Wedding Day

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Our Wedding

He Said, She Said:

Written by Tracy Lee, the bride's mother, after hearing both the bride and groom's side of their love story!

Ryan Said:

I first met Spencer in an American Philosophy class at UNCW. She always had her hand raised to answer every question and was the most vocal person in every discussion. (Spencer’s fourth grade teacher: “Spencer, is this an answer or a story?”) After class, we would walk together across campus to our next classes and talk about various subjects. Spencer always seemed to find me no matter where I was on campus. One instance that sticks out in my mind is when I was walking through the library, on the way to work, and I heard someone calling my name from off to the side. It was Spencer! She then waved me over and had me look at pictures of her cats for about 30 minutes. I invited Spencer to a play that year and, when I did, she asked if it was a date. I said, “It can be if you would like it to be,” to which she replied, "A friend date.” After that play, we both went our separate ways. Several years had passed when I saw a post she hadmade on social media about being in Wilmington. I reached out and learned that she was getting her master’s degree at UNCW. We arranged a meetup, talked about what we’d been up to and then, one meetup after another, here we are!

Spencer Said:

Ryan and I met in a philosophy class and I remember it was a very small class. There were just 6 or 8 of us who sat at an oval table. The teacher sat at one end of it and I always sat at the other. Ryan is correct that I so frequently had my hand raised and had a lot to say in that class. (Those of you who know me will not find that surprising!) Ryan and I would chat a bit in class. After that, any time I saw Ryan on campus, or in the library where he worked, I’d always run over and say hello. It was here that Ryan claims I cornered him and made him look at pictures of my cats for 30 minutes, but I have no recollection of those events. (Don’t tell Ryan I said so, but...that does sound an awful lot like me!) I do remember that one of us had a class requirement to attend a play on campus. The one with the requirement asked the other if they’d like to go along and, while I have no recollection of this, Ryan claims that I “friend zoned him” when he tried to ask me out. As I recall, he asked if it was a date; I may have said that it was a friend date. As it was nearing the end of the school year, summer took us to different locales and we just didn’t have the occasion to run into each other after that. Fast forward to my second year of grad school and I had made a post on social media that indicated that I was in Wilmington. Ryan posted a reply asking to verify that I was, indeed, still in Wilmington. I asked if he, too, still was and he said, “I live here. I’ve always lived here!” Since we’d found our way into each other’s orbit again, we decided to meet somewhere and hang out. I suggested we go to a Starbucks around the corner from where I lived and he agreed. I was headed to the front to place my order and asked what he would like. “Nothing. I don’t like coffee.” (WHY would he not suggest another place to meet?! Sheesh!) Even though we weren’t “dating”, I consider a day trip that we took to Brookgreen Gardens to be our first date. It was a really enjoyable day and, in the back of my mind, I kept thinking, “I’m pretty sure this guy likes me.” When we returned home that evening, I thought he’d probably give me a hug, but nope, he got in his car and left! Hmm, perhaps I had been mistaken. At some point, I asked him why he seemed to flinch if I had accidentally brushed up against his knee or something, acting like I might have cooties! He said that since I had “friend zoned” him, he didn’t want to do anything that might make me feel weird, but I maintain that he was sending a lot of mixed signals. After that, he seemed to loosen up a bit. We would hang out pretty frequently and talk on the phone until the wee hours (and, if you know Ryan, you probably know that he has a strict 10pm bedtime policy, so that was another signal!). There were several times when he would leave my place quite late and I’d be concerned that he might fall asleep on that dark trip out to “The Hayne” (Castle Hayne). To quell my worry, he would send me a video of his garage door opening, with his loud, terrible, crazy music still playing in his car, to let me know that he had made it home safely. Around the middle of January 2022, we were talking on the phone one night and Ryan said that he had something to tell me. He talked around and around for quite a while and I remember imagining someone trying to gather the confidence and concentration to jump from a diving board, not being able to go through with it and having to take a deep breath and start the process over again, lol. Finally, he says, “Spencer, I really like you and I want to be more than friends.” We had already planned a trip to Southport for the next day which Ryan refers to this day as our "first date". So Southport holds some sentimental value for us. (After June 7th, it will hold even more!) A couple weeks later, Ryan was about to head home that evening, he gave me a hug, and as I opened the door, he said, “I love you,” and IMMEDIATELY dashed out that same door, rushed down the stairs and disappeared into the night. And there I stood in the doorway, a deer in the headlights, wondering what had just happened. I felt bad because there wasn't an opportunity for me to say anything back. A few evenings later, as we sat together watching tv, I thought it was time for me to muster up the courage to return the sentiment. This was a full circle moment as I remember climbing to the top of that proverbial diving board, taking the deep breath, running out of air as I hesitated and having to start all over again, just as he had that night on the phone. Months of fun and togetherness pass and we'd occasionally toss around the M-word (marriage). One day, I mustered up some bravery again and asked if we were just joking around about it or if there was something more to it, just out of curiosity. Ryan said, “Spencer, the only reason I haven't asked you to marry me is because I don't have a ring and I know you well enough to know that you're going to need to be present to pick it out.” How DOES he know me so well? A month or so later, we went to a local jewelry store and picked out the pieces and parts to design my ring. I had wanted to go with him to pick it up when it was ready, but he snuck up there by himself when he got the call. Ryan had said that he wanted to surprise me with his proposal. Being ever helpful, I kept coming up with ideas, “You could do it on ‘this’ day or at ‘this’ place or during ‘this’ activity,” to which he replied something akin to, “You realize you've just ruined all of those, right?” So, I worked hard to tamp down my helpful enthusiasm and just went about my days. Now, if you know Ryan, it will come as no surprise to you to hear that, every couple of days, pleased as punch with himself, he would get the ring out, give me a close-up view before quickly pulling it away then twirl and dance around singing his baiting little song, “You can't wear it. You can't wear it.” Yeah, he had a whole lotta fun with that. On a rainy Sunday in April of 2023, Ryan broke the 11th Commandment: waking me up from a nap. Since the sun had come out, it looked like a good time for a walk. I wanted to go to one location, but Ryan wanted to go to Wrightsville Beach to walk. Still a little grumpy from being awakened and not getting to go to my preferred location, I wasn’t in the best of moods. As we walked, chatting away, I mentioned that someone I worked with was getting engaged, but I hadn’t mentioned our ring shopping because I didn’t want to take away from her moment. I remember Ryan saying, “That’s one of the things I love about you is that you’re really thoughtful.” We were crossing a bridge and then I noticed that he had stopped walking so I turned around. There he was, on one knee, holding the ring between his finger and thumb. He was speaking, but I must have blacked out or something because I couldn’t tell you one word that he said! I was laughing the whole time. I think I was laughing at the shock of being caught by surprise when I had been so certain that he would never be able to surprise ME! We talked about going to a fancy dinner to celebrate our engagement (which we still have yet to do) and ended up at Okami for dinner. For anyone who knows us, they know this is also the perfect place for us to celebrate such an event!

