AllieRay

LOVE! I was on stay yesterday looking at hangers but thought they were too high. Thanks!

Thank you too! Yeah I think either the single flower or the parasol. But maybe the parasol and a wrist corsage won't be too much together ..

Thanks! What kind of parasols are you getting? $20 is crazy! My rentals are $2! I had them in the budget for post-wedding pictures already!

BDW ladies, I desperately need your help! I am fairly new to the forums, I don't post often. BUT I am hitting a dilemna with our wedding budget and my FI and I really need to stay in budget (or go under, if I can find a way...) SO, I have a quote from my coordinator and it includes my bouquet and I thought the BM's (5 of them)...however, she just has corsages for them. Still very expensive. However, because I want them to walk down the aisle with something and we can't afford to pay for all 5 bouquets at the moment, I need an alternative. I'm already renting parasols for pics, and now considering them for the ceremony, but just having a nicer one maybe? I really don't know. I'm the traditional girl who is all outside of her element because my FI is far from traditional. To give you some idea of what's happening with my wedding, I am getting married in Costa Rica in Manuel Antonio Estates. We have three villas where guests will be staying and I will either be getting married on the balcony of one of the villas or the hill overlooking the jungle (undecided because I want this area for my reception...but because of costs my FI wants to have the reception at the villas...). Our theme is "Love Birds" (long story short, outside of everyone referring to us as such, it was the first picture we purchased together at an art fair before we were engaged). Our colors our hard to explain, but here is a color palate that is fairly dead on...very Costa Rican/tropical. But it just turned out that they are the colors of the first two flowers the FI ever purchased! Please help me with this. I know traditionally, you have a bouquet or at least a nosegay for the BM's. Can I break this tradition, considering the wedding theme and location, and either (1) keep the corsages and have the parasols as well? (2) Just parasols? OR (3) Parasols with a single flower (maybe going to the local market the day before and getting a local flower or lily). Thoughts??? Thank you in advance! I really need the help!

Congratulations on your engagement Ursula!! My finance and I are getting married in Jan 2013 (so soon!) in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. So I won't be much help, but these forums are fantastic! Good luck with finishing school and your wedding planning!!

My fiance and I are getting married in Manuel Antonio in January. We rented three villas in Manuel Antonio Estates which arr right next to each other and will sleep 43! But now, we are trying to decide on whether to get a videographer or not.. the quote we currently have is $1495 for him to be there for 6 hrs. SO Costa Rica brides, what did you do or what are you doing? If you didn't have one, do you regret it? If you did, are you glad and how often do you actually look at your video? Lastly, since we are paying for the wedding on our own, if you did have someone record your special day, can you recommend a less expensive option for us? THANKS ladies

Hi! I'm also getting married in Manuel Antonio, this January 2013. I'm renting a few villas near Quepos that can hold most of our guests. I was thinking about getting a coordinator, however, the idea of planning it myself has been crossing my mind a lot lately. Can you send me information about the vendors that you looked into? Thank you!

