The Eagle Historic Warehouse

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

Charlie&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;had&nbsp;talked&nbsp;a&nbsp;few&nbsp;times,&nbsp;but&nbsp;we&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;get&nbsp;to&nbsp;really&nbsp;know&nbsp;each&nbsp;other&nbsp;until&nbsp;one&nbsp;summer&nbsp;when&nbsp;we&nbsp;hung&nbsp;out&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;same&nbsp;friend&nbsp;group.&nbsp;There&nbsp;was&nbsp;a&nbsp;group&nbsp;of&nbsp;5-6&nbsp;of&nbsp;us&nbsp;who&nbsp;hung&nbsp;out&nbsp;all&nbsp;the&nbsp;time&nbsp;-&nbsp;swimming&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;pool,&nbsp;going&nbsp;out,&nbsp;salsa&nbsp;dancing,&nbsp;grilling&nbsp;out&nbsp;-&nbsp;almost&nbsp;every&nbsp;day&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;week.&nbsp;Neither&nbsp;of&nbsp;us&nbsp;was&nbsp;interested&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;other&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;beginning.&nbsp;We&nbsp;enjoyed&nbsp;the&nbsp;friendship&nbsp;that&nbsp;came&nbsp;as&nbsp;a&nbsp;result&nbsp;of&nbsp;being&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;same&nbsp;friend&nbsp;group,&nbsp;but&nbsp;that&nbsp;was&nbsp;it.&nbsp;As&nbsp;that&nbsp;summer&nbsp;came&nbsp;to&nbsp;a&nbsp;close&nbsp;and&nbsp;fall&nbsp;began,&nbsp;we&nbsp;all&nbsp;kept&nbsp;hanging&nbsp;out&nbsp;although&nbsp;it&nbsp;seemed&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;slightly&nbsp;less&nbsp;than&nbsp;before.&nbsp;People&nbsp;got&nbsp;busier&nbsp;and&nbsp;suddenly&nbsp;there&nbsp;was&nbsp;no&nbsp;guarantee&nbsp;that&nbsp;everyone&nbsp;would&nbsp;be&nbsp;there&nbsp;every&nbsp;time.&nbsp;I&nbsp;started&nbsp;hoping&nbsp;that&nbsp;Charlie&nbsp;would&nbsp;be&nbsp;there&nbsp;when&nbsp;I&nbsp;went&nbsp;to&nbsp;hang&nbsp;out.&nbsp;I&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;think&nbsp;anything&nbsp;of&nbsp;it,&nbsp;just&nbsp;that&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;a&nbsp;good&nbsp;(attractive)&nbsp;friend,&nbsp;and&nbsp;he&nbsp;seemed&nbsp;to&nbsp;make&nbsp;everything&nbsp;more&nbsp;fun.&nbsp; Fast&nbsp;forward&nbsp;a&nbsp;few&nbsp;months&nbsp;to&nbsp;a&nbsp;road&nbsp;trip&nbsp;we&nbsp;took&nbsp;with&nbsp;two&nbsp;good&nbsp;friends&nbsp;of&nbsp;ours.&nbsp;The&nbsp;road&nbsp;trip&nbsp;should&nbsp;have&nbsp;been&nbsp;fun&nbsp;and&nbsp;easy-going,&nbsp;but&nbsp;ended&nbsp;up&nbsp;rather&nbsp;stressful&nbsp;for&nbsp;all&nbsp;of&nbsp;us&nbsp;with&nbsp;several&nbsp;bad&nbsp;things&nbsp;happening&nbsp;(i.e.&nbsp;the&nbsp;car&nbsp;breaking&nbsp;down&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;middle&nbsp;of&nbsp;nowhere,&nbsp;and&nbsp;different&nbsp;stresses&nbsp;and&nbsp;irritations&nbsp;occurring).