19 Happy Couples Share The Way They First Met
They've all been together for more than 10 years.
By Stella Katsipoutis
Before smartphones took over the world, you never heard a love story start with, "I swiped right." While there's absolutely nothing wrong with meeting your boo on an app or online, there's just something about a bona fide fairytale romance that tickles your heartstrings a bit more than Tinder.
And make no mistake: Fairy tales do happen. Need proof? We asked 19 couples who've been together 10 or more years to share the stories of how they met, and their answers will turn even the most cynical of singles into devout Cupid believers.
From a chance meeting of strangers to a childhood crush turned into something more, here's how these couples found a love for the ages—and how they've kept the magic going throughout the years.
DAWN & BILLY
"Billy and I met when I was 6 and he was 8, 40 years ago, at a BMX track his parents ran. My dad also ran a track, so we saw each other often as kids. When I was 10, I had a huge crush on him and used to go around taking pictures of him. He couldn't stand me! We raced together for years, but I stopped when I was 16 and really didn't see him much. Many years went by (I was 24), and we ran into each other at a nightclub, where he asked me to go out the next night. I said yes, figuring it was just to hang out and catch up.
"We went to a movie and played pool after; it was nice. We went out a couple of times after that, and the one time he dropped me off, he kissed me. I was like, 'Hmm, I guess this is more than I thought!' From that moment, we started dating seriously, moved in together a couple of years later, got engaged, married in March of 1999, and have been together since. We now have two children and, once they were old enough to ride bikes, we took them to the BMX track to start racing like we did as kids. We couldn't just watch anymore, so I decided first to start racing again, and my husband followed suit because he wanted to be able to ride with me too. Now we help run the local BMX track, and we look forward to riding together as a family in our spare time.
"We've had our ups and downs as all marriages do, but we love each other like crazy, and the sport of BMX has really brought us together—both in the past and in the present. The secret to our happiness is the fact that we have learned to really communicate so that we are both on the same page. There are many things we love about our relationship, but the one thing we love the most is just that we love being together and enjoying our lives." —Dawn R.
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JEANIE & BRAD
"Brad and I were both in Orlando visiting friends before we met. We happened to be travelling back to Jacksonville at the same time. He was driving his truck, and I was the passenger in my college friend's car. We had to get in the turning lane at the last minute to get on I-95, and Brad kindly left enough room for us to cut in front of him. I turned around and waved and smiled as a thank-you to him, and right away I noticed how attractive he was. He waved and smiled back.
"As we traveled north, we kept each other within close distance. At one point, he had written his cell phone number on a piece of paper and put it up in the window for me to see as we drove next to him. So, I called him a couple of days later, and we chatted—the basic get-to-know-you info over the phone. The following evening, Brad called me to say 'Hi' and talk to me more. We talked for about four hours. During that phone call, he asked me out and I accepted. I was 19 at the time and a college freshman. He was 21 and worked at a local business. We went on our first date soon after, and now we have been together for over 16 years and married for almost 11 years. As each year passes, our relationship gets better and stronger.
"We work well together as a team, and the love we have for each other helped us build our family of two kids. We support each other, understand each other, encourage each other. We make sure that we make time for each other, whether it's 15 to 20 minutes of catching up on life's happenings, doing a house project together, or enjoying a date night at home after our kids go to bed." —Jeanie K.
Watch men & women spill the honest truth about how they know they're in love:
JUTTA & ERIC
"It all started on a beautiful June day in 1993, in Schweinfurt, Germany, where my now husband, Eric, was stationed with the U.S. Army. In retrospect, it seems like an unknown force was at work and made me meet him that day. Back in those days, I played squash with my colleague after work every Tuesday and got home around 7 p.m. One night, I parked my car and was ready to go to my apartment to make dinner. For whatever reason, I changed my mind. It may have been the smell of fresh popcorn, roasted almonds, German bratwursts, and other delicious fair foods that was blown my way from the fairgrounds only two miles away that inspired me to skip cooking and grab some food at the fair.
"So I drove there, walked around, and grabbed something to eat. I didn't care that I was all by myself. For some reason, I felt like this was the place to be that night. I ran into an acquaintance I knew from a club I used to go to—we had nothing in common other than that. She was a student, and I was a professional with a law degree. She had two young American GIs with her. One of them was her boyfriend; the other one, Eric, was the boyfriend's buddy. I immediately noticed Eric's good looks, athletic build, and friendly eyes. He just looked very interesting to me right from the get-go.
