Our Story.
So this is what it feels like to have an "About Us" page for our upcoming wedding. I mean, buying the ring was one thing and talking about colors and bridesmaids and groomsmen and everything is another... but having a web site is a very special feeling. Didn't think it would be, but wow. We tried to put everything about us on this one page. Feel free to jump around if you'd like, sign our guestbook or watch the special video (below) that the Calhouns made of this story. Enjoy.
How we met... sort of. (... as told by erik)
We used to tell people we met through a mutual friend or through Rebecca's roommate. While it's all true, we never quite explained a unique, yet important detail in the story. It wasn't until we found out that other folks met in a similar manner that we finally came clean and added the rest of the story: we met on Myspace, an online social community.
I mean, don't get us wrong here... I saw her picture everywhere... and she had a very lovely picture. Rebecca was one of the "Top 8" friends on our mutual friend's Myspace account. I really didn't mean anything by it, but after a few weeks in June of 2006, I saw her picture again. Seeing she was a friend of a friend, I sent her a friendly hello commenting on the friend we had in common and her impressive violin talent (she had it noted on her profile page). To my surprise, she responded with an open-ended email!
One thing led to another, which led to a series of fun conversations. A couple weeks went by and we finally decided to meet. I had driven with my little sister to Cape Canaveral to watch the shuttle launch. On our way back, I stopped by Orlando (two hours from home) and visited her and her sister at the mall. One meeting led to another and one email led to dozens when I finally asked if she would be my girl. On August 5, we went on our first official date to the Magic Kingdom. :)
Rebecca's response.
Hmm… it seems that Erik is a little confused. Here’s the real story… It was a lazy summer day in Orlando, and I was keeping myself busy by surfing the web. I checked my email and, to my surprise, I had a new MySpace message! I curiously clicked on the link, which brought me to a picture and a message from someone named “Erik.” I thought, “Hmm… he’s cute…” and I read his message. He said that he lived in Gainesville and that he knew Rachel, one of my wonderful friends/roommates from college. He wrote on to explain that he thought it was neat that I played the violin. This intrigued me, so I wrote back and asked him who he was. Six minutes later, he responded.
And so it began. Over the next month, we wrote back and forth several times per day. We asked a lot of questions, and learned a lot about one another. Rachel was about to graduate from a church internship program, and I was curious about my new Gainesville friend.
In a message, I casually mentioned that I could possibly be visiting Rachel in about two weeks. He “took the bait,” and asked if I wanted to meet up with him while I was in Gainesville. He suggested that we should meet after the church service, and I agreed. When Sunday’s service ended, I called Rachel so she could help me find Erik. Meanwhile, Erik found me. We were both talking in small groups of people, and “coincidentally,” our groups ended up talking right next to each other!
Rachel mouthed, “He’s right next to you.” I nodded, but suavely continued my conversation with the people around me. (I tried not to look nervous.) Finally, we turned and faced each other and introduced ourselves. We met his family for lunch, and then he took me to a beautiful gazebo in Micanopy where we sat and talked. We had a wonderful time, and we ended the day with a smoothie and a hug.
More time passed, and we continued to send MySpace messages. It was then that Erik stopped by to see me when he was “just passing through” to Cape Canaveral. Soon, we planned our first official date to one of our favorite locations: Walt Disney World!
Our Engagement Video.
We were engaged nearly a year ago on May 24, 2008 and had both our families there to witness it. Now you can too. My sister had a hidden camera and I had a hidden microphone on me. Take a look for yourself by clicking on the link below. :)
Click here to watch our Engagement Video.
A Guestbook Post
Awwwww :) I just saw your engagement video. Soooooo sweet. It made me cry and cry. And the "month"-crossed-out-"money" thing was cute. I'm so excited! Only 28 days!