Meet Brittney & Ben
5.15.21
The day I will marry my best friend. The one i laugh with, live for, dream with, and love.
Days Until Our Wedding
Brittney:
Our first date... where do I begin! After years of friendship and living across the hall from each other, we finally decided to go on an “official date..” Some would say it was a long time coming. We decided to go to dinner at Texas Road House, because who doesn’t love their rolls? All-day leading up to our date and during the meal, I was a nervous wreck. So many thoughts were going through my head. What if it does not work out? What if this ruins our friendship? What if he finally notices how weird I am? How many times would I hear I told you so throughout our relationship? Will our friends think this is weird? Do I think this is weird? The list goes on and on. I was hesitant for years to go on a date with Ben and could not believe I finally gave in and agreed to go to dinner. After several rolls and good conversation, I decided this wasn’t as awkward as I thought, and I remember hoping that he would ask me to hang out the rest of the evening. Once dinner was over, and we were somewhat over the first date jitters, it was then I started to realize just how much I may have liked him over the years and was too stubborn to admit. We ended our first date by spending the rest of the evening with friends at our two favorite college establishments Laurie’s and Big Daddy’s. By the end of the night, all of the questions and hesitations seemed to disappear, and I knew this was our beginning.
Ben:
The day I finally convinced her. But first, a back story. I first met Brittney on the patio at one of our local watering holes. It was a typical night, and I was standing in a circle with a group of guys, we were on our best behavior. I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and saw the most beautiful blond-haired, blue-eyed, long-legged girl I had ever seen being pushed towards me by her friends. We awkwardly said hi and turned back around (romantic right?), I was nervous as could be. Over the next few years, we bumped into each other a couple of times but grew apart. One day my neighbor said her roommate was moving out, and she said she found a random girl through a mutual friend, and her name was Brittney Edwards (small world, right?). Brittney lived across the hall from me for a year. She saw it all. Good times and bad times. Proud times and not so proud times. And then we both moved away.
We stayed in touch, and finally, I gained the courage to ask her out to dinner. We went to Texas Roadhouse, because who does not like their cinnamon butter? We got there, and it was awkward. There was a long line, all kinds of people staring at us, and I was on a date with a girl who became one of my best friends over the last year. It was a real all or nothing situation, good thing I had already moved away, right? HaHa... A couple of biscuits and a frosty mug in, we began to hit it off. After that awkward night, I knew two things; I could not get Brittney off my mind, and I did not want to be with anyone else. And the rest is history.
First Date
Brittney:
December 20th, 2019, was a day I was looking forward to for several weeks. Little did I know It would turn into a day I would never forget. Ben had been living in Kentucky for several months, and I recently moved back to my hometown due to Ben’s relocation for work. As many people know, long-distance relationships are not easy, and we were both looking forward to finally being able to spend a weekend together. I could not wait to see him and to spend time with friends that we have not seen in a while. That evening while I waited for Ben to arrive, I met up with friends to pick up our packets for a charity event we were attending the next day and then later went out for appetizers and drinks. We planned to spend an evening together at the Brewery Lights and to go to one of our favorite restaurants downtown, Rosalita’s.
About an hour had passed since I heard from Ben, and I was starting to get a little irritated. For those who know me, the holiday season is my favorite time of year, and I LOVE the Brewery Lights. Friday night was the only night we could go together, and I was starting to think we wouldn’t make it. After waiting for what seemed like forever, he finally told me he was in town and just needed some time to check in to the hotel and get settled. I agreed and told him I would be on my way shortly and reminded him that the lights were calling our name and would soon be closing. By this point, Ben was not in my good graces. As we finished our apps and waited for our checks, the topic of when I thought we would get engaged came up. It was a frequent topic of discussion since several of us recently got engaged, and the rest of us were in long term relationships.
I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but looking back, I should have known that something was up. Since Ben was not in my good graces at the time, I remember giving a short response that went a little something like “I give up, it probably will never happen.” Little did I know that today was the day. Once Ben let me know that he was finally ready, I met up with him at the hotel. When I arrived naturally, Ben was busy finishing up some business before we could go. We are always late to everything due to Ben always having to make one last visit to the porcelain throne. By this point, I had a few choice words to say and was very unhappy because he knew this was one of my pet peeves. I started the conversation a little something like, “you had all of this time, and you’re not ready.” Before I knew it and I could finish my not so lovely sentence, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Struck with emotions, I felt terrible for how I acted towards him. I couldn’t believe that we were finally engaged!!! At that point, all that mattered was today was the official start to our life together. The rest of the evening, we celebrated with friends and spent it doing one of our favorite holiday traditions, viewing the Brewery Lights!
Ben:
For those who did not know, I took an out of state promotion. I had been worried sick since the day I accepted the job, and I knew I did not want to go through the journey without Brittney. I talked my way into staying at her parent's house one weekend. What Brittney did not know was that I took off a couple of extra days from work to talk to her parents and ask for their blessings. Mission accomplished, I got their blessing, and I bought the ring the next day. I stared at that ring for two weeks waiting for the perfect time. Finally, a plan! A weekend in Saint Louis with her friends and then Christmas celebrations with the families. Plan one; leave work early, surprise her at her house and enjoy the weekend. Brittney had different ideas; she wanted to get to the city first. Thinking on the fly, I get a bunch of decorations to decorate the hotel room, check-in before her, and it will be beautiful.
Again, Brittney had other ideas; she wanted to check in first. So, after a long day, the ring was in my pocket the whole day at work, I am driving to Saint Louis with absolutely no idea what I'm going to do. Suddenly an idea! Convince her back to the room, decorate it, head out to celebrate. I get to the hotel, unpack my car and no decorations to be found (they were in my kitchen, in Kentucky). I get the room; I know I am doing this. Brittney had other ideas; she wanted me to meet her out. Thinking on my feet, I told Brittney I was experiencing stomach problems (very believable), and it was going to be a while. She was less than thrilled. I convinced her friends to kidnap her and bring her back to the room. She walked in, not my biggest fan, and went to the bathroom. Brittney walked out of the bathroom, let out a few choice words, and headed towards me with a full head of steam. I took a step back and said, "from the moment I met you, I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you" and dropped to a knee. She said, "Yes!!" It took four years, but I finally got her! After composing ourselves, we went downstairs, made a toast with her friends, followed by a week of celebrations with friends and family.
Proposal
May 15, 2021
