Love story giveaway details inside…
In honor of Valentine’s day coming up this weekend, we decided to put together a fun little giveaway to celebrate love and continue with the theme of love all week! Though I’ve never been one to be too excited about Valentine’s day because for one I think you should do nice things for each other all of the time. Secondly, it ends up making singles wish they had someone [I’ve been there…We’ve all been there!], but we couldn’t help but spread the love!
We partnered up with Paul Rich of Paul Rich Studio who is giving away a photo session! Check out a sampling of some engagement and family sessions below and at the bottom of the post you’ll find the rules and how to enter in the giveaway!
What you can win:
Complimentary engagement session (up to 2 hours of photography). Session to be scheduled with Paul Rich Studio based on availability and in the Portland, Oregon area.
OR
Complimentary family photo session of up to 5 family members. Session to be scheduled with Paul Rich Studio based on availability and in the Portland, Oregon area.
What you have to do to enter to win:
All you need to do is, in the comment section in this post, answer the following questions by Saturday, February 13th, 2010 at 8pm and we will pick our favorite story for the winner on Sunday, February 14th, 2010 [Valentine’s Day]!
[1] Where did you meet?
[2] How long have you been together?
[3] What do you love most about the love of your life?
[4] Your love story:
Who can win:
Anyone who is in love and has a story to tell! Whether you’re 20 or 70, we want to hear your love story!
Rachelle and Donny [and their adorable beagle, Sugar] engagement photo by Paul Rich Studio
Later this week, we will be featuring a few images from Champagne’s Rachelle Bell and her husband Donny’s wedding as part of our “week of love”.
We can’t wait to read your love stories! Ready, set… go enter! : )
Cheers,
Mandi & Rachelle
Thank you for stopping by our blog! We’d love to meet you! We offer free no obligation consultations so you’re able to see if you’re in need of a wedding coordinator and if we’re the right match! .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) us now to set up an appointment!
Comments
Alicia Rawlins | Sunday, February 07, 2010 at 10:54 PM
Well since I am not attached, my love will be my mother (Even if I was attached, she may still be my love : ))
1. September 20th, 1983 when I was born
2. We have been together all of my life
3. I love how caring, and supportive she is with everything that I do in life.
4. As you already know, the love of my life is my Mother. From the age of three on, she raised me by herself, and did an amazing job if I do say so myself. Even though she was a single mother I cannot remember one time where she was not at a school function, or sporting event, which in itself is an amazing feat. I may not have had everything my heart desired when I was young, but I also never went without. She taught me how to make decisions, by weighing the positives and negatives, and looking at the possible outcomes.
She showed me how to be an intelligent, strong woman, that I will always thank her for.
I love my mother with all of my heart, and am thankful for everything that she sacrificed to give me the best life that she could. She will always be my #1 Valentine.
Melissa Stock | Monday, February 08, 2010 at 07:26 AM
[1] Where did you meet?
Matthew was from Eugene and I was in Southern California. He sang with his brothers and toured around on weekends… I was a music director at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove. I had this group of guys coming in “The Stock Brothers” and when I found them online to do some research on my guest artists I noticed that one was single. From the moment they walked in on Feb 11, 2001 to the Cathedral and I heard Matthew sing (while I was at the piano, so I got to look at him the whole time!) I knew something was going on. That night, two different friends of his family called his Mother (who was in Oregon) and told her and his Father that they met the girl who was going to marry their son… (I had no idea!) so we kept in touch and he would call and mail me Full City coffee and 6 months from the date we met Matthew was back down on a trip and we had only seen each other 1 other time in person since then- and with his family. We were able to steal a few minutes alone and he said “I Love you and I’m going to marry you!!!” and I said “ok”!!!
[2] How long have you been together?
We met Feb 11, 2001 and were married Feb 15, 2003. It will be 7 years this month!!! The greatest seven years of my life!
[3] What do you love most about the love of your life?
I am so supported and so loved by him. I love the details that he notices and the planning he does. I love his ability to make me laugh and to cry with me when I am hurting. I love that he is protective of me and that he wants nothing but the best for us together. I love that he encourages me to do what I love and that he is my number one fan. I love that when I conduct concerts he is right there at the end with the first bouquet of flowers and gives me big smooches on stage and encourages the audience to applaud more. He is my everything. I love that he celebrates Valentine’s Day every day of the year with me.
