Engaged
I started this blog with a disclaimer about my writing and a summary of myself.
I am not musically gifted. I can hardly draw a stick figure. I have an irrational fear of bees. I kind of love spiders and other creepy crawlers. I pronounce many words oddly. I adore soundtracks. I hate socks. I go up the stairs by two. I enjoy people watching. I really like ketchup. I say ‘eh’ (a lot). My wrists are double jointed. I am horrible at debate. I enjoy math but can’t apply it (ie. physics). I am a pessimistic optimist. I collect old cameras. I adore accents. Driving is my favourite pastime. I prefer short walks on the beach. I am functional on two hours of sleep. I talk with my hands far too much. I take great delight in nerding.
Then I met someone. By chance of mutual friends, skewed sleeping hours and a tweet. It was a friendship. It didn’t start with much. Conversations online. Conversations online that grew to Skype calls. Skype calls that led to an invite to visit Canada. A visit in Canada that led to being asked out twice. An acceptance the second time. We met again shortly after, but this time for a month straight in my car driving from Phoenix to DC. In Phoenix we were practically strangers. In DC, two people whose only complaints were that one chewed their gum too loud and the other left towels on the floor.
Since July 2011 we have traveled and experienced and explored and created and built – together.
That chance allowed me to find someone who loved all of those things I had listed. Someone who loved the quirks and the awkwardidity.
He is kind and thoughtful. He is not keen on spiders but still goes out of his way to remove them from my car despite my complete lack of fear. He probably knows more about Canada than I do. He has improved my musical taste significantly. He adores J Crew – a lot. He can tie a bow tie masterfully after getting up over an hour early the morning before a wedding to practice. He can expertly mimic Elmo and Yoda voices. He can cook like no other. He is ridiculously passionate about his work. His skating skills are impressive for having only skated once. He surprises me in the sweetest ways. He makes me laugh over the silliest of things.
He is my best friend.
Photo by Len of I Love Wednesdays
On October 2nd we went on a hike before our dinner in Napa Valley. He claimed it was a simple one mile hike. He told me I could do it in my dress, no problem. He lied. That hike involved ropes tied to trees to allow oneself to lower themselves slowly down steep hills. The end point was a natural waterfall. I excitedly figured we should start exploring to which he asked me for a hug in the place we stood – clearly refusing to move. Then there were words. Lots of beautiful, wonderful, thoughtful words. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I don’t know if I explicitly said ‘yes’. I do remember nodding my head after being on the verge of tears through the entire thing. I remember laughing as he tried to put the ring on my right hand. He stood up and told me someone else was there. Sure enough. He had it photographed.
I can not imagine experiencing my life beside any one other.
Photos by Nirav Patel Photography
And just to simplify matters seeing as everyone is asking. Small wedding. Somewhere in North America. Warmer month. 2015. Midweek. No wedding party. No white dress. S’mores bar. Friend Paige singing. That’s our extensive planning.
Caroline just told me of your engagement and shared your blog link here, as well as the video. Really beautiful and so heartfelt. Wishing you both the best life has to offer. Congratulations. Cousin Barb (and Chuck) from Michigan (Aunt Lillian’s daughter)
Brittany,
Not sure if you remember though we have met a few times. I am Karl’s’s cousin from Windsor. My Mom was your grandmother’s sister. I have kept in touch a bit with your Dad and send him a Christmas card every year. He sent me a link to your pictures some time ago and they were brilliant. I am so sorry about your Dad. So sad. Caroline keeps me informed. she also sent me this link to your blog and I am so happy for you. What a wonderful story.
Pam
This story made me cry! I know you’ve been engaged for a while… but today I read this post… who wants to study anyway! Congrats again!
Such a beautiful story, and your work is inspiring as always! Congratulations to both of you for finding true love!
so cute ;))
So friggin happy for you two. I was sure he would ask after seeing you two in Costa. :)
I love everything about this story. I love how happy you both are. I love you. And I’m sure I’d love Sam too if I knew him more.
So happy for you guys!! Congrats. I love your wedding planning ha. Mmm s’mores! Also, love your engagement photos, you look stunning in that dress. Are there more that show your pretty face? ;)
Congratulations and happy long engagement to two of the *nicest* people.
OOoohh!! I know we’ve only met once, and briefly at that.. but I feel so much excitement for you! :)
beautiful images. Congratulations!!
Aaaw, even though I hardly know anything about you too this blogpost made me tear up a little. So sweet! Congrats to you two :-)
Aww, you’re making me tear up over here! Such wonderful news – I feel lucky I got to see you two in person – you really did strike me as two matching puzzle pieces. : ) Congrats to you both! xo
So sweet :):)
Congrats to the both of you!!
Brittney, this is the most beautifully captured love story I have ever read and seen. No one deserves this happiness more than you (and your mom) Thank you for sharing what love can do and mean when it’s right! Something I one day too aspire to!
Sam you are a lucky man, and I know you must be grande!
Congratulations to both of you.
you guys are the coolest.
You know, there is nothing wrong with hiking in a dress…. Congrats!
You guys, this is so perfect I could cry.
oh briiiiit. you made me cry too lol. so much love. this is the best thing there is <3
Good Lord this is adorable. Loved reading every word. Congratulations again, you two!
Your love story is beautiful. Sam is awesome.
I feel like I have creepily watched your relationship from afar forever… Love that you two are engaged. Sam, a serious high five. Congratulations!
So great. Love that it was secretly photographed.
Oh goodness, this is just altogether wonderful! Beautiful post, beautiful images, beautiful story – congratulations!!!
Neat. Much love from us to you guys!
beautiful story. cool weird cats. big congratulations.
This made me teary all over again. I’m so excited for you two and three crazy wonderful life you’re building together. Love you both lots!
There I go crying again, I am so happy for you two! Sam is such a wonderful person and friend, and I am so glad he found someone equally amazing to spend his life with. You can’t ask for anything better in life :) love you guys!
Beyond awesome. <3 Congrats to you both!!
You two are adorbs. Inspirational even. ;)
I am so, so excited for you!! Isn’t love amazing? So much better than finding some random person to marry at WPPI as we had once discussed :) xo
So happy for you two!! Wishing you a loooong life together, full of happiness, love and travels :)
Yay! I love this post, it makes me so happy! AND your engagement took place on my wedding anniversary, which I now find very interesting because Peter surprised me by taking me to Banff and we were very close to randomly calling you to see if we could hire you to take some pictures of us that day… Until I remembered you were out of town! You were having your own special day for sure :) congrats to you both, so happy for you!
CRYING AGAIN! So happy! And best wedding plans ever! (I was married on a summer Wednesday, at the edge of the woods, with no wedding party.)
so happy for you brit! what a beautiful story you two share :) xo
This is so beautiful. Tears, even though I don’t really know you!
Beautiful moments, beautiful words, beautiful photos. Congratulations!
This is absolutely beautiful. Well done Sam. Well done.
Aw, I love this post. You guys are adorable.
So happy for you two! What a sweet story (and those photos… oh man, so amazing.)
Aww… I have tears in my eyes! I’m SO happy for you two. :)
So great Britt, when I met you in DC I remember thinking how well you guys worked together, but I had no idea it was still so new then! So happy for you :)
00141.jpg my favorite engagement photo. Forever. <3 <3
Hi have tears! Such a lovely post and I am so truly happy for the two of you. Hugs.
Love this! You two are so cute together and I love hearing more about your past story and future plans. Congrats again!
That was pretty awesome :)
So happy for you two!
I am so happy for you both! congrats!!! all my love from Ontario!! :)