"My acquaintance and I started talking, and both guys left to get something to eat. While they were gone, I asked her to introduce me to this Eric guy. She rolled her eyes and told me not to waste my time because, apparently, he wasn't interested in German girls at all and couldn't wait to get back to the States. I was disappointed and confused, because I thought I had caught an interested glimpse from him, too. Anyway, I wasn't going to beg for his attention, so I thought, 'Oh, well; his loss.' Little did I know that later on, when I left to grab some dessert, Eric actually asked my acquaintance to introduce me to him. She, already knowing about my interest in him, told him that I was out of his league and that I wasn't dating 'lowly' GIs. Why she said that and what her motives were, one could only guess. But at the time, her comments left Eric thinking of me as an arrogant snob.
"Over the next couple of months, I ran into him at my favorite club on multiple occasions, and he ultimately struck up a conversation with me. Many more followed after the first, and one of them revealed that we both had felt an instant attraction toward one another on that day at the fair. Twenty-four-and-a-half years, two children, and many military moves later, Eric and I are still happily married. He's retired from the Army after 25 years of honorable service and six deployments. We spent six to seven years apart due to my husband's deployments and military school, but we always made the best of it. The Army life isn't always easy, and we surely had our ups and downs; but to this day, my husband is the love of my life, and I cannot imagine life without him.
"Eric is the most generous man I've ever known, he makes me feel safe and protected, he has always believed in my abilities, and he has supported me through two U.S. college degrees. I love his great sense of humor and his ability to move on and not hold a grudge. He taught me that it is okay to admit a mistake, to say 'I'm sorry,' and to forgive, something I was not taught growing up. Through him, I learned to look at a glass half full rather than half empty, which has positively affected my outlook on life in general. Last but not least, he has loved me despite my shortcomings, and he's accepted our cultural differences. No matter what will happen to us in the future, I will always be grateful for that." —Jutta E.
NIKKI & BERTO
"My husband and I actually went to the same high school in Houston. Berto was a grade above me, and although we had mutual friends, we didn't meet until after he graduated. I had an economics class my senior year, 1993, and we had a group project: We had to create an item to sell, and we had to make a commercial for it. My group was with some of my closest friends, and at that time we were into thrift stores and disco music. So for our project, we decided to do a mail-order disco video. For the commercial, we needed a group of girls and guys dressed in '70s clothes, so my friend Mary reached out to two friends of hers, Jolanda and Berto, who were brother and sister.
"When I met Berto during the project, I thought he was gorgeous, but way out of my league. After the project, we started hanging out as a group, and over time we became good friends. We were always naturally drawn to one another. I knew some of my friends liked him, so he was always off-limits to me. But eventually those friends told me that it was obvious Berto and I liked each other. However, we never really connected. He had lots of 'girlfriends'—I liked to call him a 'player player.' Eventually I started dating someone else seriously, and it was then that Berto really started showing interest. I like to think that's what made him realize he liked me. We got together in early 1995 and have been together ever since.
"Berto is just a charming, charismatic guy, hence all the women who wanted to be around him. Some he dated, some were just friends. The idea I had of him, and reality, however, are so different. He was not, and is not, some crazy player. He is a genuine, sweet, funny, and loving man, and he's so in tune with me it's disturbing. We have our ups and downs…you can't live with someone for 23 years and not want to choke them at some point. However, he has this strong faith that everything will work out, even when I am freaking out. It helps to center my crazy, controlling self. He knows me in ways no other person in this world knows me. We also give each other our space—he goes out on bike rides and I have girls' night, and we each have a good time knowing we will see each other at the end of the night. I can tell him everything, and he truly is my best secret-keeper. Even when life gets busy, I can tell him 'I'm unhappy and I don't know why,' and BAM it's fixed and we re-sync. Communication is everything, and I can tell this man anything, happy or mad, and he will still allow me my feelings—and I give him the same respect." —Nikki V.
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STEPHANIE & ADAM
"When I was 16 years old, I was working my first job at Target, and I thought I was all that. I was working on the floor, but they requested backup cashiers to help out at the registers. Adam and his stepbrother came through my checkout line. He stayed back asking for my number, and even hovered behind me for a while as I checked out other guests. I went ahead and gave him my number just to get him to leave. He called a couple of times, but I had math homework to do, and I told him I would call him back. I never did.
