Our Story + Celebrating Four Years!

This Sunday not only marks a special day to celebrate all the amazing mommas around the world (Happy Mother’s Day, mom!) – but it’s also significant to me for a whole other reason. Eric and I celebrate four years of being together on Sunday! I can’t believe how time has flown, these past four years have been the absolute best. I could’ve never imagined love being so wonderful, or finding someone who loves dogs and tortilla chips as much as I do.

Um, something really cool about this actual very Friday?? It’s officially six months from our big day. Eeeek! That makes me so giddy inside.

I figured these exciting milestones were good excuses to finally share the story of how we met and started this shindig four years ago. Reading people’s “stories” is one of my favorite things on other blogs, and I was already writing it up for a wedding website, so it seemed only natural to make sure I shared our story on this little space!

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Before I jump into our story though, you’ll notice throughout the post I’m sharing some of my favorite photos from our engagement session with Feather & Twine. Kelsey & Talon (with us below) are unbelievably talented, kind, and such a beautiful example of what being best friends in a marriage looks like.  Fun fact: We both got engaged in Paris! We had a total blast chatting and laughing away – Eric and I truly felt as if we had stumbled across some long lost, close friends. If you’re familiar with Austin, you might recognize South Congress or the Mayfield Nature Preserve in our photos. We could not be happier with them…and are counting down until we get to hang out with this couple again!

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Okay, now let’s get to talkin’ love…

So the reason Eric and I have chosen to get married just outside Austin, TX is because the roots of our story start right in the middle of this wonderful Texas capital. We lived just three doors down from each other in San Jacinto Dorm on The University of Texas campus – I was a freshman and Eric was a sophomore. Talk about meant to be – he almost chose to move off campus into an apartment for his second year!

We were fortunate enough to have been placed on a dorm floor where a group of about thirty students became very close – some will most definitely be life long friends, and there are even a few in our wedding party! Eric and I first hung out as part of this little UT family, and instantly clicked. Neither of us remember the exact moment we first saw or spoke to one another, but I do remember all the girls thinking he was soooo cute – including me! I wasn’t going into our friendship thinking of anything more than just that though – a friendship.

We started talking and hanging out more and more on our own outside the group – grabbing breakfast before class, taking long walks to explore downtown, attending Sunday church service, etc. Pretty soon everyone was wondering if this was more than just two college kids being pals, but we were pretty content with being the best of friends we had become. This continued all the year.

Come late spring, as finals were approaching and summer was just around the corner, the romantic sparks and obvious connection were no longer deniable to anyone else, or ourselves. We had a conversation about it and opted to leave things as they were to avoid ruining our friendship.

Well if I’m going to be straight up and not sugar coat it, the reality is Eric was really afraid about losing a best friend and while we both decided to leave things as is, I was totally bummed.

We look back now and agree this whole conversation was so ridiculous, we both should’ve just been honest with ourselves and each other! Oh, growing up.

Despite these talks, the easy and natural chemistry between us continued. A couple weeks later, I invited Eric to my Texas Lonestars’ Boat Party formal. Texas Lonestars is one of the female Spirit groups at UT – basically meaning it was a chill, awesome, fun non-Greek sorority for lack of a shorter description. I could go on all day about how the group was incredible and gave me life long girlfriends, but that’s a different story. 🙂 Anyways, Eric and I had a grand ol’ time that night cruising with friends on Lady Bird Lake.

You can take a total trip back in time with me with a little then and now below – I’m honestly looking at that formal picture thinking oh my gosh who are we?!? + feeling sad about how much we have lost our tan.

The very next day, after meeting up  for breakfast, we headed back to the dorm to procrastinate studying for finals with TV. It was right after this that Eric asked me to be his girlfriend. He claims our impromptu slow dancing to She’s Like Texas by Josh Abbott Band on the boat is the moment it all clicked, and he knew that’s what he had to do.

Sunday morning, May 8th, will mark four years from the moment that officially started it all…C R A Z Y.

We dated for the rest of our time at UT – supporting each other,  being ridiculous best friends, growing together and as individuals, and eating a copious amount of Tex-Mex.

After graduating from UT last May, we set off to backpack western Europe for a whole month as a graduation gift to ourselves. On June 15, 2015 in Paris, Eric got down on one knee right in front of the Eiffel Tower. It was the most magical, wonderful, best surprise ever. We had just finished a champagne and sandwich picnic, got a random man to capture the whole moment, and spent the rest of the day exploring the City of Love.

I’ve blogged about that day in France and it might be my favorite post ever. You can read it here and get all the details – like the fact that Eric carried the ring in his backpack for a whole TWO WEEKS prior, through three different countries.

Eric is the queso to my tortilla chips and I’m so darn excited to spend my life laughing, loving, and adventuring with him. Let’s keep this countdown to 11.6.16 going! Happy Anniversary, love!