Four Years of Awesome

Our wedding day: August 17, 2006

Today is our four year anniversary!

Earlier I asked Tom for four more years, then four more, then forever. Cheesy, yes, but it gets the point across - I'm never letting him get away.

For those of you who don't know, here's our story:

I met Tom during my Junior year, his Senior year at BYU. He wanted to ask me on a date, but had to wait because I was "dibsed" by another one of his roommates. Ah, dating laws. Anyway, at the very beginning of winter semester he finally asked me out. In a group context. I keep telling him that "hey, a bunch of us are going snowboarding - wanna come?" doesn't sound like a formal date invite! Anyway, because I didn't realize he was interested, because I'm not great at snowboarding and don't really enjoy it, and because I had a dentist appointment I didn't want to cancel, I told him no. Luckily Tom was quick on the rebound and asked me out for another day. I was dentist appointment free, so I said yes to this one.

That first date was January 6th. By my birthday on January 10th we were getting pretty chummy. By his birthday on February 6th we were talking marriage. Holy cow that's fast! Why wait when you know what you want? Plus, we had a few escalating factors: Tom had taken a job in Beverly Hills and knew he was leaving Provo, the marriage pool, soon, and he was ready to bring a wifey with him if he could help it. I was leaving at the end of April for a 7-week study abroad, and he moved while I was gone. So it was pretty much now or never!

By March 17th, the temple was scheduled and the date was set. Tom was sweet and bought me a necklace to mark the fact that this was totally going to happen. However...he hadn't formally proposed yet. More on that later...

The engagement photo from our invitations...we weren't engaged.

So I left for the study abroad (one day before Tom's graduation - I'm so sad I missed it!). We planned the entire wedding beforehand, which was awesome. Thank goodness it was in Utah - wedding planning there is pretty streamlined. I was in France all of May and half of June. Meanwhile, Tom moved to the LA area and started his job. We chatted and emailed a bit, but mostly just did our own thing. We're both not really phone people!

Now for the proposal...would you believe that the last weekend of my study abroad, Tom showed up in France? Turns out he'd waited so long to propose because he wanted to do it right. A sunset proposal on the coast of the Mediterranean in Nice, France will do the trick! I was so lame the whole night - I didn't know what to say because I couldn't get over the shock of seeing him! It was so romantic. He did some fancy footwork beforehand to find out where we were staying, came right to our apartment, and gave me the surprise of a lifetime. We went for a walk along the coast and then walked out to a breakwater with a lighthouse at the end. The sun was setting just as we sat down and it was gorgeous. He proposed and I could barely squeak out the word yes. At first he really thought I wasn't going to say anything and he got nervous, but I finally got the word out. I'll tell you what - I don't think anything in my life has been as exciting as that ring sliding onto my finger. It was so PERFECT! I love Tom.

Here's the proposal spot!

After a romantic dinner at an outdoor restaurant and an obligatory stop for some Italian gelato, Tom had to be on his way. His job was pretty strict, so he had to squish a trip to France into a weekend. I know, right? He's amazing!

Our last moments before making our quasi-engagement official.

I got home a week later. After that proposal I was so ready to be back and be with Tom. He flew to Utah to welcome me home (as if he hadn't spent enough time flying the week before).

Our wedding was two months later. It was perfect. One of the best days EVER. We didn't really have time for a honeymoon - again, strict job - so we spent the weekend at Stein Ericksen Lodge in Deer Valley on what we call our "honeymoonette". Afterward, we drove to our new apartment in Hollywood, CA and started married life.

I've got to say, it's the best move I ever made. Thanks, Tom, for making life bliss!