"Fast-forward a few months: I was now working at T.J.Maxx, and Adam and his stepbrother were shopping in there. I guess his stepbrother pointed me out, saying, 'Isn't that the chick from Target?' So Adam came up to me and asked if I remembered him. I didn't really, but said yes anyway, thinking he was another dude that asked for my number. He found my number in his cell, made sure it was the same, and asked if he could call me another time. This time, I didn't blow him off. I figured if he came into my life twice randomly, I should have probably given him a chance. Thirteen years later, we just celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary and have three wonderful boys.
"We have a great time with each other. It doesn't matter what we do; if we are just relaxing at home or out, we love being with one another and can have fun, joking around with each other or our kids. Our oldest is just getting to the point of being embarrassed of us, and it's awesome! Adam and I are best friends. The secrets to our relationship are communication (isn't it always?), support (we're each other's biggest cheerleaders), humor (it's okay to not be serious all the time), honesty (we are open with one another), and teamwork (whether it's making dinner, doing dishes, or making decisions to raise our boys, we do it as a team)." —Stephanie S.
LORI & GLENN
"You could say Glenn and I are middle school sweethearts. We met when I was in sixth grade and he was in seventh grade in 1999. We became best friends very quickly and wrote each other notes back and forth every day during class. Glenn wanted to date me and openly expressed his feelings; however, I insisted we just stay friends because I was worried about ruining our friendship. In proper terms, he stayed in the 'friend zone' for a few more years. In 2003, he was still persistent, and I was ready to take our relationship to the next level. We officially became a couple when I was in 10th grade and he was in 11th. We've been together ever since, and this May will be a special month for us: I will be turning 30, we will be celebrating our 15-year dating anniversary (half of my life … wow!) and our two-year wedding anniversary.
"From being best friends in middle school to now building a life together through marriage, our love story is very special to our hearts. Glenn thought back to where it all began when he proposed and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. He popped the question right outside of the middle school where we met! We were surrounded by our family and best friends. It was such a special and thoughtful engagement. I will never forget when he said, 'This is where it all began. I loved you then and I love you even more now. Will you marry me?' Those will always remain my favorite words. For our wedding day, we took all of our saved notes from middle school and high school and created a scrapbook with them. When I read through the notes, it all seems so surreal. Our love was so distinct from the start. That will always remain my favorite gift.
"We began our love with friendship and have always kept that a priority. This brings us happiness, as we find such comfort in knowing that we are there for each other, no matter what. Throughout the almost 20 years we've known each other, we've pretty much been through everything together. We do little things that show we care, just to make one another smile and feel special. Small acts of kindness go a long way. We've made it through all this time on love and support, while never forgetting our roots, history, and, most importantly, our love story." —Lori B.
SEJAL & NEVIL
"Nevil and I met each other in 2006, at a family wedding in Florida. We had a mutual friend who introduced us, and we became really close best friends at first, which then led to a romantic relationship. We were long-distance, which made us work for our relationship. I was in medical school in Europe, and he was in college in Florida.
"There were many times when we felt like it was too much to hold on to each other over a long distance. I mean, we only saw each other once or twice a year! Webcam chats made it easier, however. I think what sealed the deal was when Nevil flew 16 hours to Europe just to see me when I wasn't able to come home and see him for the holidays due to my final exams. I would say it's been like a fairy tale in a way, since every time I saw him in person I'd get butterflies and we'd try to make the time together as memorable as we could.
"Our relationship has always been based on trust and honesty. After being apart for so many years, we were so devoted to each other and each other's happiness. Simple things made our day: a small message or email, for example. Even to this day, he will surprise me with dinner or flowers. We also communicate a lot: Being long-distance, we talked a lot! Communication is key in a relationship, and it has helped us through the years." —Sejal P.
JENN & JEFF
"Jenn and I met in August 1996. She reluctantly went to a party with my friend Susan, who was also friends with Jenn. I was a waiter at an Italian restaurant, and we had a 'menu party' where we got together to study the menu for a test on it the next day. Jenn was almost certain I was into guys because I was so 'pretty.' I was not her type at all, but she was drawn in. I thought she was stuck up, but very beautiful. I was struck by her beauty. Turns out she was not stuck up—just very reserved around people she didn't know.