Our Story

Photos

Sarah and Spencer met in middle school. Sarah, Spencer, and Addie became best buddies in middle school and have only gotten closer as time goes on. The three of them love to travel together and Sarah is a fellow coffee lover just like Spencer. Sarah is a music love, beautiful singer, and works as an executive assistant at UNCG.

Sarah Myers

Addie is the bride's oldest friend. Addie, Spencer, and Sarah have been an inseparable trio since they meet in middle school! Addie loves hiking and has always been a talented artist. She enjoys teaching pottery in her free time! Addie lives in Burlington and is heading to grad school in fall 2025!

Adalind Angell 

Maddie is Spencer's older sister! Both Maddie and Spencer love a good puzzle. Maddie enjoys playing board games and the Sims in her free time. She lives in Burlington and works at the Lee family business. 

Maddie Lee

Riley is Ryan's younger sister. She is currently in school to become a veterinarian. Riley is a craft superstar and can make anything she sets her mind to whether its diamond art or crochet projects. Spencer and Riley love getting boba tea when Riley is home from school!

Riley Dunwoody

Ryan has known Ronald for 27 years. Ronald and Ryan lived next door to each other and were practically raised together. Ronald and Ryan were together from Elementary School through High School. Ronald is well travelled from his time on the Duke Basketball team and personal ventures. Ronald currently resides in Castle Hayne NC.

Ronald Dombroski 

Like with Ronald, Ryan has known Drew for 27 years. Drew lived in the same neighborhood as Ryan and Ronald and has always been the go to guy for all things cards and video games. Drew and Ryan went through Scouts from Tiger Cub to Eagle Scouts and survived Philmont together. Drew currently works as a software developer and lives in Hampstead NC.

Drew Cummings 

Ryan has known Adam Hoing for about 2 years but in that time they have become great friends. Ryan met Adam through armwrestling and currently helps Adam run the Port City Pullers armwrestling team based out of Wilmington NC. Adam is a marketing guru and one of the nicest people on the planet. Adam and his family currently reside in Hampstead NC.

Adam Hoing

Ryan has known Justin for the least amount of time out of the wedding party but that does not diminish their friendship. Justin and Ryan met through armwrestling about a year and a half ago and have been to numerous tournaments and events together. Justin owns and operates a hardwood flooring business where he lives in Newport NC.

Spencer & Ryan

Spencer & Ryan

Registry