romero's zombies, and of course....Indiana Jones, the most super fly hero in the world. Together, we have trekked through Nepal, roamed the back roads of Peru, skydived in the Keys, ice climbed on Mt Washington… affording us gazillions of (give or take a few) opportunities to witness one another at our smelliest, sickest, and grumpiest times (and yes, we were quite stinky).

He proposed on our 5th day of biking through the small towns of Cappadocia. Scaled up a chimney rock, perched inside an open hole overlooking the picturesque landscape, sweaty, smelly, and covered in dust, it was our perfect moment. It was probably one, out of oh-so-many, of my least attractive Kodak moments, but this was what we loved about one another.

Yet, despite our travel dreams and folly, New York has always been our home base. We live here, fell in love here and learned here, but we are looking to grow. So our wedding is our farewell to the city we have grown up with. We aspire to not have the most beautiful wedding money can buy, but a wedding that cherishes the history of who we are - that is our family, our friends, our city....old New York.

Set to wed at Prospect Park's historic Boathouse, on September 4th, it is the scene of our first few dates – yummy sandwich in one hand, happy dog in the other. It represents us individually - a Parkie and a Brooklynite. It is one of New York's first historical landmarks, amazingly saved within 48 hours of being destroyed (thank you wiki). We hope you will help us give this moment to our most cherished friends and family in honor of their love and support, and their hardships endured in this is once rough and tumble city that we are about to leave. New York is a city of travelers on different journeys, and ours began here.

I met Paul by chance two and a half years ago. I was travelling in Europe with my best friend and we were down to the last couple of days on our trip. Paul was also on a European holiday with a few of his mates and his adventures were just beginning. I think the best way to tell our story would be to take an excerpt from an email I wrote to another friend just before I was about to get on the plane to head back home from this whirlwind holiday.

August 2, 2007
Carley, Oh my God – I don’t even know where to begin. I went out with Jenn on the first night we landed in Lagos, Portugal (3 days ago) and I have been on cloud nine ever since. You know how they say that when you are not trying to meet someone, then THAT IS WHEN you will find them? Well, whoever said that is right – and I know you will think I am crazy, but I have found him. Paul – he is Australian (well American/Australian) and he is incredible. I don’t know what in the world prompted me to go up to him in an alley way (believe it or not) – but something was just drawing me to him. I even used a really cheesy pick up line “Your name is Colin right, we met earlier?” he saw right through me – laughed but then continued to have a conversation with me for the next 6 hours. 6! We walked around the little back alleys of Lagos chatting the entire night – completely oblivious to the fact that everyone had left everyone in our party. Finally at about 8am I said I had to go back to my guest house, but we made plans for the next day. So...we met the next day and that is when I got to formally meet his 3 other buddies, and they got to meet Jen. We all went out on a little tour of the grottos and then had dinner together. Once again – Paul and I leaving the party early to walk around talking and trying to spend ever second possible together. See that was the problem, he was supposed to leave for Barcelona the next day while I had one more to spend in Lagos. I would have totally hopped on a plane with him – but unfortunately Jen and I are sort of out of funding now. (Let’s just say we have had a “we can’t afford not to” policy on this trip, kinda got the better of us in London and Paris!)
ANWAY.....So without going in to ALL THE DETAILS !!xox!! (which I will fill you in on later), the next day we all had breakfast together just before Paul and his friend were heading out to the airport and....HE DECIDED TO MISS HIS FLIGHT! Can you believe that!!! He just didn’t go to the airport! He asked me to stay on and travel with him, asked me to meet him in Poland next week for his friend’s wedding – I told him I couldn’t because I had to be back for work and that I was kind of out of funding – and so he stayed! Yesterday was the most incredible day I have ever had in my life. Never thought someone could ever make me feel so incredible. We were just so comfortable around each other. AHHHHH! I am bursting with excitement – I haven’t even stopped to think about the logistics (Oh yes, he is currently living in Sydney, Australia and that is a bit of a hike to Canada so not quite sure how this is going to work!!!) Anyway, I will be home by tomorrow and will have to get a big slap in the face with reality. Miss you – will fill you in on all the missing pieces as soon as I get back! Oh yeah.........Forgot to mention, not that I am already planning our wedding or unborn children’s names or anything....but HIS PARENTS MET ON HOLIDAY TOO!!!!!!! His Dad is Australian and met his NYC mother while in Tahiti! No joke, they have been married 30 years! *Wishful thinking!

Present day
Reading that again just brought back the craziest feelings. I remember at that point not knowing what was going to happen. Well – when I got back to Canada I talked to Paul every single day for three months. At the end of three months I got on a plane and took the biggest chance of a lifetime and moved to Sydney, Australia. Two and a half years later he proposed!

It has been the most incredible journey for us. This last year has been an extremely difficult one as Paul has lost his job twice because of the global financial crisis – but we have literally come out stronger as a couple because of it and are now happily engaged and in the middle of packing up and getting ready to take another big leap and move over to New York this April. We are set to wed at the Hotel on Rivington, NYC on October 8th. We met on holiday, came from opposite sides of the world, and somehow managed to beat all the odds. It is the fairytale romance that I never thought existed in real life and it is our story to tell forever.