"For our first date, we went to a state park for a short hike and a meal. Jenn didn't talk the entire hike! But once we got to the restaurant, she opened up and has been fine ever since. Do you know that feeling you get when you know you have an instant connection with someone? I felt that from the very moment I met Jenn. The second date, I mentioned marriage. In four months, I proposed. Twenty-one years later, that connection is still there.
"I will be honest and say that connection is tested from time to time, but marriage has never been 50/50. Marriage needs to be 100/100, each person giving 100 percent of self to make it satisfying. I am more in love with my wife than ever before. I love being able to connect with my wife when I bring her coffee in the morning or when we take a trip together. In moments of conflict, Jenn is flight and I am fight. We must find common ground to solve any conflict. Even though Jenn and I are complete opposites, what I have come to find is that I need her gifts to complement who I am, and vice-versa. I have come to live by the understanding that we are on the same team and not against one another. We are in this together. There is nothing like looking out into a crowded room and being able to make eye contact with the one you love with all your heart. I have a Bible verse on my mirror in the bathroom, which I changed the words to read: 'Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count Jenn more significant than yourself. Look not only to my own interests, but also to Jenn's interests.' Humility, communication, and love." —Jeff S.
LISA & JOEY
"My husband and I have known each other for 15 years and will be married for five this summer. We met in high school—I was 16 and he was 18—and he was my brother's friend. One day, he was at my house with a group of other boys, and we caught each other's eye. I ran to my mom and said, "That boy is cute! Let's find out his name!' My mom went to introduce herself and found out his name was Joey. After that, we would see each other at school and would walk down certain hallways so we could pass each other on our way to class. We would smile and say 'Hi.' Soon enough, he instant-messaged me on AOL Instant Messenger and asked me on a date. We went to an Italian restaurant and barely ate anything because we were so nervous. The waitress even knew it was our first date by the way we were acting—so shy and quiet.
"We were each other's first 'real' boyfriend and girlfriend. We broke up two years later when he went to college and I finished up high school, but we kept in touch. Down the road he came back in town when a friend of his was sick, and he visited me at work. We both felt that giddy spark, and our love grew as we got to know each other again… this time with new experiences and a more mature attitude. We both finished up college and got married in 2013. Now we love food, and we're not shy!
"We truly are best friends and have such a deep-rooted love and respect for one another. We're each other's biggest supporters. He calms me down, and I lift him up. It's a happy medium as those are our personalities: He is very laid back, while I can be a busy body and get anxious easily. We've been through ups and downs and have prospered. Our most emotional time was our infertility journey. We had a miscarriage and then a failed in vitro fertilization cycle within two years. It was very trying, but we found each other to lean on. Shortly after, we got pregnant with the greatest gift of all—our son, Joseph. Watching each other become parents and seeing this sweet baby that we brought into this world just opened our hearts to an unconditional love that's unexplainable. We work hard and take pride in the life we've created for ourselves. We don't take anything for granted, and we're very proud of one another. We say 'I love you' every day, and we laugh and smile as often as we can." —Lisa G.
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ENZA & COSTA
"The day my husband and I met was in the fall of 2004. My best friend, Stella, was over at my house and asked me to go to the movies to see Alfie. I initially wasn't interested in going, but then—after much convincing—I finally agreed. While we were getting ready to go, Stella informed me that three of her friends were joining us, one of whom was going to pick us up at my house with her car. I looked at Stella and said, 'Really? Who are these friends? Do I know them?' She told me that I didn't know them, but they were her close family friends that she also grew up with. I didn't think anything of it; all I cared about was watching Jude Law in the movie.
"After about an hour, Stella's friend arrived, and we got into the car and made our way to the second stop to pick up the other two. I was thinking to myself that we were going to be late and miss the movie. We finally arrived, and I saw a guy about my age walking out his front door with a much younger girl, who I assumed was his sister. When they got into the car, he sat in the front seat as his sister joined us in the back seat. I remember asking what her name was, and she told me it was Argeta. The guy in the front seat turned around and looked at me, and I remember we paused for a few seconds, just looking at each other. He smiled and told me his name was Costa.
