The Adventuring Couple: From Age "18" to Now at "25"

I met Laura through my younger brother. Laura met her now husband Ryan at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during college registration weekend 7 years ago. She was moving from a tiny town, describing herself as "naive, and not knowing anyone on campus." On a dorm tour, Laura - concerned about the cable TV situation - asked the guide if the BBC channel was provided. Her question peaked Ryan's interest and allowed him, in her words, to "see past her dumb haircut." 

Later, during a break from registration class, Ryan's friend - remembering Laura as the "BBC (British Broadcasting Channel) girl"- introduced her as such. In 2004, Ryan had long flowey hair, piercing blue eyes, a button down, thrifted paisley shirt, and a mouth full of braces. He said to Laura, "So you like BBC? Are you more into, like, BBC news or are you all about the Brit coms?" Although Laura had a high school boyfriend at the time, it only took her and Ryan two weeks of solid college friendship for her to break up with her old beau. One night, after a 12 hour soul baring conversation, Ryan - who had since gotten rid of the braces - pulled Laura close and kissed her. She describes it as, "fireworks, jello, puffy clouds. Peanut butter and jelly. It was everything that movies, poetry, and pop ballads made it out to be: only better because it was him."

Since then, Chicago residents Laura and Ryan have been on so many adventures. In her words, "we make guacamole, drink tallboys, travel to exotic lands like Canada and Indianapolis, make music videos, climb mountains, do fake karate, jump into frozen lakes, all that fun stuff that couples can do together. When Ryan proposed to me, he said he was excited to see all of the things that we could do, because we were together. We've been married for 7 months. And it's been rad."

Destined to Be Together: A Future Mr. and Mrs.

Kellie and Ryan, a Pennsylvanian couple, are actually the first pair on this blog that I do not know directly. My old work colleague is the maid of honor in their upcoming wedding. Meeting over 11 years ago at Kutztown University, Ryan and Kellie dated as freshmen in college. However, their roads would diverge, allowing them to pursue their careers. Reuniting a decade later as young professionals, they fell in love. The two of them went to celebrate their one year anniversary as a couple over dinner, exchanging gifts at the rustic, charming Joseph Ambler Inn in Pennsylvania.

Kellie gave Ryan his gift first, which were Eagles football tickets. Up next, Ryan was on a mission to hand her something: no bigger than a shoebox, wrapped in a bow. He bypassed reading the card that Kellie had written him, because he felt so eager.

Kellie opened the odd shaped box, which contained a book, "All About Us," which was the same book that they have written in together for the past year, to journal their relationship from past to present. Confused, Kellie opened to the bookmarked last page, with one single question..."Your next goal in life:" next to it written..."Will You Marry Me?". Kellie looked down at the page in amazement as just beyond the book, was Ryan on one knee, ring in hand, asking the same question, "Kellie, will you marry me?"

Kellie then fell to her knees with Ryan, tears of excitement, saying, "Yes, Absolutely, Yes!" as their future together as an engaged couple was cemented.

The picture above is one of my favorites. If you are interested in engagement photography in the London/L.A. areas, I recommend my friend Ashley Bradley whose Cardboard Sky photography studio can capture the most romantic of moments. 

Speaking of photos, I've also fallen in love with this colorful, romantic one: