I love reading about other people’s fairytales and how they came together, so I thought it might be nice to share my own.

It goes back to the end of 2006 for me, when I was unsure if I wanted to keep going with social work at University, a little burnt out by all the studying and was hoping to travel. I took 2007 off, worked hard, volunteered a little and went backpacking around South East Asia. Which brings us to 2008 and I’m back doing my third year of Social Work… only I don’t have any friends in any of my classes. Enter Nicolle.

Nicolle and I met through a mutual knowledge of a guy called Jeremy. And I decided that Nicolle was going to be my friend (she had no say in the matter, of course!) since she was a social worker and a Christian and has pretty red hair. So we started hanging out. Luckily the thought of being my friend didn’t seem to send Nicolle running in the other direction.

Then the fateful day happened. Nicolle and I were sitting in a lecture room and I noticed she had a service bulletin from her church. I think she may have dropped it and I picked it up. Her church was doing a series of talks on social justice, which sounded like a) something really cool to hear and b) a good way to hang out with Nicolle. There were these issues she was having with this guy at church, called Drew, who she thought kinda liked her and she just wanted to be friends. So we decided I would come along to church to hear this sermon and she could have the “I’m just going to be your friend” talk.

I went to Nicolle’s Church, St John’s. And the guy who was standing on the door welcoming people and handing out notices was cute. We started talking. This was Drew. (I’m starting to think that Nicolle has pretty bad taste, around about this point!)

Then the service started. After church, St John’s puts on a supper and Drew and I started chatting. I remember trying to impress him with all of my fun travel stories. He seemed so smart and friendly and had great energy. A bunch of people got invited to go to a cafe for a supper after supper and I tagged along too. I wanted to spend more time with this Drew guy.

Nicolle may or may not have had The TALK with Drew (I can’t remember) but it went fine, he was just trying to get to know her a little better and not put the moves on her or anything. Besides, he was kinda getting interested in this girl called Hannah. Supper after supper finished (Drew and I had spent the whole time in conversation) and I left thinking “how soon can I add this guy on Facebook before it looks super obvious that I’m interested?” He added me the next day.

We talked everyday online after that, sending each other really long “getting to know you” messages. We went out on a date three weeks later, although we argue who actually asked who out – he totally asked me! And another date. And another one.  Then he asked me to be his girlfriend and I said yes. The very next day he showed up to my work with a HUGE bunch of flowers, saying that he was so happy I was now his girlfriend.

One month after dating he told me that he was going to marry me one day. And I replied that it sounded like a good plan. Drew gave me a ring of his to hold onto, until he gave me a ring of my own. I can’t really explain how we knew that we would always be together, I can only put it down to God and His perfect timing.

Six months later, we went out to celebrate our 6 month anniversary. We had a fancy dinner and then drew took me on a little picnic, drinking champagne under the stars on a deserted beach. I didn’t suspect much because he has always been a romantic guy and besides, he had already given me a timeframe of when he would propose and it was many months later.

But he surprised me! He asked me to marry him. I said yes.

On 27 february 2010 Drew and I stood at the front of St John’s (where we met and where we both now go) and promised to spend the rest of our lives together.

Guess who was one of my bridesmaids? Nicolle!