"There was an immediate attraction, and that attraction eventually turned into love. Costa and I have now been together for 13 years, married for a year and a half. What I enjoy most about our relationship is the love, understanding and respect we have for one another. My husband knows me the best and I feel, at times, better than my own family! He will go out of his way to speak to me about any problem that I have, and will not quit until everything is resolved. I admire how much we love each other, and we say it to each other every single day." —Enza B.
EKATERINA & CHRIS
"My husband, Chris, and I met about 17 years ago, and we have been married for 11. We met in high school in the spring of 2001, during softball/baseball season. It was his freshman year and my sophomore year. We were both playing spring events. It was after practice when I noticed my husband talking to a coach. All I saw was his back and slight profile. Without seeing his face, I was just automatically drawn to him. The second thing I noticed about him was his jersey number: 10. That got my attention because my jersey was also number 10. I thought it was a sign.
"The next day, I did some info-digging on him with my friends. It turns out he didn't know who I was, just as I had never seen him before. Our friends told him about me and how I thought he was cute, so he decided to meet me. When we met, Chris thought I was beautiful and I thought he was 'hot,' but we also had a mixture of feelings: scared, shy, excited, and mesmerized. I definitely still see my husband as a very attractive man, especially as he has gotten older and when he's in action, whether in the office or at home fixing stuff.
"My husband is very content when we are both around each other—we don't necessarily need to be doing anything. He feels like he wouldn't be able to live without me. What we love most about our relationship is our constant want and need to be together; we never get tired of each other's company, no matter where we are. Knowing we are both here for each other and can rely on each other no matter what, it brings us comfort and happiness." —Ekaterina G.
MARIA & MANNY
"I met Manny in the summer of 1997—it was actually the night of his birthday. I went out that night to an Alanis Morissette concert, and on my way home I received a call from my brother saying that we were taking my uncle—who was visiting from Australia—to a Greek nightclub in Astoria. At that time, I did not like Greek music, but I was basically forced to go. When we got there, I was sitting at the table, bored, when I looked by the door and noticed a very good-looking guy who had just walked in. He was very tan and did not look Greek at all, and I was wondering what a Spanish guy was doing in a Greek nightclub. I then looked away and, next thing I knew, I saw him dancing a Greek dance on stage. We made eye contact, and a few minutes later he wrote down his number and told me to call him—which I did a couple of days later.
"You could say it was love at first sight. We dated for a couple of years before getting engaged and eventually getting married in 2002. We've had our ups and downs like most couples, but I can honestly say that Manny is my best friend. Even when we do fight, we can never be mad at each other for a long time. We had our first son, Petro, in 2004 and our second, Niko, in 2006. We thought our family was complete, but we were blessed with another beautiful boy named Luka in 2017. He was a surprise but now our family really is complete. That one night in August, when I was fighting not to go out, changed my life forever, and I would never have it any other way." —Maria A.
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CATHERINE & ALEX
"Alex and I will celebrate our 12th year of marriage in November 2018; however, our love story began many years ago in junior high. My first memory of Alex is talking to him at the mall, and he'll tell you that he remembers commenting on my shoes at a party. Even after 22 years, there are many small details we remember about our initial encounters with one another. Eventually, we dated at 14 and 15 years old, but broke up after a few months. We remained friends, but I went to a different high school and we didn't run into each other that often. It wasn't until our early 20s that we got back in touch and developed a close friendship.
"Whenever we happened to be single at the time, we would go to dinner and a movie, strictly as friends. After a while, I had people start asking me why Alex and I didn't just date. My response was, 'It's not like that. We're just friends.' This was true, until … Alex asked me to be his official date to his brother's wedding. It was there that I realized I enjoyed being in his company as something more than just his friend. From that day on, it all fell into place. Our own customized fairy tale, so to speak.
"In no way has it been easy. Best friends or not, there's still a learning curve when you move in together and choose to commit 24/7 of your life to another adult. We've battled financial struggles, job demands, personality differences, and all the other typical hurdles relationships face. Honestly, there have been times that I've looked back and wondered how the hell we made it through. I've seen other couples fold over much less than we've encountered. I think Alex and I work because we had such a strong foundation of friendship.
"There are days when we tell each other how annoying the other is, and days when it seems like we woke up arguing and fall asleep arguing. There are times I want to spend the night in a hotel by myself, just to have quiet and not have to cohabitate with someone. I've realized, though, that these behaviors and thoughts are because we're human, not because there are issues with our relationship or we dislike one another. Even on the worst days, I can't imagine having to do life without my husband. Whenever we are thinking the same thing, Alex always says it's because we're one. Even though I roll my eyes and tell him that's cheesy, I know it's true." —Catherine C.
