Touchdown!
C-A-N-E-S, CANES! My future hubby and I met at the University of Miami; in particular, at a football game at the legendary Orange Bowl (may she rest in peace). It was our freshman year in college and while the sparks between us were not immediately electrifying (not every relationship can begin in slow motion with wind whipped hair), we had two things in common: we had the same group of friends and we were huge Miami football fans.
My future hubby and I in college.
Two years and many unfulfilling relationships later, we began spending more time together thanks to a mutual friend. After two months of being “just friends,” we finally expressed our interest and feelings for each other on a hammock looking up at the night sky. Ok, collective “Awww.” Yes, we were kind of romantic back in the day, but to be honest we are just a normal couple with two adorable cats (our kids for the time being), Gotham and Shadow.
Then an arbitrary day came in November 2007. We had tickets to a show in Downtown Miami and afterwards, while stuck in traffic, my future hubby asked if we could go to the infamous South Beach to see the Miami skyline. Of course, being a doctoral graduate student in clinical psychology, I wanted nothing more than to go home and get sleep before seeing eight clients the next day. Oh, and did I mention, it was pouring! Not the drizzle of Seattle (where my future hubby grew up) but the monsoons of South Florida! Luckily for me, he would not take no for answer and drove out to the beach.
Giving me a piggyback ride to the shore, he set me down. I turned and stared at the beautiful skyline of Miami when he grabbed my hand. I turned around to see he was on one knee, in the wet sand, in the rain, and asking me to marry him! My response was what any girl would say in this situation; “Is this for real? No seriously, is this for real?” To which he replied, “You can say no if you want too, but, I didn’t prepare for that.” After realizing this was in fact, for real, I accepted with tears streaming down my face. And the rest is history.
My amazing engagement ring!
After allowing the initial shock to set in for a couple of days, we began the long, two year process of planning our wedding, which is the ultimate feat! We are attempting to create a DIY Winter Wonderland on a December evening in Miami, Florida! Oy vey. While my fiancé is not Jewish, he is open to including most of the essential components of a Jewish wedding (much to my Jewish mother’s delight!). We are getting hitched under a chuppah that we are constructing ourselves (oy), having a ketabuh signing ceremony, and a mostly Jewish ceremony. We want our guests who are not Jewish (my fiancé’s family and most of our friends) to learn about and share in the Jewish culture and traditions. Our wedding date is also the first night of Hanukkah so are planning on including a menorah lighting ceremony during the reception! Maybe we should add some potato latkas and applesauce. Just a thought!
4 comments
I loved learning all about you!! What a gorgeous proposal :) I’m also getting married in South Florida (Fort Lauderdale) – I can’t wait to hear more of your ideas!
Great story! You must be getting married the week before I am — we’ll light the last Channukah at our rehearsal dinner. I look forward to reading more of your posts!
Thanks girls! I loved reading your stories and blogs too. I am super excited to be able to share all my craziness with other brides and brides-to-be!
Mazel tov! My wedding was on the 8th night of Chanukah and we did a menorah lighting and it was a major highlight for guests. We also gave a special speech about how the Chanukah candles are bringing light into everyone’s lives the same way we should all bring light into others lives. It was a beautiful tender moment. I’m sure yours will be the same.
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