Jason and I went to the same high school, but we didn’t meet until the second semester of our Senior Year when we took Sign Language class together. There was an open seat next to Jason. When I took it, we became sign partners. We got to know each other a little better during that class, and even hung out a few times. When Jason asked me out, he took me to BD’s Mongolian BBQ, a restaurant I’d never been to before. One thing that immediately impressed me, that I remember to this day, is that he opened the car door for me. What a gentleman! None of my other dates had ever done that before. Jason and I didn’t officially start dating at that point, but were just good friends. Shortly after that, I moved to Kalamazoo and started college, while Jason remained in town. We stayed in touch. When I moved back to complete my teaching internship, I called Jason to see if he wanted to hang out. We got together and after some time, “hanging out” turned into a relationship. We started dating in May of 2007 and things were going great… until July 2007, when I was offered a teaching job in California. It was a very hard decision to make. Jason and I had just started dating, but I didn’t want to lose my opportunity to teach. Both of us agreed it would be best if I moved. The distance was challenging, but in the end, it strengthened our relationship.
During the years Jason and I have been together, we’ve grown to love Northern Michigan as well as the Upper Peninsula (“U.P.”). In August of 2011, we traveled to the U.P. to visit Munising for the weekend. We walked the Chapel Rock Trail and stopped at the waterfall to snap a few photos. It took a long time before we finally reached the end of the trail where the Chapel Rock tree is. When we arrived, I was extremely tired. I leaned up against a sign while Jason hunted around trying to find me a snack, even though I wasn’t hungry. I kept asking myself, “How in the world will I ever make it back?” Jason began talking to me, and as I turned around, I found him down on one knee, asking me to marry him. It was one of the most unforgettably beautiful moments in my life and caught me completely by surprise… so surprised, in fact, that I immediately had to find a place to sit down because I started hyperventilating.
When it came to choosing a place to be married, we thought it would be best to pick an area we loved to visit. Castle Farms was the first venue we looked at, and we were quite satisfied the day of our bridal tour. One thing we especially liked was that we were able to make our own choices for the ceremony and reception, reflecting who we were. With Michigan’s constantly changing weather, Jason and I were glad to find a place that provided an indoor option without an extra charge. Castle Farms also gave us a list of Preferred Service Providers that proved very helpful since Jason and I aren’t from the Northern Michigan area. We also attended the Castle’s Bridal Expo in October and met with some vendors, which was very useful. We knew right away which vendors were compatible with our personalities and who we wanted to work with. We were delighted with the vendors we chose; they definitely did their best to give us exactly what we wanted.
Nothing is perfect, but our wedding was pretty close! My dream of having an outside wedding came true. Thank you, God! There were a few clouds in the sky, but the sun decided to come out, and there was a nice breeze in the air. The ceremony was beautiful, and I was so glad I didn’t mess up on my vows! Jason and I had an amazing time taking pictures with photographer Meg Paxton while our guests mingled. The reception was a blast. DJ Ed kept everyone dancing, even me! Our guests were very impressed, and to this day have nothing but great things to say about the day and venue. Our Castle Farms wedding was absolutely amazing. I am so thankful to God, and to everyone involved that helped make our day extremely special.