My fiance and I met my first year of law school at SMU Dedman School of Law. We were both members of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) on campus. Ahman was an evening student so we only saw each other at the social events, first at a game night and second at Main Event. Every time we hung out, we had a blast! It still never went further than that though of course, cause I was still in a relationship. Kneeling: In the middle (Ahman), to the right of him (leaning on the left should (me). At Main Event. Fast forward into my second year of law school, my other relationship had ended (and for the best). I started spending more time with friends, which included Ahman. Somewhere along this year, we got to the point where if you saw one of us, you saw the other. If we were hanging out with our friends, we rode together (since we lived about 5 minutes apart). Of course, we both denied either of us having any feelings for each other when our friends asked, but they knew better. Ahman and I both love Mexican food, so he would find different street taco places, pick me up and we would go try them. I remember telling one of my guy friends about Ahman and I having dinner before I came out with him for drinks, and he said we were dating. Of course, I denied it explaining we were just friends. With his guy knowledge, he said, he picks you up, he never lets you pay, etc...ya'll are dating! This is right around the time I start admitting I have feelings for him, and so I began to notice he did as well. By my third year of law school, we were spending a couple of days per week together. Our new hobbies, bowling and pool! We would invite others to join, but even if they couldn't make it, we never noticed! Ahman and I had become unspoken best friends. Christmas 2010 I was at my best friends house for a week, about 30 minutes away from Ahman. We planned a bowling night, which was really a date night. Met for dinner and drinks, and then rode together to the bowling alley. BUT before we get to the car, he says I have something for you. I'm shocked, and he has a pair of bowling shoes, exactly how I mentioned, only once, to him when we were bowling early in the year. It was so sweet, it showed just how much he listened to the little things I said. Now we both had a pair of our own bowling shoes (even though we're not really that good!) At this point, there's no denying our feelings, yet neither of us has come out and expressed them. January 2011, a month I'll never forget. Ahman invited me to go watch his nephews basketball game and then hang out with his family afterwards. Now, this was by no means the first time I had been invited. Nor was it the most important event he had invited me to. But it was, the first time I said yes. We were both taken by surprise. Little did we know at the time, we were both using the family bonding time as a way to determine whether we would begin a relationship (we admitted this later). I had more fun that I could have imagined. By the end of it, his mom had a recording of me playing Dance Central on the xbox! Craziness! But I loved it. Two weeks later, we went on a trip together to Washington D.C. Still, not "dating". Ahman had been working full time for an airline and was going on education leave so he could finish law school earlier, since he was in the evening program and decided to get his MBA while he was there. He's not an overachiever at all The trip was originally meant as my going to locate a nursing center for my grandmother, alone. Ahman called one day and said, he might as well go on a trip before he went on education leave and wondered if I would mind if he came along and we could make a weekend of it. We had been having so much fun up to then, of course I said yes. After walking around the city and exploring all the historical features, Ahman formally asked if I would be his girlfriend and told me he loved me! CRAZY right?! I loved him too! We were both so stubborn and had not expressed our feelings, but we both fell in love with each other over the years. This was one of the best weekends of my life. Our D.C. Trip! We flew back to Dallas and were welcomed by an ice storm, so I was stuck at his apartment for a couple of days. Since that weekend, we have essentially never left one another's side. We moved in together. When we told our friends one night that we were dating, several of the responses were "wait, weren't ya'll already dating?" I guess you can see why. Fast forward a year. We have both graduated from law school, Ahman one semester after me. While I studied for the bar he was my rock. And, if you have been around a loved one while they are preparing for the bar exam, you know how much of a trying time that can be. Few months later, results are out, and I passed! We are both interviewing for jobs, and we both get an offer. My job offer, in Dallas. My fiance's offer...Minneapolis, MN. After talking to me about moving with him over that month, we decided to accept his offer and move to MN. One weekend at the Belmolnt Hotel, over looking the Dallas skyline, Ahman was telling me how much he would miss Dallas and his family, while I was getting dressed for dinner. In the background Eric Benet's "Spend my life with you" song was playing. Hearing him say that, I walked out to the balcony, looked into his eyes and told him, I understand and I will miss everyone too, but as long as I'm with you I'll be fine and I'll have everything I need. Ahman bends down on one knee, and asks me to spend the rest of my life with him. And, well. Based on this story, I'm sure you know the response, right? Just in case, I said YES! Now we are getting married January 19, 2013 in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica!!!! Other pics of me and my better half: Out with friends in Dallas. In San Antonio for his best friend Scott's wedding! In Vegas after a wonderful buffet at The Wynn Hotel And, we're off to Minneapolis!