[4] Your love story: Part of it was up above in how we met, but then we had a long distance (not too long, but California to Oregon is long enough and we spent a lot of money with Alaska Airlines and Verizon!) We were only able to see each other about 40 days total from the point where we met to when we got married because of our work and our schedules. We were able to talk hours a day and really were able to get to know each other so well that when we got married and I moved up to Oregon, it was such a relief to know that we were not counting down days till we said goodbye, as we were on every visit. We have weathered through some huge health issues together and our relationship continues to grow stronger and stronger every day. I am so thankful to have him in my life.
Julia Liudahl | Monday, February 08, 2010 at 09:34 AM
[1] Where did you meet?
My husband and I met through out old work. Over the phone.
[2] How long have you been together?
We have been together for more then 5-1/2 years
[3] What do you love most about the love of your life? I know that he will always be there for me and support me in everything I will do. Everyday we want to be together holding hands even when we are 84 years old.
[4] Your love story:
Bryan and I met over the phone back in 2003. We would always call one another over the phone at work, since we weorked at two sperate branches and had never met. We slowly ended up exchanging numbers and talking on the phone outside of work for hours and hours. One day I finally got the courage to ask him to meet. I was on the phone with him when I was checking out at the store. When I asked him if he would like to get together for lunch, he thought I was speaking to the check out man at the store. Sadly, finals at school got in the way of our planned meeting. We had no idea what the other looked like and finally on June 9, 2004 we met in person. He actually brought me my favorite flower (a sunflower), my favorite movie on DVD (since everytime I would start it on VHS I would miss the whole movie when we were on the phone). He even got his car professionally cleaned and bought new shoes just for the date. We dated for many monthes. He is the love of my life and I just know that our stars alligned at the right time for us to meet. We are each others best friend, spouse, love and ultimate support. Everyday we hold hands tell each other how much we love the other and appreciate them. We look forward to the many years we have ahead of us and the wonders they will bring. : )
Jennifer Powell | Monday, February 08, 2010 at 08:12 PM
[1] Where did you meet? Patrick and I attended the same high school and had a few of the same friends, but never dated back then. Our first official date was a few years after high school.
[2] How long have you been together? Seven years
[3] What do you love most about the love of your life? I love his strength and his tenderness.
[4] Your love story: Our love story would have to be the story of our engagement. Patrick and I had been dating for five years in 2008 when we attended his cousin’s wedding. For the bouquet toss, the bride called all of the single ladies out onto the dance floor. After a quick, fake toss, the bride turned around with the bouquet still in her hand and she called my name. For a moment, I started to panic! The thought actually crossed my mind: ‘Maybe I shouldn’t be out there on the floor amongst singles. After all, five years is a long time. Patrick and I had recently made long term plans together. Technically, I wasn’t single!’ I was seriously trying to figure out how I was going to exit the dance floor with my dignity still intact. But the bride went on to talk about how amazing her wedding day was for her and how special the commitment of marriage is… and all the while she was walking right towards me. Truthfully, I can’t remember every word she said. But I do remember once she reached me, she handed the bouquet to me and grabbed my shoulders. She spun me around, and Patrick was there behind me, down on one knee with my engagement ring in his hand asking me to marry him. Of course my answer was yes, and we’ll be tying the knot in Maui this October!
Bethany Fegles | Tuesday, February 09, 2010 at 08:25 PM
1) Where did you meet? (this is kind of also our love story)
Josh and I met on the bus ride to summer camp when we were teenagers! His camp bus broke down and the bus I was on picked up all of those campers! We all ended up sitting 3 to a seat with our sleeping bags and pillows underneath our feet on a hot, sweaty bus! But the upside was that this totally cute guy sat right in front of me and we talked/flirted the whole bus ride to camp! I felt like I had met my best friend. Even though we weren’t from the same town it turned out that we had a lot of friends in common. Once we got to camp I saw John, the boy I’d had a crush on all year at school, so I said goodbye to Josh. ha, ha. We didn’t see each other a whole lot all week, but ended up sitting by each other again on the bus ride home and had so much fun. The day after camp, in a totally different town, I went to see the movie Clueless in the theater with my girlfriends. It was so crazy, because guess who I ended up standing next to in line without realizing it for a while?! Josh! So we sat by each other in the theater! I was so nervous and excited all at the same time. I really liked him. We hung out as friends for several months after that and then officially started dating the following summer, when he kissed me! He was my first kiss. : ) ...the only boy I’ve ever kissed!
