Y’ALL. We have SO much to catch up on, wedding-wise.

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Yes, this is my fault: I dropped the big news and introduced you to my pretty ring, and then left you hanging. But believe me, I’ve been a busy little bee over here! Things are clicking into place, and I can’t WAIT to share!

When I asked on Twitter a few weeks back what you all wanted me to share first, I got a variety of answers including location, photography, fashion, and inspirations. The consensus, however, seemed to be to go in the order things developed for us. That makes sense to me, as well, which means we will be starting with the ceremony and reception locations. However, I really want to have photos to illustrate with before we chat about venues, so I promise I will share after I’m back from my visit home next week (for an engagement party — woo!).

In the meantime, I thought it might be fun to give you a little more of the back story on these people getting married before we jump into the nitty gritty! Y’all already know me pretty well (just read this and this for a refresher course!), but John is a little bit more of a mystery. Allow me to enlighten you…

John and I grew up in the same small town in Connecticut. We went to different elementary schools, but had many of the same friends. Despite this, we did not meet each other until middle school, when all the elementary schools pooled into one school. Let me tell you, John was one of THE coolest kids in middle school. Athletic, handsome, and just shy enough to make the girls all come to him (ha!). I was not immune to his charms, but sadly, the feelings were not mutual.

Moving on. Fast forward to high school, where we still were in interlocking groups of friends, but more acquaintances than anything else. I still thought he was cute, of course, but he was dating someone else.

Fast forward again to senior year. We had a class together with a mutual good friend, so we began to hang out more (though just in school). Our two groups of friends gradually seemed to mesh. Unbeknownst to me, John had developed a crush on me, but didn’t really know what to do about it. He even resorted to loudly talking about how much he liked me while sitting a few seats away from my younger sister in the cafeteria (hoping she would overhear and report back to me), but to no avail. (Darn you, Kim!)

Finally, in January of our senior year, he mustered up the courage to say something. He called me up out of the blue and blurted out “So… I think I like you.” To which I responded with nervous giggles, obviously. We eventually arranged a first date (ice skating), and have been together ever since. Happily, this means we will have awesome senior prom photos to share with our future children:

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We went to different colleges our freshmen year, and then he transferred to Wheaton to be with me (all parties were much happier). Here we are during a freshman year visit, in 2006:

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And here we are again, at our college senior formal (May 2009):

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The summer after graduation, he again moved for me, accompanying me down to North Carolina to start my job at Southern Weddings (below, November 2009).

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Now, two years later (and almost seven years after we began dating), we are planning a wedding! John is so much smarter than me, eternally patient, hilariously funny, filled with love for God, devilishly handsome, and my very best friend in the world. I am SO EXCITED to be marrying him! Here we are today:

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Thank you so much for letting me take a little trip down memory lane! I promise, the good stuff (wedding details) is coming soon. Until then, tell me: how long did you and your fiance date before getting engaged?