My fiance and I met my first year of law school at SMU Dedman School of Law. We were both members of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) on campus. Ahman was an evening student so we only saw each other at the social events, first at a game night and second at Main Event. Every time we hung out, we had a blast! It still never went further than that though of course, cause I was still in a relationship. Kneeling: In the middle (Ahman), to the right of him (leaning on the left should (me). At Main Event. Fast forward into my second year of law school, my other relationship had ended (and for the best). I started spending more time with friends, which included Ahman. Somewhere along this year, we got to the point where if you saw one of us, you saw the other. If we were hanging out with our friends, we rode together (since we lived about 5 minutes apart). Of course, we both denied either of us having any feelings for each other when our friends asked, but they knew better. Ahman and I both love Mexican food, so he would find different street taco places, pick me up and we would go try them. I remember telling one of my guy friends about Ahman and I having dinner before I came out with him for drinks, and he said we were dating. Of course, I denied it explaining we were just friends. With his guy knowledge, he said, he picks you up, he never lets you pay, etc...ya'll are dating! This is right around the time I start admitting I have feelings for him, and so I began to notice he did as well. By my third year of law school, we were spending a couple of days per week together. Our new hobbies, bowling and pool! We would invite others to join, but even if they couldn't make it, we never noticed! Ahman and I had become unspoken best friends. Christmas 2010 I was at my best friends house for a week, about 30 minutes away from Ahman. We planned a bowling night, which was really a date night. Met for dinner and drinks, and then rode together to the bowling alley. BUT before we get to the car, he says I have something for you. I'm shocked, and he has a pair of bowling shoes, exactly how I mentioned, only once, to him when we were bowling early in the year. It was so sweet, it showed just how much he listened to the little things I said. Now we both had a pair of our own bowling shoes (even though we're not really that good!) At this point, there's no denying our feelings, yet neither of us has come out and expressed them. January 2011, a month I'll never forget. Ahman invited me to go watch his nephews basketball game and then hang out with his family afterwards. Now, this was by no means the first time I had been invited. Nor was it the most important event he had invited me to. But it was, the first time I said yes. We were both taken by surprise. Little did we know at the time, we were both using the family bonding time as a way to determine whether we would begin a relationship (we admitted this later). I had more fun that I could have imagined. By the end of it, his mom had a recording of me playing Dance Central on the xbox! Craziness! But I loved it. Two weeks later, we went on a trip together to Washington D.C. Still, not "dating". Ahman had been working full time for an airline and was going on education leave so he could finish law school earlier, since he was in the evening program and decided to get his MBA while he was there. He's not an overachiever at all The trip was originally meant as my going to locate a nursing center for my grandmother, alone. Ahman called one day and said, he might as well go on a trip before he went on education leave and wondered if I would mind if he came along and we could make a weekend of it. We had been having so much fun up to then, of course I said yes. After walking around the city and exploring all the historical features, Ahman formally asked if I would be his girlfriend and told me he loved me! CRAZY right?! I loved him too! We were both so stubborn and had not expressed our feelings, but we both fell in love with each other over the years. This was one of the best weekends of my life. Our D.C. Trip! We flew back to Dallas and were welcomed by an ice storm, so I was stuck at his apartment for a couple of days. Since that weekend, we have essentially never left one another's side. We moved in together. When we told our friends one night that we were dating, several of the responses were "wait, weren't ya'll already dating?" I guess you can see why. Fast forward a year. We have both graduated from law school, Ahman one semester after me. While I studied for the bar he was my rock. And, if you have been around a loved one while they are preparing for the bar exam, you know how much of a trying time that can be. Few months later, results are out, and I passed! We are both interviewing for jobs, and we both get an offer. My job offer, in Dallas. My fiance's offer...Minneapolis, MN. After talking to me about moving with him over that month, we decided to accept his offer and move to MN. One weekend at the Belmolnt Hotel, over looking the Dallas skyline, Ahman was telling me how much he would miss Dallas and his family, while I was getting dressed for dinner. In the background Eric Benet's "Spend my life with you" song was playing. Hearing him say that, I walked out to the balcony, looked into his eyes and told him, I understand and I will miss everyone too, but as long as I'm with you I'll be fine and I'll have everything I need. Ahman bends down on one knee, and asks me to spend the rest of my life with him. And, well. Based on this story, I'm sure you know the response, right? Just in case, I said YES! Now we are getting married January 19, 2013 in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica!!!! Other pics of me and my better half: Out with friends in Dallas. In San Antonio for his best friend Scott's wedding! In Vegas after a wonderful buffet at The Wynn Hotel And, we're off to Minneapolis!

