Chapter One: A Meeting for the Ages

I just love telling the story of how I met Sean Shamloufar. Chances are if you are reading this you have already heard it, but bear with me. It was such a random Friday and I distinctly remember having no plans and even hanging around the office to play a game of Dirty Words Scrabble (google it). When I finally did make it home, my friend Jenny talked me into meeting her for a quick drink at Victory. There we picked up two more friends and made our way to Amer. As the night went on, more people joined and we hopped from place to place. Now if you know me, you know that I am usually the *first* person to break away from the pack and head home, but for some reason on that night I stuck with it and ended up in the VIP lounge of Opera Night Club. I remember one moment of looking out into the loud, foggy, dazed crowd and thinking, "how are all these people feeling right now at this moment?" But hey, I was having a good time, dancing and allowing myself to be outside my norm. 

And then I saw him directly across from me. With long hair and shirt covered in watermelons I had never seen anyone like him. He saw me at the exact same time and tilted his head as if he recognized me. I kept dancing but it wasn't long before he introduced himself. Turns out we had 'matched' on Tinder but never started a conversation. Haha, thanks Tinder. Both of our groups of friends stuck around until the club closed and Sean and I got to have just enough of a conversation to cover the highlights: family, dogs, tattoos, and "I think we should have dinner". Here's the thing, I knew immediately that I was going to pursue this person until my efforts were completely rejected. I would have no shame. But I didn't have to do much because the feeling was mutual and we had our very first date 2 days later. 

The dates continued and it was so refreshingly clear. We liked each other a lot, we felt hopeful, and we were taking it seriously. Don't get me wrong, we could not have been more different. I was an office goer, with a 9-5 and still in college. I love organized drawers, 8-10 hours of sleep every night, and setting unreachable goals. Sean's worked in the restaurant industry for years, knows everyone in Atlanta, and loves to watch the sunrise. There were some serious compromises to be made, compromises that still allowed the other person to be fully themselves. After all, that's what we fell in love with about the other person right? "I'll keep you safe, if you keep me wild". Most things were just easy though, living together, laughing till our sides hurt, meeting each others friends and family. There was no: "is this too soon" "where is this going?" yada yada yada -  it was organic and perfectly us. 

Before I knew it it was Christmas, and I was blissfully in a world of ornaments, decorations, cooking, and the perfect gifts with perfect wrapping. On Christmas morning, Sean gave me a beautiful brocade box with a gold bow. Even as I was opening it I still didn't know what was coming, at the exact time I realized it was a ring, Sean was on one knee. I was blown away in surprise and joy. It was a yes from me, 1000% percent yes. Looking back I absolutely love that I had no idea a proposal was coming, we had maybe talked in obscure terms about marriage once or twice. As long as we were together I had no expectations of "relationship steps" and I really mean that. But this part, this part was just right. 

We're a pair of dancing fools

We bounced around some wedding ideas: California, get Artist Jeremy Brown ordained - but what we knew for sure was that we wanted it to be private and small. When April rolled around we had several new opportunities approaching: getting a new place together, benefits enrollment, and it was exactly 1 year since we met, the timing was perfect to make it official. We were married on April 13, 2018 by Judge Glen Ashman in his office covered wall-to-wall in baseball memorabilia. It was perfect. He has performed hundreds of ceremonies but you just get the feeling he remembers them all, and even though he didn't know us he had some very beautiful things to say. 

A couple months later, hosted by our amazing family we gathered a small group for a night of dancing, food, and so much love. Easily one of the best nights of my life. 

So what does the next chapter look like for us? I know what you're thinking, and yeah, we may get another dog. But for now we have bigger fish to fry: life goals (freaking GRADUATE), work, and long summer days grilling out by the pool. Here is what I know for sure, I am excited at the end of every single day to see my husband, I love our life together, and I take my role as a spouse and partner so very seriously. 

Here's to chapter 2: Mrs. Shamloufar