Brenda and Justin's Wedding Website: Story of Us

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Read our Story:
How We Met, Our First Date, Proposal Story

Highlights of:
Diary of a Bride to Be

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Brenda, Justin, Us
Wedding Pictures

Coming Soon:
Reception Menu
Honeymoon Itinerary
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Here is how Brenda tells the story of how she met Justin...

Justin and I met in a Japanese language class in the summer of 2000 at the University of Colorado, Boulder. We were put together in a group to study Japanese counting systems, and I thought he was really cute- Justin reminded me of Cary Elwes in the Princess Bride. I kept looking over at him, and said goodbye after class, but I didn't think about it too much. The next day after class, I was running errands on campus and I kept running into Justin and his friend Aaron all day! It's an enormous campus, and so seeing him that many times just seemed strange. I was actually worried he would think I was stalking him! At last, I ran into them at the bus stop, and we ended up all getting on the bus together.... and Aaron sat down across from me, while Justin stayed standing shyly in the front of the bus. I was secretly crushed, until Aaron called him over (rather firmly, I might add), and then we all talked until I got off the bus.

The next day or so, I ran into Aaron and Justin after class. Aaron walked ahead of us while Justin chatted with me, finally asking if I would like to join them in studying at a coffeeshop. I agreed, of course. As soon as we caught up to Aaron, Justin mentioned the prospect of their supposed study plans, and Aaron looked at Justin skeptically and said, "WHAT? I don't want to study! I'm going home, see you!" Watching Aaron dash off, Justin said, "Well, I guess it will just be us then…" We went to a coffeeshop (Buchanan's, if you must know), trying in vain to study until we decided to go to Prufrocks to have some food. After that day, we ended up hanging out together every day after class, going to Pearl Street, having lunch together, etc. One day we even went to Celestial Seasonings for their tour! Not long into this, he started asking me if I wanted to do something next weekend- without the pretense of class. Because of prior plans, I had to turn him down- regretfully.... of course saying, "But the weekend after???" Though I could tell he was a little hurt.... he recovered and asked me out for next weekend. It was to be our first official date!

Our first date:

On our first date, Justin had arranged to pick me up, which made it an absolutely official date, and I was quite nervous. I tried on everything I owned, before finally deciding on a soft green sweater and black skirt. When Justin arrived, we got in his car and chatted nervously. First we went to this great Mediterranean restaurant called THE MED on Pearl Street, and sat outside in their atmospheric courtyard. Now, one of my favorite appetizers is their baked Olive and garlic appetizer. Not even THINKING about this being our first date, and a potential first kiss looming in the future, I ordered it, started nibbling and then thought --- OH NO WHAT HAVE I DONE!!!!! What a way to impress him, with my vampire repelling breath! It was too late, the damage was done, but I could have kicked myself. In every other way it was a perfect date- The beautiful Mediterranean fountain trickled, people conversed, the waitors were crisply attired- it was lovely. During dinner, Justin told me he loved to make chocolate desserts! I already knew he loved to paraglide, but now not only was he an adventurous athlete, but a gourmet dessert chef. I was impressed! When we got back to Justin's car, I noticed he had a new box of breath mints in his car- unopened, I might add! So I took one and felt better about the situation immediately! We then went to the movies- yes, original I know, and watched "Gone in 60 Seconds"- not exactly a classic, but fun and necessarily mindless. Halfway through, one of us decided holding hands would be fun. I'm not sure who- it just sort of happened. Alas, it was over too soon, and I was wondering... now what? is it really over???? We pulled into my apartment complex- and not sure what else to do (goodbye kiss in the car???) I invited him up for Chai. And the rest, well, is history. I made Chai , we talked for a little bit, and then he in a very gentlemanly fashion, kissed me good night at the door and he went home, practically running away, in his exuberance at having kissed the girl. Meanwhile, I swooned, got weak at the knees, all that stuff, and called up one of my best friends, Jayson to tell him that Our date was PERFECT and he KISSED ME!!!!! What's that Princess Bride quote? It was a perfect kiss. After that, we were inseparable... ...even more so than before! Justin's friend Aaron still gloats about his role getting us together- he says he was Justin's "COACH".... Well, whatever he did, it worked!

January 2001

Justin loves to travel- it is his favorite thing to do in the world. He went on Semester at Sea and has seen parts of the world I can't even imagine yet! When we started to get serious about each other, he decided I needed a passport, so I got one with his help. Shortly after, we found a student discount sale that allowed us to go to Europe for Winter Break! We planned to arrive in Brussels, work our way through France, spend New Years in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and then wind our way through Italy. WELL... we had been really connecting with each other- and knew we loved each other- almost every night, we would fall asleep in the midst of long, meaningful conversations... and I started to feel that a proposal might be coming. For Christmas he had said he wanted a ring, which I thought was really cute, so I'd bought him a Celtic ring- but it wasn't an engagement ring or anything.... and he wore it on his ring finger, which made me feel special. Anyway, so we set out on our trip. Now, in his bag I had accidentally seen (Really, accidentally) that there was a jewelry store box in there. I didn't know if it was a ring, but I was trying not to think about it. On New Years Eve we stood in front of the Eiffel Tower, among all the French lovers and friends singing and celebrating happily, right next to a lovely fountain.... As midnight approached, the temperature seemed to get colder and colder, until it started to sprinkle, rain, and then finally absolutely POUR RAIN ON ALL OF US. It was so sad, and so cold. They actually ended up cancelling the fireworks for New Years because of that miserable weather! But we stood there in the rain anyway, waiting for midnight, huddled under an umbrella (THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT THING!).... When midnight arrived, the blue twinkle lights on the Eiffel Tower lit up, and we kissed. Then Justin handed me the umbrella, and opened his backpack, pulling out a box, saying, "Will you hold this for me?" I was completely confused- was he proposing!??? I opened the box and there was this lovely silver ring with a sapphire in the middle- this is it:

I LOVED it. He knows I don't really like gold and that I love sapphires... sigh. BUT I wasn't sure if he was proposing!!! He didn't really say anything else! So I tried to figure it out by asking.... "GOSH What is this for" (after profuse thanks and kisses) And he only said, I wanted to give you something.... SO I thought OH... Not a proposal, of course. What was I thinking! I tried not to be disappointed. I wouldn't have wanted him to propose in the rain, right.... but... well... anyway.

Our trip was lovely. We had so much fun. We went to a wine tasting in Beaune, France.... Went to farmers markets and had olives out of barrels, enjoyed the provencal cuisine.... I had snails!!! and they were absolutely delicious!!!! We traveled down through France by train and then went to Venice... had a gondola ride... and did so many romantic wonderful things! BUT to get to the POINT of my story, we ended up in Rome. It was our last day, we'd seen the colloseum and sat at the Spanish steps at night, had perfect cappucino, and drank way too much wine.... but that last day we were just mellowing out. It was a beautiful day, and we wandered from place to place, saying goodbye to Rome. Finally, we ended up at the Trevi fountain.

We sat down and cuddled, for once not plagued by the incessant rose vendors. Now there's a tradition that, if you are there, you should throw in two lira- you'll get a wish AND the promise of a return trip to Rome. I won't tell you what I wished... but we were sitting there, cuddling, perfectly at ease and in tune with each other, and Justin says, into my hair "Will you marry me". I was completely overwhelmed and excited all at once! I said "Of COURSE" and we hugged and kissed and giggled. We had a picture taken right after, and it was PERFECT, such a wonderful freeze of the moment! Afterwards I was so filled with nervous energy that I bought about 50 postcards, and we walked home to our hotel together, as an engaged couple!!!!!!!!!!!!