My fiance and I met my first year of law school at SMU Dedman School of Law. We were both members of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) on campus. Ahman was an evening student so we only saw each other at the social events, first at a game night and second at Main Event. Every time we hung out, we had a blast! It still never went further than that though of course, cause I was still in a relationship. Kneeling: In the middle (Ahman), to the right of him (leaning on the left should (me). At Main Event. Fast forward into my second year of law school, my other relationship had ended (and for the best). I started spending more time with friends, which included Ahman. Somewhere along this year, we got to the point where if you saw one of us, you saw the other. If we were hanging out with our friends, we rode together (since we lived about 5 minutes apart). Of course, we both denied either of us having any feelings for each other when our friends asked, but they knew better. Ahman and I both love Mexican food, so he would find different street taco places, pick me up and we would go try them. I remember telling one of my guy friends about Ahman and I having dinner before I came out with him for drinks, and he said we were dating. Of course, I denied it explaining we were just friends. With his guy knowledge, he said, he picks you up, he never lets you pay, etc...ya'll are dating! This is right around the time I start admitting I have feelings for him, and so I began to notice he did as well. By my third year of law school, we were spending a couple of days per week together. Our new hobbies, bowling and pool! We would invite others to join, but even if they couldn't make it, we never noticed! Ahman and I had become unspoken best friends. Christmas 2010 I was at my best friends house for a week, about 30 minutes away from Ahman. We planned a bowling night, which was really a date night. Met for dinner and drinks, and then rode together to the bowling alley. BUT before we get to the car, he says I have something for you. I'm shocked, and he has a pair of bowling shoes, exactly how I mentioned, only once, to him when we were bowling early in the year. It was so sweet, it showed just how much he listened to the little things I said. Now we both had a pair of our own bowling shoes (even though we're not really that good!) At this point, there's no denying our feelings, yet neither of us has come out and expressed them. January 2011, a month I'll never forget. Ahman invited me to go watch his nephews basketball game and then hang out with his family afterwards. Now, this was by no means the first time I had been invited. Nor was it the most important event he had invited me to. But it was, the first time I said yes. We were both taken by surprise. Little did we know at the time, we were both using the family bonding time as a way to determine whether we would begin a relationship (we admitted this later). I had more fun that I could have imagined. By the end of it, his mom had a recording of me playing Dance Central on the xbox! Craziness! But I loved it. Two weeks later, we went on a trip together to Washington D.C. Still, not "dating". Ahman had been working full time for an airline and was going on education leave so he could finish law school earlier, since he was in the evening program and decided to get his MBA while he was there. He's not an overachiever at all The trip was originally meant as my going to locate a nursing center for my grandmother, alone. Ahman called one day and said, he might as well go on a trip before he went on education leave and wondered if I would mind if he came along and we could make a weekend of it. We had been having so much fun up to then, of course I said yes. After walking around the city and exploring all the historical features, Ahman formally asked if I would be his girlfriend and told me he loved me! CRAZY right?! I loved him too! We were both so stubborn and had not expressed our feelings, but we both fell in love with each other over the years. This was one of the best weekends of my life. Our D.C. Trip! We flew back to Dallas and were welcomed by an ice storm, so I was stuck at his apartment for a couple of days. Since that weekend, we have essentially never left one another's side. We moved in together. When we told our friends one night that we were dating, several of the responses were "wait, weren't ya'll already dating?" I guess you can see why. Fast forward a year. We have both graduated from law school, Ahman one semester after me. While I studied for the bar he was my rock. And, if you have been around a loved one while they are preparing for the bar exam, you know how much of a trying time that can be. Few months later, results are out, and I passed! We are both interviewing for jobs, and we both get an offer. My job offer, in Dallas. My fiance's offer...Minneapolis, MN. After talking to me about moving with him over that month, we decided to accept his offer and move to MN. One weekend at the Belmolnt Hotel, over looking the Dallas skyline, Ahman was telling me how much he would miss Dallas and his family, while I was getting dressed for dinner. In the background Eric Benet's "Spend my life with you" song was playing. Hearing him say that, I walked out to the balcony, looked into his eyes and told him, I understand and I will miss everyone too, but as long as I'm with you I'll be fine and I'll have everything I need. Ahman bends down on one knee, and asks me to spend the rest of my life with him. And, well. Based on this story, I'm sure you know the response, right? Just in case, I said YES! Now we are getting married January 19, 2013 in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica!!!! Other pics of me and my better half: Out with friends in Dallas. In San Antonio for his best friend Scott's wedding! In Vegas after a wonderful buffet at The Wynn Hotel And, we're off to Minneapolis!