2) How long have you been together?
We started dating when I was 16… 1996 and got married in 2002. So it’s been almost 14 years now that we’ve been together. <3
3) What do you love most about the love of your life?
He loves me unconditionally and so selflessly. He gives me the freedom and security to be 100% me. He’s absolutely my best friend.
4) Our love story:
Our love story is mostly answered in question #1, but the quick overview of “us” is:
We met at summer camp and became best friends over the next year. We officially began to date the following summer. We went to different high schools and colleges, but dated long distance and talked a lot on the phone. We got married in 2002 and it was seriously the most fun day of our life. We were blessed with a son, in 2006 and then a daughter in 2008! Now we’re in the life stage of two young children, and pretty tired! LOL. : ) But we love it, and I can’t imagine doing any of this without Josh! I often tell him he’s the man of my dreams. Because he really is. We’ve experienced our share of life’s heartaches in the time we’ve been together, but so grateful to have one another to cling to.
I’m so thankful I married my best friend. <3
Thanks for having this contest!
Bethany
meaghan | Tuesday, February 09, 2010 at 09:53 PM
[1] Where did you meet?
Jeremy and I met as Personal Trainers at our old workplace, a giant gym up in Bellevue, Washington.
[2] How long have you been together?
3 years!
[3] What do you love most about the love of your life?
We have already been through so many ups and downs including traveling all over the world and moving to Nebraska for me to attend nursing school and then moving back here to the west coast - we managed to make it through all of the crazy emotions that come with those events. Jeremy forces me to smile even when I do not want to. He lets me be my slightly obsessive, crazy self without making me feel bad about it. We both know where we want to be 10 years from now, and amazingly it is in the same place : )
[4] Your love story:
Jeremy and I worked together for about a year before we really started hanging out. His inbox was right below mine, so he was always in the same place as me but he always seemed so into his work… eventually we began exchanging smiles, and a few words between clients. I became good friends with a co-worker of ours, who was also his roommate. One time when I was dropping the roommate off, I saw Jeremy outside cleaning out his truck. A Ford F350 with big ol’ tires! At that moment I said to his roommate “I have to date him, I will date him”. A few weeks later we had become inseparable…. our first few ‘dates’ were playing squash (it’s like racquetball) and then going out to lunch during our middle of the day break from work. A month later we went to Paris for 2 weeks - one night we both woke up around 4am and couldn’t sleep. We went on the balcony and talked about how amazing life was for us lately, I knew Jeremy wanted to say it but before he could get it out, I told him I loved him. He immediately said it back and I knew this was it, he was the man I wanted to marry. I’m still waiting for the ring, but I know someday we will get married and I could not be happier : )
Willow Grossen | Tuesday, February 09, 2010 at 10:39 PM
Where did you meet? Dan and I attended the same middle school and high school. He is a year younger than me and went almost unnoticed until my senior year. We had been in band and choir together for three years but didn’t really connect personally until we were at a cast party for our high school’s musical- No No Nanette. He wasn’t in the musical but his younger sister was and he had chaperoned to the party. Our first “real” connection was when I was sitting on the porch talking with a couple friends and I felt this person sit down next to me. I know it sounds weird, but their energy just made me want to talk with them and I knew they were someone who would change my life. When I turned to see who it was, it was Dan, this goofy 16 year old with the most amazing chocolate brown eyes. We spent all night wandering around the hillside property talking about everything we wanted in life. We’ve been together ever since!
How long have you been together? Almost 8 years! We recently got married- August 16, 2009, the best day of our lives!
What do you love most about the love of your life? Oh, where to start?! Dan is the most patient and loving person I have ever met. He supports me and loves me, regardless of my moods. The quality I cherish most, though, is his ability to be himself and let me be myself. We are very silly, young-at-heart people who love to play games and tell silly jokes. I love that he lets me play chase with him and tackle him! We laugh with (and sometimes at) each other ALL the time! If there is one thing I can count on Dan to do, it is to make my soul smile. : )
Our love story came together at our wedding. We were engaged on March 27, 2009 and married just 4 months later. Everything about our day was planned around our family and friends- who have supported and loved us both for the last 8 years. We were married at the Kennedy School in Portland, which is where my grandmother went to school. Dan and I wrote our own vows and had our friend’s dad do our ceremony. We used things in our wedding to remind us of those were there in spirit- such as dahlias for my grandpa. The whole day was very sentimental and went off perfectly! Our ceremony was small- less than 100 people- and our reception was bumpin’ all night long! Dan’s vows really summarize our love for each other over the years and for the many years to come!
