L-O-V-E—Where it all started

Life, Love and more Life

Growing up I was the “princess” type of girl. I dreamt of finding true love and marrying a prince. Marrying a prince is exactly what I am doing this year. Where did it all start? My fiancé Jake and I met in “Sparkle City,” South Carolina, aka Spartanburg. Both of us had jobs take us out there after college.

…let’s take a few steps back

I moved to Spartanburg, SC immediately following college. I didn’t know a sole, but what I did know is that I had mountains of college loans to pay off. Upon moving to “Sparkle City”my boss at the time introduced me to a girl named Nicole. Nicole soon became a best friend of mine and is to this day. (She is standing up in our wedding this OCT2018). Nicole and I clicked instantly and did most everything together. Our frequent activities were working out at the health  club and then sitting by the pool with wine in hand. Every girls dream, right?

Best of Friends

Shortly after I Nicole and I became friends, she said to me one day,” Jessica we need to find you a man.” My first reaction was, “No way Nicole! I came here to work and pay off debt, and I am not the type to like a hillbilly of a southern man.” Nicole laughed her behind off at me, but was still determined to find me a man.

While sitting pool side one day, Nicole said to me, “I have a man for you Jessica.” My thought, “Gosh here we go again.” Nicole went on to say, “there is a guy who comes into the gym frequently (she worked at the gym), who I have never seen with a girl and is not from around here.” Ok, I thought. She had my interests sparked. Nicole then went on to say, he normally comes into the gym in the evening around the 5:30PM mark if you want to see what he looks like.

Getting Jess a Man 

That week Nicole and I proceeded to run on the treadmills at the entrance of the health club. When this guy checked in and swiped his membership card, Nicole went up to the computer and looked to see what his name was. His name was Jake. Nicole then went on to ask me what I thought about him. I said he’s cute.

That evening Nicole proceeded to friend and message Jake on facebook messenger. Jake’s first thought when Nicole messaged him was, “what is a married girl doing messaging me.” Nicole proceeded to ask Jake if he would be interested in going on a date with her friend Jessica (me). Jake agreed, asked for my full name and phone number. Jake and his roommates stalked me on the stalker book that night and determined I was ok to go on a date with.

Prepping for the First Date

Prior to our first date my friend Nicole and I made a plan. We didn’t know what type of man Jake was. He seemed like a normal man, but there are so many yahoos out there these days you just never know. The plan consisted of: Jessica not having a glass of wine and messaging Nicole if needed. It also consisted of a time clause that if I hadn’t messaged her by a certain time she would come looking for me. Gosh, remembering back on this makes us seem like crazy woman. My fiancé might beg to say I am a bit crazy. Hahaha.

First Date

Early the following week a preppy dressed man (dress shorts, button up shirt and boat shoes) picked me up at my apartment in his blue car. We went to Dudleys in Spartanburg on our first date.

Our first date consisted of lots of questions. Jake was shy at first, but me, and my loquacious self couldn’t stop talking. If you know me this probably comes as no surprise. Jake ordered us cheese fries for an appetizer. Gosh, I knew he was a keeper and he didn’t even have to say much. Cheese, come on now, talk about key to my heart.

Jake and I had a nice, get to know you, first date. He dropped me back at my apartment and was a gentleman and just gave me a hug. (another keeper quality)

Hard to Get

Jake played hard to get for awhile. I first thought I talked too much during the first date when I didn’t hear from him for over a week. Then he finally came around to talking a bit more. He had to keep me on my toes apparently. We started doing more dinners and friend trips/events. While in South Carolina we did a beach trip and a mountain trip. Both were fabulous and great time spent together.

She’s Leaving

While in South Carolina the lab I worked for in undergrad offered me a spot to come back and work for them and get more education. While I was very much in love with Jake, he was a bit more hesitant about me. When I told Jake I was moving he at first said he wouldn’t do long distance. He said he understood if I wanted to break things off then but he wasn’t going to do long distance dating once I left. A big decision at the time, and one most thought I was crazy for was staying with him. I figured we were having fun, why not have a fun time the few months I had left.

Gone

I left South Carolina right before Christmas. Jake met both of my parents prior to our long drive back. When saying goodbye to Jake I knew it wasn’t goodbye. The man who was such a hard ass actually had a few tears in his eyes (he is going to kill me for including this). Meanwhile sappy romantic me, cried all the way back to Wisconsin. Little did I know I just left my future fiancé.

It’s Not the End

Jake and I kept in communication daily. We even planned and booked flights for me to come back out to “Sparkle City” the next month after I left. Despite Jake’s initial, no, no, no, we aren’t doing long distance, we did it. We did long distance for almost a year. While doing long distance Jake had moved back to his homeland of Colorado and I followed a few months behind. I couldn’t keep doing the long distance thing. See each other for a week and then not see each other for 4-7 weeks. It was so hard. Hard isn’t even the word for it. During the long distance we face timed every night but 2. Yes, that’s right, out of a year of long distance we just missed 2 days. I like to call it love.

Colorado

When I moved to Colorado, Jake and I moved in together. A huge step, but one that I wouldn’t ever take back.  Jake and I lived in a large industrial one bedroom apartment for the first year in Colorado and then decided to put our grown up pants on and buy a town home.

Jake and I dated 5 years before he got down on one knee. There was a point about 3 or so years in that I knew we would be together forever. There is something about my fiancé Jake that reminds me so much of my Dad. They always say you marry your Dad right?

Our Love

That’s it folks, that’s our love story. Never did I think growing up I was going to be set up on a blind date in “Sparkle City,” South Carolina and that man was going to become my fiancé and soon to be husband. My story goes to show love happens when you least are expecting it. I was definitely not expecting to find love in SC, but I did. Never give up faith in Love. You will find it when you are least expecting to.

What is your love story?

 

P.S. Check out our engagement story. It’s one you won’t want to pass up.