My fiance and I met my first year of law school at SMU Dedman School of Law. We were both members of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) on campus. Ahman was an evening student so we only saw each other at the social events, first at a game night and second at Main Event. Every time we hung out, we had a blast! It still never went further than that though of course, cause I was still in a relationship. Kneeling: In the middle (Ahman), to the right of him (leaning on the left should (me). At Main Event. Fast forward into my second year of law school, my other relationship had ended (and for the best). I started spending more time with friends, which included Ahman. Somewhere along this year, we got to the point where if you saw one of us, you saw the other. If we were hanging out with our friends, we rode together (since we lived about 5 minutes apart). Of course, we both denied either of us having any feelings for each other when our friends asked, but they knew better. Ahman and I both love Mexican food, so he would find different street taco places, pick me up and we would go try them. I remember telling one of my guy friends about Ahman and I having dinner before I came out with him for drinks, and he said we were dating. Of course, I denied it explaining we were just friends. With his guy knowledge, he said, he picks you up, he never lets you pay, etc...ya'll are dating! This is right around the time I start admitting I have feelings for him, and so I began to notice he did as well. By my third year of law school, we were spending a couple of days per week together. Our new hobbies, bowling and pool! We would invite others to join, but even if they couldn't make it, we never noticed! Ahman and I had become unspoken best friends. Christmas 2010 I was at my best friends house for a week, about 30 minutes away from Ahman. We planned a bowling night, which was really a date night. Met for dinner and drinks, and then rode together to the bowling alley. BUT before we get to the car, he says I have something for you. I'm shocked, and he has a pair of bowling shoes, exactly how I mentioned, only once, to him when we were bowling early in the year. It was so sweet, it showed just how much he listened to the little things I said. Now we both had a pair of our own bowling shoes (even though we're not really that good!) At this point, there's no denying our feelings, yet neither of us has come out and expressed them. January 2011, a month I'll never forget. Ahman invited me to go watch his nephews basketball game and then hang out with his family afterwards. Now, this was by no means the first time I had been invited. Nor was it the most important event he had invited me to. But it was, the first time I said yes. We were both taken by surprise. Little did we know at the time, we were both using the family bonding time as a way to determine whether we would begin a relationship (we admitted this later). I had more fun that I could have imagined. By the end of it, his mom had a recording of me playing Dance Central on the xbox! Craziness! But I loved it. Two weeks later, we went on a trip together to Washington D.C. Still, not "dating". Ahman had been working full time for an airline and was going on education leave so he could finish law school earlier, since he was in the evening program and decided to get his MBA while he was there. He's not an overachiever at all The trip was originally meant as my going to locate a nursing center for my grandmother, alone. Ahman called one day and said, he might as well go on a trip before he went on education leave and wondered if I would mind if he came along and we could make a weekend of it. We had been having so much fun up to then, of course I said yes. After walking around the city and exploring all the historical features, Ahman formally asked if I would be his girlfriend and told me he loved me! CRAZY right?! I loved him too! We were both so stubborn and had not expressed our feelings, but we both fell in love with each other over the years. This was one of the best weekends of my life. Our D.C. Trip! We flew back to Dallas and were welcomed by an ice storm, so I was stuck at his apartment for a couple of days. Since that weekend, we have essentially never left one another's side. We moved in together. When we told our friends one night that we were dating, several of the responses were "wait, weren't ya'll already dating?" I guess you can see why. Fast forward a year. We have both graduated from law school, Ahman one semester after me. While I studied for the bar he was my rock. And, if you have been around a loved one while they are preparing for the bar exam, you know how much of a trying time that can be. Few months later, results are out, and I passed! We are both interviewing for jobs, and we both get an offer. My job offer, in Dallas. My fiance's offer...Minneapolis, MN. After talking to me about moving with him over that month, we decided to accept his offer and move to MN. One weekend at the Belmolnt Hotel, over looking the Dallas skyline, Ahman was telling me how much he would miss Dallas and his family, while I was getting dressed for dinner. In the background Eric Benet's "Spend my life with you" song was playing. Hearing him say that, I walked out to the balcony, looked into his eyes and told him, I understand and I will miss everyone too, but as long as I'm with you I'll be fine and I'll have everything I need. Ahman bends down on one knee, and asks me to spend the rest of my life with him. And, well. Based on this story, I'm sure you know the response, right? Just in case, I said YES! Now we are getting married January 19, 2013 in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica!!!! Other pics of me and my better half: Out with friends in Dallas. In San Antonio for his best friend Scott's wedding! In Vegas after a wonderful buffet at The Wynn Hotel And, we're off to Minneapolis!