Willow, Some people may not realize that you are the first girl I ever kissed let alone dated, and even though I’ve been to many places and seen a lot of things, some awesome and terrible things, I have not seen any person or place that made me want for anything more than you. Today has been a long time in the making as we have made our way through 6 out of 7 years (less summers) of long distance relationship, sacrificing countless dinosaurs on the alter of our love to drive up, down and through Hillsboro, Corvallis, and even McMinnville on all the twists and turns of the Highways 47, 99, and I-5. Starting way back in the Summer of 2002 A.D., we are the summer fling that never ended and never will. I admire and am constantly impressed by your ability to healthily balance your personal and professional lives, always careful of people’s feelings and doing your best to improve the lives of those around you. You set an example for care and attention that I want to continue learning from for the rest of our lives. You take the relationships you make with your family and friends very seriously and I am proud and fortunate to be so special to you. I am looking forward to the time we will share together in the future, loving and supporting one another and keeping ourselves more or less in line while we start our home and family together. For the rest of my life, whether we’re off exploring some far off land or just on our couch passing out to reruns of NCIS, I want to be there with you. I love you completely for everything you are and everything you aren’t and I promise to be the best husband I can for you, above all treating you with the respect you deserve and showing you all of the love you need.
Sara R. Almirall | Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 04:54 PM
1. Where did you meet?
My Boy, Jaime, and I met on an Anti-Valentine’s Day Barfly Bus Tour.
2. How long have you been together?
Physically, Jaime & I have been together for ten months.
3. What do you love most about the love of your life?
I love the qualities Jaime exudes which have given me the ability to completely trust someone for the first time in my life.
4. Your love story:
I was about to move to Santa Fe & Jaime had thoughts on venturing back to California; fortunately, my plans relocated to Portland, which is where Jaime decided to remain. I believe our relationship is first honest and then terrifically humourous. We met on Valentines Day (ironically, a day neither of us recognizes), began dating on Tax Day, and admitted to loving each other on Mother’s Day. (Obviously, there has been discussion that our marriage should take place on Halloween.) Both very much commitaphobes, our first date’s conversation centered around anti-marriage, anti-children, and the fact that neither could hold down a relationship longer than three months. With those stats, there was nowhere to go but up. Jaime is the first person I’ve ever been able to love and I am absolutely grateful I waited. We’ve known each other for almost a year and are unyieldingly committed to one another, engaged, and deeply imbued with the devotion, respect, and admiration we’ve both found in the most charming of coincidences. I’ve never laughed so much with someone I truly adore and fondly recognize as my best friend. I could go on about his kind hands, fruitful thoughts, extraordinary musical ability, and overall smashing personality, but he’d call me out on really being in this relationship for his stellar Miso Soup recipe.
Lauryn McClellan | Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 02:47 PM
I remember the first time I saw Danny, I was out for a night on the town. Danny and I were at table pretty close to each other and I had heard him say to his friend Ryan “Hey, there’s that girl from the bank!”. Come to find out he had noticed me working there a few times but was too shy to say anything. We ended up chatting for a few minutes then I had to go. Sometime had passed and I was out with a girlfriend in Vancouver. Danny had been out with a group of friends on a bachelor party and noticed me. He approached me and we talked again for a little bit, then had to go tend to his friends. Then after about an hour I had text him. I asked him if he was ever going to ask me to dance. By that point they had already left but we texted back and forth thru the night. After that we continued to talk on the phone a few times. In the coming week I actually had an extra ticket to a Jake Owen concert. I mentioned this to him and he offered to go with me. This turned out to be our first date, and what we now consider to be our anniversary date, September 13th 2006.
I could not have been blessed with a better gift in life than someone who is truly compatible with me. Danny is everything I ever wanted and more. We have so many things in common. My favorite thing to do together is after I get off work, going home and making dinner together, then cuddling up on the couch to watch a movie. Sounds simple but it’s my little joy. I love the way he always thinks of me too. Not just for the big stuff but little things as well. For example our house is really chilly and last night while watching a movie he hands over my heated blanket which he had already plugged in and warmed up for me. Man I love being warm! He’s a keeper for sure.
