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View Full Version : Brandi & Craig ~ June 2, 2007


Craigs_Girl
10-27-2006, 05:08 PM
I guess I've been on here long enough that I'll start a journal so everyone can see what we have so far for our wedding. And I'll start with our "how we met" story and our "proposal" story. (I hope you have a couple hours to read it LOL)

How We Met:
We first met when I switched elementary schools half way through our 5th grade year (in January it would be 14 years ago). Craig and I were both short people (and still are, unfortunately) so our classmates thought it would be fun to get us together as a "couple". So we went with it and
started "dating". We didn't really talk much over summer break, then when we got back to school in the fall... people started to get us to "date" again. We never really broke up but never really acted like boyfriend/girlfriend (even to this day, we never officially "broke up" back then. LOL) So we were really just friends.

Well our freshman year of high school, I moved down to West Virginia (I am from Pennsylvania and that's where I live now) to live with my dad. I lost touch with all of my friends from PA since we were so young and I only visited PA a couple times a year. So, naturally, Craig and I drifted apart in our friendship but I thought of him often and wanted to maintain that friendship and keep in touch, but we didn't.

So I went on and graduated high school, took a year off, then went to
college for 1 year. I was dating another guy at the time and he was leaving for the military at that time. I, then, decided that I didn't like the
college I was attending so I started looking into colleges closer to my home in PA.

I went to look at the school I ended up going to in January 2002. Now this school is a small technical school so it's all in one building. While I was sitting in the main office filling out the necessary paper work, Craig
walked by. He called my name and I looked up and he was walking towards me. (I have always had a crush on him and wanted to get in contact with him again but didn't know where to find him) So he comes over and asks how I am and just makes a little small talk. Then he walks away, I assume to his next class. The admissions lady that was helping me with all the paper work came over and said that she saw me talking to him and asked if I knew him. I told her that we went to school together when we were younger. (The school is so small, that every staff member knows the students). So she said that he was in the same major that I was looking into and asked if she could give him my e-mail address in case I had any additional questions that I'd like to ask students. I said sure! (Mind you, I was still dating someone else at the time.) It was probably about 2-3 months later, I finally got an e-mail from him. (I was living in PA at this time now too) So we started talking a little online a little.

Then I think it was in October 2002, I had a newspaper route and my
grandfather usually helped me (I had a rather large route) but he had just
been diagnosed with cancer and was going through chemo so he wasn't always feeling well. I needed some help one weekend so I asked Craig if he would help (after asking just about everyone I knew). I thought what the heck, I'll see if he can help me. He said he would and ended up helping me 2-3 times after that. I was still with my ex at this time and he was away in the military. I wasn't handling the distance very well at all and our relationship was struggling. Though I was starting to really fall for Craig...

I decided in November 2002 that I needed to get away from Craig and save my relationship. I moved back down to WV. My ex came home on leave for the Christmas holiday and everything seemed fine and dandy. Although I didn't forget about Craig, but he wasn't in the front of my mind anymore. After my ex left, he went to England (where his next station was). Not even a week after that I decided that I didn't want to be with my ex anymore. (I would have had to wait 2 years for him to come back to the states. I wasn't ready to move to England and he was pushing marriage, which I wasn't ready for at that time). I was fine when my ex was home but when he left I was right back to where I was before he got home.

Anyway, I ended up praying about it after that cause I wasn't sure I did the right thing. I was never real big into prayer but thought what the heck, I was so confused, didn't know what to do so I prayed for a sign from God that would let me know that I was doing the right thing. I was crying hysterically cause I was so confused. After that prayer, I couldn't cry anymore. Not one single tear could I cry so I took that as a sign that I was doing the right thing and never looked back! Craig and I started dating shortly after. Now almost 4 years later, we're getting married! :heart:

Craigs_Girl
10-27-2006, 05:10 PM
The Proposal:
It was Saturday, June 25, 2005. I was graduating from college that afternoon
(from the college where I met Craig... again). My mom planned a little
graduation party for me with some family and a few friends. We had a nice
little picnic dinner in my backyard with cake and ice cream.

After we had dinner and cake, Craig said he wanted to go for a walk. (My house sits in front of a park therefore, at the end of my yard is the park) So we go for a
little walk. The park was crowded as it usually is when the weather is nice on a weekend. So I could see him looking around nervously (obviously looking for a place to propose). We walked all the way to the other end of the park, crossed over a bridge and walked through the field on the other side of the stream. We just continued walking and talking... I had an idea it was going to happen cause you could tell he was nervous about something. So we get almost directly behind my house (trees were blocking us otherwise everyone at my house could have seen us). We stopped and he got down on one knee and said "Brandi, will you marry me?" Of course I said YES!

So as we were walking back to my house, I was asking him who all knew this was going to happen and he said everyone except my dad's side of the family! All of our friends, my family, everyone!

When we got back to my house, they were videotaping our return. Then we all celebrated with a little champagne. It was easy to tell everyone the news since everyone in my family was there and his parents were there.

Craigs_Girl
10-27-2006, 05:58 PM
Here are a couple pictures of us. Not really engagement pictures but we got
them taken for part of our gifts to our parents that we will present at our
rehearsal dinner:
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with our puppy, sara
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Craigs_Girl
10-27-2006, 06:20 PM
We have 4 guys and 4 girls in our bridal party:
Maid of Honor: Sabrina (my
best friend from WV)
Bridesmaid: Rachel (Craig's sister)
Bridesmaid: Allex (my sister)
Jr. Bridesmaid: Sydney (my sister)

Best Man: Ryan (Craig's best friend)
Groomsmen: Brian (Craig's friend)
Groomsmen: Jason (Craig's friend)
Groomsmen: Kirk (Craig's brother)

Our colors are dark purple, light blue and silver.
Our date is: June 2, 2007
Outdoors ceremony, reception indoors

Craigs_Girl
10-27-2006, 06:34 PM
I actually ordered my dress more than a year ago. It's a corset top with no
beading or anything on it. Very plain and simple. Here is me trying on my
dress last March when it came in:

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More pictures to come when I have time to post them!

ladymelissa
10-27-2006, 11:01 PM
Your dress is stunning!

Kacie_bride
10-27-2006, 11:17 PM
What a sweet story!!!!! Justin and I were friends when we were younger, but got together in college too!!!!! When we first remet eachother we were both dating other people as well!!

Your dress is beautiful! It really looks good on you. I like the picture with your dog. I need to get a picture taken so we can put it in the paper, and I want to do one with our dog for that. She's like our baby! Anyway, glad you started a journal. I can't wait to hear more of your plans!

Goin2thechapel
10-28-2006, 06:56 AM
Cute story, love the E-pics, and love your dress!

Sometimes simple and plain is much more elegant :)

Craigs_Girl
10-28-2006, 08:58 AM
Sometimes simple and plain is much more elegant :)

I am a simple person, so this dress was perfect! There is no beading, nothing on it. The fabric makes a simple design at the top but that's it.

Thanks for all the comments! I'll get more pictures up when I have some more free time.

Panthers Bride
10-31-2006, 07:41 PM
Welcome to OW. We love pictures here!

nikloveskev
10-31-2006, 09:24 PM
Beautiful dress. You look really great in it :)

Jenn060306
10-31-2006, 09:37 PM
you guys have a wonderful storey :)
You're dress is beautiful! I'm looking forward to seeing more of your ideas!

Summerbmd
11-09-2006, 05:37 PM
Your dress is beautiful! I love simple dresses.

BriansBride07
11-11-2006, 03:23 PM
What a sweet story thanks for sharing. I just love your dress you are going to make a beautiful bride. can't wait to hear more about your plans.