OUR STORY
Meet Steph (as told by Brian)
Steph was born in the suburbs of St. Louis, as the youngest of three. Steph went to college at the University of Dayton where she studied Human Rights and Political Science. She currently works for the Employment Collaborative, where she works with employers around the St Louis area promoting the hiring of individuals with developmental disabilities.
Steph is the most beautiful person to me. She has a smile that always puts a smile on my face. She is driven by art and loves to dance. I love being silly with her evern if others think it's crazy. Shortly after meeting her, I learned of her jaw dropping dance move, “The Pancake”. She shows off this move and others almost anywhere there is a dance floor and I love that about her. I didn’t know this when we first met, but soon learned that she was also a karaoke queen: one of her favorites being Whitney Houston’s, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”!
These are just a few highlights to know about Steph but at the center of it all, I think that her greatest quality is that she can make me laugh and enjoy life. With that said, there is nothing that I look forward to more than to spend the rest of my life with her.
Meet Brian (as told by Steph)
Brian is not only a physical science tech with the FDA, he also holds the title of the “1999 Most Improved Trumpet Player.” Brian graduated from Mizzou where he studied Biology and Chemistry.
He is one of the smartest people I know who also happens to be the sweetest guy with the biggest heart. His love for his family comes second to none, which is very important to me. As a long time Hash House Harrier, and newly obsessed gardener, Brian can often be found outdoors.
Brian has the ability to throw all self-consciousness out the window and will wow you with his vocals to any Elton John or Celine Dion song. He has the ability to make just about anyone feel at ease with his laid-back personality and love for craft beer. I love all these things about Brian, (in addition to his amazing blue eyes and superb cooking abilities) and look forward to the many adventures to be had with this incredible guy!
And the "peculiar" story of how we fell in love...
Steph and Brian did not meet in an ordinary way. Many might think that the way they met is “peculiar, (in the best possible way)”, as Brian likes to say. It was a Wednesday night in 2012, just a week before St. Patrick’s Day that these two met. They both showed up in the Benton Park neighborhood to partake in a run with a running group… Okay, really it is a drinking-running club known as Big Hump Hash House Harriers. Steph decided to give the experience a try after hearing about it from a friend. Brian was a long-time veteran of the activity and thought it was just another Wednesday.
Steph noticed the "Ben Folds looking guy" right away, who made a quick impression on her by making sure to include her in the group. That first night put some butterflies in Brian’s stomach as well, realizing there was something special about Steph.
Weeks passed by and they continued to get to know each other when meeting up to "hash" every Wednesday. Steph continued to note how nice this guy was as he slowed his pace to run with her, and stifled his laughter at her uncordination. The two got to know each other a bit better when Brian invited Steph on stage to do Kareoke singing Ah-Ha!'s “Take on Me”- They are pretty sure that performance is on YouTube somewhere.
Weeks later they found themseleves at McGurks for a friend's going-away party. With the encouragement from some friends playing Cupid, Brian decided to make a move and ask Steph for a ride to his car. Ultimately, if Brian had not misplaced his car that night and Steph kindly offering her help to search for a car, a first date may not have happened (for a while)- Brian may have intentionally misplaced his car to get a moment with Steph to ask for a first date to which she said yes. His car was two cars behind Steph’s car. The rest of this "peculiar" story is history.
THE PROPOSAL
as January 1st 2014. Brian suggested the two go see the Christmas lights at the Botanical Gardens that evening. They walked through the colorful lights as the snow lightly fell, sipping hot chocolate. It was the most beautiful night, and Steph, oblivious to the reason they were there, was very content just to be hand-in-hand with her main-squeeze.
After walking through the entire park, the path ended under a final gazebo with mistletoe hung, and a sign which read "A Good Night's Kiss". Brian led Steph under the mistletoe. Steph, not the typical romantic, was still oblivious. Brian leaned in to kiss Steph, when they realized they were being closely watched. A little boy, around 8 years old, ran over to shout "Mistletoe! Mistletoe! Neener! Neener! Neener!" Steph and Brian just laughed at their interruption.
How it happened next is kind of foggy. Steph remembers Brian saying something like "It's a new year, and my new years resolution and I cannot do it without you. So I want to ask you to marry me." Steph thought he meant sometime during the 2014 year, until Brian said, "Will you?" Steph said, "Of Course!"
Either way, it happened and was very magical. There just happened to be a photographer passing by exactly after Steph said yes and offered to snap a picture.
