Our Lovely Story

Ryan and I met in 2009, when he was new to the Air Force at his first duty station about two hours away from my hometown in Florida, where I lived and had just graduated high school. A cousin of mine is also in the USAF and was stationed with Ryan. I was off to visit her for the weekend! We were out one night and she introduced me to "this guy" named Ryan who I immediately thought was very attractive. We both had the same sense of humor and hit it off from the start. But we were only friends for about two years. He received orders to North Carolina in the beginning of 2011 and he says that at that point he knew that he didn't want to let me go so we started dating! Shortly after, he moved to NC and I stayed in Florida.. where I lived, worked and went to college. Our long distance relationship had begun and for the next two years we traveled the many miles to visit eachother on holidays, school breaks, and any free time we had. It was not easy, but we both knew that we were in this for the long haul. In December of 2012, he proposed!

He proposed on December 29th, 2012. We were on our way to West Virginia, his home state, to visit his family. I have always wanted to stop and sight see but we have never had the time. This time, we weren't in a hurry so he suggested we stop at Seneca Rocks. Well we left at about 3 a.m. (hence why im dressed in pjs) It was raining and snowing and the weather was very yucky so I suggested we just go another time and he insisted that we still go(now I know why he was so persistent)The weather cleared up just in time. We walked up to see the rocks but with the snow, we couldn't make it to the top so we stopped about half way and I made my first snow man! On our walk back he stopped and grabbed my hand, got down on one knee and asked me to be his WIFE. I said yes, of course.♥ After December, we started planning our wedding. We had to do it quickly because Ryan was leaving to train for a new job. The planning process was stressful but awesome and I soaked up every minute of it! In may of 2013 we were married in Pensacola, Florida with about 150 friends and family from Florida and West Virginia! The day was amazing and Ryan and I are headed to our first duty station (together that is) in February 2014!

(ALL PHOTOS TAKEN BY C-SHELZ PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGES BY SCOTTYLANE)