I'm sure Thomas (the groom to be) can tell this story better than I can, but I'm going to give it a shot! :)

Thomas and I met in college in Texas almost 8 years ago. We were cast as husband and wife in a play. I was a smitten kitten in the beginning but didn't think he had the same feelings for me. Luckily, a mutual friend clued him in on my feelings and a few months after we met, he confessed his "like" for me. We've been dating ever since - over 7 and a half years. After we started dating, he transferred to another school about a 3 hour drive away from me. So, for the first 3 years we dated, it was long distance - but it was worth it. It made our time together so much more special. In 2006 I got a job offer in NYC and decided to move, luckily, Thomas moved with me. We've been living here ever since. We live in Sunnyside Queens with our cute mutt Zoey. This past Christmas, Thomas proposed - he bought the most gorgeous antique ring - I was very impressed that he totally got my style...but after 7 years, I would hope he would ;) He put wrapped the ring in 6 boxes (russian doll style) - so I had to open this big box and get down to the smaller box. I couldn't believe it when it happened. We quickly new we had to get married in NYC. It's our new home and we want to share it with our family back in Texas. Setting the date was just as easy. September 5, 2010. My mom and dad were married on that day. Since my father passed away about 17 years ago, it's just a great way to celebrate their love and honor him and my mom at my wedding. My parents eloped and never were able to have a wedding so it's almost like I'm having my wedding and the one my mom wasn't able to have.

I can't wait to just celebrate love.

Our love story is about a New York rock-chick – me - meets tough on the outside, sensitive on the inside Architect - Dan. We are a unique combination of bleeding-edge art babe + functional design dude. We are our best when we express our very different personalities, yet embrace the unique characteristics of the other.

A little about me: in social situations, I play the role of the 'fun chick'  - and by that I mean, the girl you call when you wanted to forget your troubles and have an adventure! To go out & just have fun. I love to entertain people, because that's what I've always done; either with karaoke, air guitar, dj-ing a party, or just joking around about every day life. I was mostly interested in someone a good time, and not discussing the details, or touching on anything personal. Before meeting Dan, I never revealed anything personal about myself  - as defense mechanism, a New York survival skill - so I wouldn't get hurt. Inside I felt, ‘if you don't know me, you can't hurt me’ - so let’s forget the messy details and just have a good time!

In Dan, I found a truly kind, introspective, caring heart.  He has a quiet strength and is confident without being cocky. Dan makes me feel confident too, and he believes in me. Dan makes me a better person. He is my backbone, yet are very opposite; an architect and an artist.

Our How-We-Met Story:

I met Dan, or rather - I pursued Dan- by following him into the bar Von on Bleeker St. He caught my eye immediately! Love at first sight! Or, at least a mondo-piqued curiosity. ;)

It was after work - around 7pm - on a Friday in June 2006 (Dan remembers it because it was the first day of the World Cup.) I had just left my job, but changed out of my work clothes in the bathroom so I could rock out! And sing karaoke with my friend Heidi before hitting a club. Suddenly, not ten minutes out the door, this guy chatting on his cell phone crosses our path. I stop dead in my tracks and was like, 'Heidi - woah. Do you see that guy?' She was not having it, and didn't want me to ditch our karaoke plans to speak to this new dude - but I did anyway. Dan was talking on his cell phone outside Von, so I flashed him a smile as I walked into the bar. I ordered a drink but waited for him to come in. I was nervous. sweaty.

In Von, there are mirrors angled on the ceiling so you can be facing one direction and see what is happening behind you. This allows me to face Heidi & look like I'm having a conversation with my back to the door, while waiting for the hot guy to enter the bar.

He enters.

I am so nervous & don't know what I'm going to say, but I walk up to him - <<Little did I know, Dan was watching me in the angled mirrors too & he swiveled around as I approached him>>> he's flanked by 2 friends now who have met him at Von - I say:
'Hi, I'm Marquina. If you want the chance to get to know me, you're going to have to come to a club at 9pm and I'll put you on the list - what's your name?'

--- eee! I'm try so hard to play cool; confident. My typical modus operandi ---

I find out his name is Dan --- Yes! I got his name SUCCESS! --- and I scrawl the address of the club where Heidi and I will be later & say "Tell 'em at the door that you're with me and you don't have to pay cover. I'll be waiting."  - I am so nervous after delivering this statement, that I bolt out the door – DRAMA! In my haste, I momentarily forget that Heidi is still inside! Outside, I text her & apologize for freaking out and leaving the bar without finishing our drink. She receives the text, leaves Von and we carry on with our evening. I'm giddy and hope hope hope to see Dan later.

Here is his version of our meeting:
Well, when I first met Marquina, she was dressed like a pretty hard-core rock star. So I thought it was just gunna be fun to go out and have a good time. It was innocent - not like a 'hook up' or anything. I wasn't looking for like, 'tail' or anything like that at all. She seemed like a fun chick and I was curious to get to know her. It’s rare you meet someone who is instantly intriguing, but also has a good heart.  
As it turned out, she was really great. I kissed her later that night because she didn't believe that I was going to call her. I gave her my number on a gum wrapper and put her number in my phone.
Luckily, I didn't judge her by her ‘look’ because she appeared completely different the second time we met. There was no emotional distance between us. She is a really nice and an incredible person - that's why I'm marrying her. And, it’s interesting to remember that my first impression that she was this wild rock person.

Our first date was a week later. I decided to show Dan the real me, and to shed the harsh exterior. We had great conversation over dinner. Dan is patient, kind and has a heart of gold. I decided this guy was so great that I could be comfortable tearing all my walls down. For the first time, someone took the time to really 'see' me and not my tough I-can-take-on-anything exterior.

Dan proposed to me in the Naumberg Band Shell near Bethesda Fountain in Central Park – my favorite place! That area is my favorite because it’s where the tree-lined mall ends and where all the rollerbladers spin around and perform tricks. The band shell reminds me of dancing on stage – my first love!
We would like to win this contest and work with Inspired Goodness to design and develop a plan to bring our story to life.
Thank you for your consideration,

Marquina