SUSIE & DENNIS
"Dennis and I were introduced by our two best friends, Jo and Michael, on a blind date. I would say it was 'like' at first sight. He was the captain of the football team, so he was quite the catch! When we started dating, I got very sick with the flu over Christmas, but he called every day to see how I was. By New Year's, I was better enough to celebrate with him. We went to a movie in downtown Pittsburgh, and my mom gave me a curfew of 11:30 p.m. But there was an accident in the tunnel we had to drive through, and we didn't make it back until almost 1 a.m. That was before cell phones, so I had no way of calling to let her know I would be late. Thank goodness the accident was on the 11 o'clock news that night and she saw it, so she wasn't angry that I didn't make it in time. Dennis and I married two years later. We were very young: I was 17 and he was 19. We will be married 48 years in April of this year.
"Since then, we've had many ups and downs, and even lost a son, but we made it through. He is my best friend, and I'm pretty sure I'm his. We have respect for each other, and a day doesn't go by that we don't say 'I love you.' We often laugh at each other and, maybe because we have been together for so long, we know pretty much what the other is thinking. There have been many times when he or I will say something and the other will respond, 'I was just going to say the same thing.' I think we are both happy with the knowledge that, even though we have been through some rough times in our marriage, we loved each other enough to keep working at it. Marriage is a job; it doesn't come easy, but you both have to have the same goals and work together." —Susie C.
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JOANNA & MICHAEL
"My husband, Michael, and I were introduced more than 13 years ago through mutual high school friends, and we officially started dating during our senior year. When I first met Michael, I was instantly attracted to his easygoing personality and contagious laugh. After all this time, he still knows how to calm me down and make me smile when I'm stressed out. We grew up together and have shared in some of life's greatest milestones—graduating high school and college, achieving success in our careers, moving in together, getting engaged/married, adopting a fur baby and, most recently, buying our first home.
"We've also been there for each other during the hard times, from Michael dealing with the death of a friend to me losing my mother. I feel incredibly lucky that I have someone to share life's ups and downs with. Plus, I love that we have become best friends. Sometimes I feel like he knows me better than I know myself! Through the years, we have learned that the keys to a successful relationship are trust, support, and communication. It's important to admit when you're wrong, choose your battles, and be willing to compromise. No relationship is perfect, of course, but I think ours is pretty close, and I hope we can continue to be happy together just as long as my grandparents, whose beautiful love story lasted more than six decades." —Joanna T.
JOLIE & ISRAEL
"I met my husband, Israel, in the 10th grade in 1991. We had two classes together, but we barely said 'Hi' to each other. One day in gym class, he commented on my 'cool' shoes. He was easy to talk to, and we became good friends. The last day of school, he asked if I could go with him to his friend's graduation party, so I gave him my number. I wasn't able to go to the party, but he continued to call me that summer. We used to talk for hours and hours on the phone. I remember my heart beating faster every time he called. I quickly realized that I really liked him.
"We still have date nights: He puts a lot of thought into finding fun things we both like to do, and he makes it feel exciting! Sometimes it's as simple as a bottle of wine, a pizza, and a free concert at the park. I love those simple moments together. I would say the secret to our marriage is constant communication. We talk about anything and everything. I have learned throughout the years that we're not mind readers. He doesn't know what I am thinking unless I tell him, and vice versa. We've gone through a lot of hardships and heartache in the 25 years we've been together, but we go through it together, and it has made us a stronger couple. I love him more today than I did when we first started dating. He is my everything." —Jolie C.
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ALLISON & JR
"My husband, JR, and I met in January 2000, in sociology class, our second semester of senior year at Virginia Tech. We had class together every day and had mutual friends. When we first met, I thought JR was cute and funny, but not really my type. He wore huge jeans and headphones, and had a goatee and earrings. We'd both had long-term relationships in college, but were single at the time. At one point, I needed a date for my sorority formal, but because I waited to ask him at the last minute, he couldn't find a suit to wear. So I ended up going with someone else, and then dating that guy for about nine months. That match wasn't very healthy and, after I broke it off, I spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted in a relationship. I started creating a 'checklist' of what I wanted.
