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This week's bride of the week is Lauren! Congrats! Here is her story! "This...
This week's bride of the week is Lauren! Congrats! Here is her story!
"This story begins like many others with a guy and girl falling love. Cliché as the story sounds it couldn’t be anymore unique and special. Many people live their whole lives without finding their one true partner in this life. The one true person that they let see themselves as they truly are and pray accepts them and loves them unconditionally. This is our story.
Lauren Gracia and Preston Lash met in late April of 2012 when two groups of friends met at a sports bar in northwest Houston. This meeting could have been easily forgotten if not for an inebriated patron was bothering Lauren and her friends. Preston witnessed this patron and calmly and peacefully took the mans attention away from the uncomfortable ladies. This action got Preston noticed by Lauren and as the night went on they began to get to know each other. Preston had promised himself he would try to ask this girl out before the night was over no matter the result, and much his dismay he was shot down. Turned down by the most beautiful girl he had seen but something happened that night that was far different then he had expected. His heart told him that the rejection wasn’t the end but the contrary. He needed not to give up but to push on in his courting no matter what.
They began to simply chat on the phone for the first four weeks of knowing each other and it wasn’t until three “friend dates” and hours upon hours on the phone did Lauren finally agree to a date. The details of this are highly simplified of course but the weeks progressed and their relationship grew strong. They were in love.
Fast forward nearly four and a half months later, they are in a committed relationship in love, kindness, and faith. Preston had already begun looking at rings and planning how he would propose to his future wife. This task was easier said then done as they had barely known each other for a few months, but the both of them knew that this was destined.
Lauren is an inquisitive creature and once she smells something funny going on she will ask questions until she figures it out. Preston, on the other hand, isn’t as good at keeping secrets as he would like so the idea of planning the biggest surprise of his life would have to be done very carefully. Lauren and Preston had been talking about the idea of getting engaged since the fourth month of knowing each other so by the 6 month mark in their relationship Lauren knew that the engagement might be coming, so this meant that every time they went out to dinner or on a romantic evening she thought that the engagement would occur.
Preston had to come up with something that would allow them both to be out on an elegant evening together all dressed up and not alarm her suspicions or involve her family and friends in the planning which would put his total secrecy in doubt. The key was with her boss. Lauren worked as a wine sales representative during this time and she would never suspect her intense boss.
Preston contacted her boss and had him inform her that she needed to bring a date to a wine tasting at an exquisite restaurant in downtown Houston.
The cover story was that the wine company was putting on a wine tasting with several companies and that she needed to dress up beautifully and bring a date (hoping she would pick Preston as her date). Preston had a private table reserved along with a private room reserved at the restaurant. Convincing the matradee and owner was a lot easier then he had expected to play along with the charade.
The big day started with Lauren locking her keys in her car at work and needing a ride home, almost not having enough time to get ready for the fake wine tasting. Lauren began talking about skipping the party and coming up with an excuse to not go, and this caused Preston’s stress level to skyrocket. Preston told her how beautiful she looked and she realized it was more important to have a fun date with man she loves that to have perfect hair.
Arriving at the restaurant and approaching the matradee was the first step. The hostess, as planned, informed us that the wine tasting had been canceled and that they tried to inform everyone but failed to let us know. This news disappointed Lauren of course which she immediately wished to leave but after a little persuading to get a appetizer and a drink she agreed to stay. They were escorted to their table which had a ‘reserved’ card on top of it immediately resulted in questions from Lauren but the hostess was quick to cover his tracks by telling her that the reservation had canceled. The matradee delivered a bottle of champagne as a remedy for not informing of them of the event cancelling much to her delight.
An hour went by and they enjoyed a light appetizer and the bottle of champagne. The hostess came out one last time and delivered a plate that was covered in rose pedals and had “will you marry me” written upon it in chocolate. The middle of the plate had the ring box with a little light that lit up the brilliant ring. Preston got down on one knee and spoke the words long rehearsed, and with the final question he received not a “Yes” but an “Absolutely.” The restaurant patrons cheered and with tears in both their eyes they soaked in the amazing moment, but more had yet to come.
The matradee came to the table and apologized to the glowing future bride for the light hearted con and gave the couple a tour of the elegant restaurant. Entering one of the private meeting rooms, Lauren entered first with her family and friends jumping out and surprising her all according to Preston’s plan. The night was flawless and could not have gone anymore perfectly.
This night will live on in pictures and return visits to the restaurant, but nothing could duplicate it. The extensive planning could not have been anymore worth the effort as she was totally shocked. After only seven months of dating they found themselves engaged to be married and could not be happier and look forward to a life together."
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This Week's Bride of the Week is Klacey! Here is her story! Congrats!
"It was New Years Eve - December 31, 2012. Jared and I had plans to gather at his parents new house for new years. We arrive at his mom's house, and after about an hour of being there I notice everyone still had their jackets on. It didn't seem too out of the ordinary since it was cold and wet outside, and everyone was coming in and out of the house. Until I look over at his sister-in-law who is sweating profusly. I ask her if she was feeling okay because she had been pretty quiet and somewhat avoiding me ever since I had gotten there. She replied with "yeah I'm just really cold thanks for asking though" (another awkward moment shrugged off). I then head outside to cool off for a few minutes with NO jacket on due the fact of having 28 people and it being 80 degrees inside the house. Returning inside, his sister, Liz, that lives out of town, asks if I could go to the liquor store because she forgot to grab something while she was at the store. I said "okay I don't really mind as long as you or someone can come with me because it's now 8:00 at night and I am not going into a store that late by myself." So my mom suggested that I take my little brother with me, and then, I could just drop him off at one of his friends house he was suppose to be going to later. No big deal: except that absolutely no one was willing to go with me because they were watching the football game and claiming that they were cooking! Once again, another awkward moment. So I get to the store and get back into my car and hear my brother talking on the phone with mom. He says hey I have no idea what mom just said but apparently she needs me to come get something from her before I go to my friends house. I'm thinking okay I didnt wanna leave my family there in the first place with people, these crazy coon-ass Morein's and now I can't even leave and get what they asked for without having to hurry right back. Shessh! So we get back to the house and walk through the garage. I then see everyone standing in front of me wearing a white t-shirt and Jared kneeling on his left knee in purple in gold (of course).. I was so confused and lost as to what was going on. Finally, I realize whats going on after reading everyone's shirt , and Jared starts talking. All I heard was "will you marry me". I was so excited that he included both of our families and made it such a wonderful holiday I'll never forget!"
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