celebrate with us!

We met salsa dancing in Chicago. We had seen each other around, and danced together a couple of times, but on one specific occasion in December 2012 we were both at a live band salsa event at Bottom Lounge. Charles was on a date with another woman, and Anastasia (who had never done this before) walked up to him when his date was in the bathroom and asked, “Are you here with your girlfriend?” Charles responded that he was not, and it was actually a first date with the woman that was not going terribly well. Anastasia responded with something like, “I won’t ask for your number, since you’re here with a date, but just know that I’m interested.” Charles then found her on Facebook, sent what was undoubtedly a very a clever message asking her out and the rest is history.

On a lovely June afternoon in 2014, Charles suggested a picnic after work for the two of us at a park near Buckingham Fountain in downtown Chicago. Anastasia had a suspicion that he had something up his sleeve because of the timing and since picnics downtown were a bit out of the ordinary for us. We ate, chatted, and had some wine - but no proposal. Charles then suggested we go for a walk along the lake. Then, he led us to a sailboat with a captain who had been waiting for us, and took us out on the water. We had dessert and champagne, and then Charles said, “I have one more surprise for you,” dug out a ring box, and got on one knee. Anastasia said, “yes!” before he even had a chance to officially ask. It was a perfect proposal set against a perfect backdrop of a sun setting on the Chicago skyline. As if that wasn’t amazing enough, Charles invited some of our closest friends back to our apartment who were waiting for us when we got home to continue the celebration. It was magical.

This past Winter we decided that we didn't want to put off getting married any longer, and we wanted to start the new year off as a married couple. Before we left for Christmas in Dallas we got a marriage license to use when we came back to Chicago -- if we decided to go through with it. When we got back to town, we both felt that this was the right move for us. It was a rainy day and our families were thousands of miles away, but we had a lovely (albeit brief) civil ceremony with the assistance of two of our closest friends. It was a perfectly intimate way to start our new year and new married life together! Now, exactly a year later, we want to bring together our dear friends and family to celebrate #AYearOfWeddedGibbs!