So This Is Love

We met during sophomore year of college through our mutual friend Nick. Nick, one of Ashley’s best friends since high school, ended up becoming a roommate of Ryan’s. Whenever we would see each other on campus or parties, we were always able to pick up where we left off. He asked to go on our first date Senior year. We went to see The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in theatres. He offered to drive to the movie, being the gentleman he is (he added this part.) As we were getting into the car, she had trouble finding the door handle. She remembers thinking "Oh my god he's going to think I'm an idiot because I can't figure out how to open the door". He saw her confused look on her face and was chuckling while he came over to show that the car handle was on the side of the door and not where the handle usually is on a car. Gotta love the Red Cutlass. We both had a good laugh and continued to get into the car to go see the movie. While we were talking before the movie, He started a quote from a Disney movie that she finished. Needless to say, the date was a success and now we're getting married and are living our happily ever after one day at a time.

Ryan and Ashley had their first date, but in their age of dating, there is a "talking period" before officially becoming a couple. This happened on their Cedar Point trip a few weeks later. They spent the entire day in the sun, working their way from the back of the park to the front. It was in the afternoon when they got in line for the GateKeeper. As they were waiting in line, Ryan had asked Ashley to be his girlfriend and she of course said yes.

The first I love you came sooner than you think. Ryan had been getting ready for graduation and Ashley was getting ready to complete an Internship at Disney World in Florida. It was a great time to celebrate both accomplishments. It was the end of the year where school was ending and what better way to celebrate then to enjoy a house party and bar hopping in downtown BG?! It was a great time with friends making great memories. The next morning, Ryan had to be up early to complete his last day of his internship before graduation. This was also the last time they would see each other for a few months as Ashley was leaving for her internship in Orlando Florida the next day. Ashley and Ryan walked out to his car and talked for a little bit and are just head over heels for each other. It was in that moment that they both were falling in love with each other and knew that they were willing to make the long-distance work. Ryan looked at Ashley and was trembling a little with nerves but gently kissed her and said "I love you" for the first time. Ashley then kissed him back and told him "I love you too". Definitely the hardest "see you later" either have experienced, but also the best feeling of truly falling in love.

Ryan and Ashley were finally able to plan a Florida vacation! Due to covid restrictions, their original plan to go the year before had fell through. So they were determined to take a nice vacation to Venice, Florida. They arrived on Monday night into St. Pete and made their way to Venice Tuesday morning. They were staying at Ashley's grandparents and spent the day in the sun at the pool. It was in the afternoon where they had been at the pool for a couple hours and wanted to go back to get a refill on drinks and grab a good book and then go back to the pool. We get back to the pool and there is no one there! It was so nice to have the pool to themselves. They were getting their seats resituated and Ashley goes to put her towel on her chair, then turns around to Ryan down on one knee! It was exactly what she wanted, simple and intimate.