My fiance and I met my first year of law school at SMU Dedman School of Law. We were both members of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) on campus. Ahman was an evening student so we only saw each other at the social events, first at a game night and second at Main Event. Every time we hung out, we had a blast! It still never went further than that though of course, cause I was still in a relationship. Kneeling: In the middle (Ahman), to the right of him (leaning on the left should (me). At Main Event. Fast forward into my second year of law school, my other relationship had ended (and for the best). I started spending more time with friends, which included Ahman. Somewhere along this year, we got to the point where if you saw one of us, you saw the other. If we were hanging out with our friends, we rode together (since we lived about 5 minutes apart). Of course, we both denied either of us having any feelings for each other when our friends asked, but they knew better. Ahman and I both love Mexican food, so he would find different street taco places, pick me up and we would go try them. I remember telling one of my guy friends about Ahman and I having dinner before I came out with him for drinks, and he said we were dating. Of course, I denied it explaining we were just friends. With his guy knowledge, he said, he picks you up, he never lets you pay, etc...ya'll are dating! This is right around the time I start admitting I have feelings for him, and so I began to notice he did as well. By my third year of law school, we were spending a couple of days per week together. Our new hobbies, bowling and pool! We would invite others to join, but even if they couldn't make it, we never noticed! Ahman and I had become unspoken best friends. Christmas 2010 I was at my best friends house for a week, about 30 minutes away from Ahman. We planned a bowling night, which was really a date night. Met for dinner and drinks, and then rode together to the bowling alley. BUT before we get to the car, he says I have something for you. I'm shocked, and he has a pair of bowling shoes, exactly how I mentioned, only once, to him when we were bowling early in the year. It was so sweet, it showed just how much he listened to the little things I said. Now we both had a pair of our own bowling shoes (even though we're not really that good!) At this point, there's no denying our feelings, yet neither of us has come out and expressed them. January 2011, a month I'll never forget. Ahman invited me to go watch his nephews basketball game and then hang out with his family afterwards. Now, this was by no means the first time I had been invited. Nor was it the most important event he had invited me to. But it was, the first time I said yes. We were both taken by surprise. Little did we know at the time, we were both using the family bonding time as a way to determine whether we would begin a relationship (we admitted this later). I had more fun that I could have imagined. By the end of it, his mom had a recording of me playing Dance Central on the xbox! Craziness! But I loved it. Two weeks later, we went on a trip together to Washington D.C. Still, not "dating". Ahman had been working full time for an airline and was going on education leave so he could finish law school earlier, since he was in the evening program and decided to get his MBA while he was there. He's not an overachiever at all The trip was originally meant as my going to locate a nursing center for my grandmother, alone. Ahman called one day and said, he might as well go on a trip before he went on education leave and wondered if I would mind if he came along and we could make a weekend of it. We had been having so much fun up to then, of course I said yes. After walking around the city and exploring all the historical features, Ahman formally asked if I would be his girlfriend and told me he loved me! CRAZY right?! I loved him too! We were both so stubborn and had not expressed our feelings, but we both fell in love with each other over the years. This was one of the best weekends of my life. Our D.C. Trip! We flew back to Dallas and were welcomed by an ice storm, so I was stuck at his apartment for a couple of days. Since that weekend, we have essentially never left one another's side. We moved in together. When we told our friends one night that we were dating, several of the responses were "wait, weren't ya'll already dating?" I guess you can see why. Fast forward a year. We have both graduated from law school, Ahman one semester after me. While I studied for the bar he was my rock. And, if you have been around a loved one while they are preparing for the bar exam, you know how much of a trying time that can be. Few months later, results are out, and I passed! We are both interviewing for jobs, and we both get an offer. My job offer, in Dallas. My fiance's offer...Minneapolis, MN. After talking to me about moving with him over that month, we decided to accept his offer and move to MN. One weekend at the Belmolnt Hotel, over looking the Dallas skyline, Ahman was telling me how much he would miss Dallas and his family, while I was getting dressed for dinner. In the background Eric Benet's "Spend my life with you" song was playing. Hearing him say that, I walked out to the balcony, looked into his eyes and told him, I understand and I will miss everyone too, but as long as I'm with you I'll be fine and I'll have everything I need. Ahman bends down on one knee, and asks me to spend the rest of my life with him. And, well. Based on this story, I'm sure you know the response, right? Just in case, I said YES! Now we are getting married January 19, 2013 in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica!!!! Other pics of me and my better half: Out with friends in Dallas. In San Antonio for his best friend Scott's wedding! In Vegas after a wonderful buffet at The Wynn Hotel And, we're off to Minneapolis!