Our engagement was amazing as well. It was a surprise trip Danny planned for me. I had no idea where we were going and I had to pack for all seasons. On our first day of vacation we left at 4:20 am and hit the road. Danny drove for 17 hours straight and I, for the life of me, could not figure out where we were going. We stayed our first night in Cheyenne, WY and were on the road again by 8:30 am. I finally figured out where we were going when I saw a road sign that said Denver! YAY, I’ve always wanted to go to Denver. Coming into town we passed Coors Field. I asked if this was where they played the football games at? He said no, that he thought it was at a different stadium. A little way up the road we saw the next stadium, and Danny got off the exit. It being Sunday, I put two and two together. We were going to a football game! Me being a football fan, and both of us never have been to a game before so needless to say, I was ecstatic! The game was amazing. It was the Broncos vs. Cowboys and it was a sell out game. We could see everything. What an amazing experience. We stayed in Denver for 2 days. On the second day we drove through Boulder and headed towards the Rocky Mountain National Park. We got to Estes Park, CO around 3pm as we were just putting around town. As we drove into Estes Park Danny noticed a large herd of Elk down on the golf course by the visitors center. WOW! I have never seen anything like that before. The Elk were bugling and fighting. We actually were able to walk on the golf course and were standing about 5 feet away from a 5 point Elk. Completely awesome. We headed back into town as it was getting late and wanted to catch the Monday night football game at Buffalo Wild Wings. It was the Vikings vs. Packer (go Farve!). From Denver we headed to Jackson Hole, WY. What an amazing town. We stayed at a beautiful lodge in Jackson for two nights. Complete with moose and elk mounts, fireplace in the rooms and Jacuzzi tub. The town has an elk refuge where 8,000 elk come down from the high country each year. In the spring the boy scouts come and collect all the elk sheds and they have a large auction each year for all of them. There is a park where they have built 4 large arches made entirely from elk antlers, so neat. From Jackson we drove up thru the Grand Teton National Park to get to the south gate entrance of Yellowstone. It had been closed for snow earlier in the day so we decided to go anyway in hopes that they’d open it up. Fortunately for us they did. Our first stop was old faithful. Of course, right when we got there it had gone off and we missed it by mere minutes. Danny took me for a walk around Old Faithful and a few moments later he got down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him and marry him! Of course the answer was yes! We decided to wait the hour and a half to watch Old Faithful go off again and then we were on our way to see the rest of the park. We headed to the North entrance of Mammoth. On our way we saw lots of Bison and Elk, even a bald eagle and coyote made an appearance. Once we got to Mammoth, MT there was a whole heard of elk right in town. Everything was just so amazing. It definitely a trip I will never ever forget.
Andrew Connellan | Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 04:34 PM
[1] Lizzie and I met online. She was the first and only woman I ever went on a date with (er, through the online dating service…), and I promptly cancelled my account after our first weekend together. Best $59.97 I ever spent!
[2] We first met on July 25, 2009, became engaged on January 5th and will be married this September 11th! Seven months of joy and wonderment and the realization that we are old souls who were meant to be together.
[3] The thing that I love the most about Lizzie is the way she lives every day by exemplifying the qualities of love, kindness, and joy. She meets each day with a smile, a sense of caring for others, and a HUGE heart. On top of being the single most delectable and beautiful woman on Earth (that’s no jive!), she has a kind word for each person she meets, and genuinely cares about everyone and everything she shares this planet with. People are happier and snappier for having Lizzie in their lives- and I am eternally grateful that she came into mine.
[4] Our first date was during the heat wave last summer. The coffee shop we were to meet at inexplicably closed early that day, so my nervousness about meeting Lizzie kicked into overdrive- this was not going according to plan! My first words upon meeting her were to blurt out “They’re closed. We have to leave.” I was mortified, but the smile that she lit me up with and her little tinkling laugh instantly put me at ease. The kind barista made us drinks before ushering us out the door, and we proceeded to sit outside in the shade taking turns telling people that the place was closed. I couldn’t get enough of her! After the date ended, I ran home to email her asking if she would see me the next day (at the same time, she was leaving a voicemail for her Mom about the fantastic date she’d had- it’s true, her Mom saved the message and everything!). That second date included gelato, lost wallets, and Black Magic (the good kind), and I was sprung. Every day since then has been a joy, our love blossoming and spreading and growing deeper roots. Together, we are a force for good and love in this world… Oh, and we both like to be photographed!