"A year after college graduation, I was out at karaoke in Northern Virginia and ran into a few of his friends. JR was coming into town later that week from Connecticut, so I suggested that his friends bring him out as a surprise. They did, and as JR and I spent time together one night, it was obvious that we had a connection. The more we talked, the more of my 'check boxes' were checked off; he, however, thought I was out of his league. I told him that night that he should marry me, and he laughed, saying, 'You'd never marry me.' That was May 10, 2001; we were married May 10, 2003, and we've been together ever since.
"When we reconnected after college, I realized he was actually perfect for me, and I still think so! He loves how we balance each other out, so we don't have to 'work' at making us work; it just happens naturally. I love that we can depend on each other to provide what the other person needs—whether it's sharing household duties, balancing our kids' activities or dealing with stressful situations. We work together. Plus, we try to laugh as much as possible! We've always felt that marriage is a commitment, and never expected it to be perfect. There have been challenges with health issues and finances, and we've moved four times in the last four years. Through everything, we've leaned on each other for support and ultimately became stronger after each trial. We're in it for the long haul." —Allison F.
STEFANIA & JASON
"My husband, Jason, and I met 12 years ago during the second half of our freshman year in high school. I had just transferred from a small all-girls Catholic academy and was terrified to be the 'new kid' in a sea of several thousand strangers. Jason was one of the first students I met, and there was an immediate spark between us. I found myself drawn to his kindness, intelligence (he always had the right answer when called upon in history class), and wit (we passed a lot of notes during said class). But I never could have predicted that I would end up walking down the aisle with this handsome, tall, dark-haired guy. Our friendship evolved into something much more after we went to senior prom, and I finally realized we were meant to be together.
"Jason and I have grown up together and supported each other through every significant life stage: graduating from college, losing loved ones, establishing our careers, celebrating our wedding, taking risks, and traveling the world. Now we're embarking on our biggest adventure yet as parents. The one constant throughout all of this change has been our love for one another and the belief that together, we can make it through the extraordinary highs and the catastrophic lows that life throws our way. There's no magic secret to our relationship—just a lot of hard work, communication, and appreciation that we get to enjoy this ride together." —Stefania D.
MARIA & GEORGE
"George and I have been together for 38 years—33 of them as a married couple. In our day, we looked forward to Saturday nights and going out. One night, when I was 15, my very close girlfriend and I went to a dance, and it was so much fun! One guy asked me to dance—I had seen him and his friends at other dances, so I knew of them. My girlfriend liked his friend, so I said yes—but only if his friend danced with mine! A slow song came on, and as the four of us were dancing, I was looking at my girlfriend's guy and he was looking at me. We both knew something was there. That was George.
"We agreed to secretly meet at a festival the following weekend, and I remember feeling butterflies in my stomach when I saw him again. I remember lying about my age and telling him I was 16…like that was going to make a difference! (He found out my real age when we went dancing for my 16th birthday, and the DJ announced a birthday message to me. I was so mature!) We didn't have cell phones back then, so when I knew he was going to call the house phone, my heart would pound with excitement. He was beautiful, caring, and respectful, and he always looked at me like I was the only girl in the room. I was smitten. We dated secretly for three years, although my sister and grandmother knew. My girlfriend who liked him at the time found it difficult to be my friend; but time passed, she met a lovely guy, and we are still besties today! When I turned 18, my parents got to meet George, which made seeing each other a whole lot easier. He became my best friend, and he still is my best friend today.
"Compromise and honesty, I think, is what keeps our love alive. George is beautiful inside and out and a great dad, and we love each other unconditionally. Sure, I may want to clip him around the ears every so often, but what wife wouldn't after 33 years of marriage? We're on the same page and always have been. I think the fact that he travels for work has been a huge key to our marriage lasting as long as it has. It's true that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I think he also appreciated me more in raising our three beautiful girls alone with no family support. We've lived in the U.S., Italy, and Australia, so pretty much away from family for 17 years. That helped us grow together as a couple, with no interference from family members.
"It's also important to have your independence, your alone time or your girlfriend time, which we both do and it's great! I can't speak for him, but to me, he is the love of my life and I cannot wait to grow older with him. Whilst it hasn't always been smooth sailing, we continue to work together to love one another. We laugh more now as we find more time alone and reminisce. Laughing is great, and if you can't have a laugh with your best friend."—Maria V.
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