My fiance and I met my first year of law school at SMU Dedman School of Law. We were both members of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) on campus. Ahman was an evening student so we only saw each other at the social events, first at a game night and second at Main Event. Every time we hung out, we had a blast! It still never went further than that though of course, cause I was still in a relationship. Kneeling: In the middle (Ahman), to the right of him (leaning on the left should (me). At Main Event. Fast forward into my second year of law school, my other relationship had ended (and for the best). I started spending more time with friends, which included Ahman. Somewhere along this year, we got to the point where if you saw one of us, you saw the other. If we were hanging out with our friends, we rode together (since we lived about 5 minutes apart). Of course, we both denied either of us having any feelings for each other when our friends asked, but they knew better. Ahman and I both love Mexican food, so he would find different street taco places, pick me up and we would go try them. I remember telling one of my guy friends about Ahman and I having dinner before I came out with him for drinks, and he said we were dating. Of course, I denied it explaining we were just friends. With his guy knowledge, he said, he picks you up, he never lets you pay, etc...ya'll are dating! This is right around the time I start admitting I have feelings for him, and so I began to notice he did as well. By my third year of law school, we were spending a couple of days per week together. Our new hobbies, bowling and pool! We would invite others to join, but even if they couldn't make it, we never noticed! Ahman and I had become unspoken best friends. Christmas 2010 I was at my best friends house for a week, about 30 minutes away from Ahman. We planned a bowling night, which was really a date night. Met for dinner and drinks, and then rode together to the bowling alley. BUT before we get to the car, he says I have something for you. I'm shocked, and he has a pair of bowling shoes, exactly how I mentioned, only once, to him when we were bowling early in the year. It was so sweet, it showed just how much he listened to the little things I said. Now we both had a pair of our own bowling shoes (even though we're not really that good!) At this point, there's no denying our feelings, yet neither of us has come out and expressed them. January 2011, a month I'll never forget. Ahman invited me to go watch his nephews basketball game and then hang out with his family afterwards. Now, this was by no means the first time I had been invited. Nor was it the most important event he had invited me to. But it was, the first time I said yes. We were both taken by surprise. Little did we know at the time, we were both using the family bonding time as a way to determine whether we would begin a relationship (we admitted this later). I had more fun that I could have imagined. By the end of it, his mom had a recording of me playing Dance Central on the xbox! Craziness! But I loved it. Two weeks later, we went on a trip together to Washington D.C. Still, not "dating". Ahman had been working full time for an airline and was going on education leave so he could finish law school earlier, since he was in the evening program and decided to get his MBA while he was there. He's not an overachiever at all The trip was originally meant as my going to locate a nursing center for my grandmother, alone. Ahman called one day and said, he might as well go on a trip before he went on education leave and wondered if I would mind if he came along and we could make a weekend of it. We had been having so much fun up to then, of course I said yes. After walking around the city and exploring all the historical features, Ahman formally asked if I would be his girlfriend and told me he loved me! CRAZY right?! I loved him too! We were both so stubborn and had not expressed our feelings, but we both fell in love with each other over the years. This was one of the best weekends of my life. Our D.C. Trip! We flew back to Dallas and were welcomed by an ice storm, so I was stuck at his apartment for a couple of days. Since that weekend, we have essentially never left one another's side. We moved in together. When we told our friends one night that we were dating, several of the responses were "wait, weren't ya'll already dating?" I guess you can see why. Fast forward a year. We have both graduated from law school, Ahman one semester after me. While I studied for the bar he was my rock. And, if you have been around a loved one while they are preparing for the bar exam, you know how much of a trying time that can be. Few months later, results are out, and I passed! We are both interviewing for jobs, and we both get an offer. My job offer, in Dallas. My fiance's offer...Minneapolis, MN. After talking to me about moving with him over that month, we decided to accept his offer and move to MN. One weekend at the Belmolnt Hotel, over looking the Dallas skyline, Ahman was telling me how much he would miss Dallas and his family, while I was getting dressed for dinner. In the background Eric Benet's "Spend my life with you" song was playing. Hearing him say that, I walked out to the balcony, looked into his eyes and told him, I understand and I will miss everyone too, but as long as I'm with you I'll be fine and I'll have everything I need. Ahman bends down on one knee, and asks me to spend the rest of my life with him. And, well. Based on this story, I'm sure you know the response, right? Just in case, I said YES! Now we are getting married January 19, 2013 in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica!!!! Other pics of me and my better half: Out with friends in Dallas. In San Antonio for his best friend Scott's wedding! In Vegas after a wonderful buffet at The Wynn Hotel And, we're off to Minneapolis!