&nbsp;I&nbsp;took&nbsp;off&nbsp;walking&nbsp;down&nbsp;some&nbsp;dirt&nbsp;roads&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;middle&nbsp;of&nbsp;Florida&nbsp;one&nbsp;night&nbsp;to&nbsp;escape&nbsp;from&nbsp;it&nbsp;all&nbsp;and&nbsp;blow&nbsp;off&nbsp;steam.&nbsp;Charlie&nbsp;gave&nbsp;me&nbsp;some&nbsp;time&nbsp;and&nbsp;then&nbsp;came&nbsp;to&nbsp;find&nbsp;me&nbsp;to&nbsp;make&nbsp;sure&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;okay.&nbsp;I&nbsp;had&nbsp;been&nbsp;wandering&nbsp;around&nbsp;lots&nbsp;of&nbsp;dirt&nbsp;roads&nbsp;that&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;unfamiliar&nbsp;with,&nbsp;but&nbsp;somehow&nbsp;we&nbsp;both&nbsp;got&nbsp;lucky&nbsp;and&nbsp;he&nbsp;ended&nbsp;up&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;same&nbsp;one.&nbsp;He&nbsp;knew&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;upset&nbsp;so&nbsp;he&nbsp;took&nbsp;my&nbsp;hand&nbsp;and&nbsp;let&nbsp;me&nbsp;talk&nbsp;for&nbsp;about&nbsp;20&nbsp;minutes&nbsp;straight&nbsp;(he&nbsp;showed&nbsp;his&nbsp;patience&nbsp;several&nbsp;times&nbsp;that&nbsp;trip&nbsp;lol).&nbsp;That&nbsp;was&nbsp;actually&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;time&nbsp;we'd&nbsp;ever&nbsp;talked&nbsp;just&nbsp;the&nbsp;two&nbsp;of&nbsp;us,&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;surprised&nbsp;at&nbsp;how&nbsp;easy&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;to&nbsp;talk&nbsp;to&nbsp;him.&nbsp;We&nbsp;walked&nbsp;some&nbsp;more&nbsp;and&nbsp;then&nbsp;found&nbsp;a&nbsp;small&nbsp;lake&nbsp;where&nbsp;we&nbsp;sat&nbsp;down&nbsp;and&nbsp;preceded&nbsp;to&nbsp;talk&nbsp;for&nbsp;hours,&nbsp;until&nbsp;early&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;morning.&nbsp;I&nbsp;felt&nbsp;so&nbsp;comfortable&nbsp;with&nbsp;him,&nbsp;and&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;so&nbsp;sweet&nbsp;and&nbsp;made&nbsp;me&nbsp;laugh&nbsp;a&nbsp;lot.&nbsp;We&nbsp;both&nbsp;felt&nbsp;the&nbsp;spark&nbsp;and&nbsp;wondered&nbsp;why&nbsp;we&nbsp;hadn't&nbsp;realized&nbsp;(or&nbsp;at&nbsp;least&nbsp;admitted&nbsp;it)&nbsp;before.&nbsp; The&nbsp;next&nbsp;day&nbsp;I&nbsp;kept&nbsp;thinking&nbsp;about&nbsp;how&nbsp;great&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;and&nbsp;how&nbsp;much&nbsp;I&nbsp;wanted&nbsp;to&nbsp;talk&nbsp;to&nbsp;him&nbsp;and&nbsp;get&nbsp;to&nbsp;know&nbsp;him&nbsp;better.&nbsp;We&nbsp;went&nbsp;on&nbsp;another&nbsp;long&nbsp;walk&nbsp;that&nbsp;night&nbsp;and&nbsp;talked&nbsp;until&nbsp;the&nbsp;early&nbsp;hours&nbsp;again.&nbsp;After&nbsp;that&nbsp;trip,&nbsp;we&nbsp;spent&nbsp;as&nbsp;much&nbsp;time&nbsp;together&nbsp;as&nbsp;we&nbsp;could,&nbsp;getting&nbsp;to&nbsp;know&nbsp;each&nbsp;other&nbsp;better.&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;so&nbsp;thankful&nbsp;that&nbsp;we&nbsp;had&nbsp;gotten&nbsp;to&nbsp;know&nbsp;each&nbsp;other&nbsp;as&nbsp;friends&nbsp;first&nbsp;-&nbsp;I&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;feel&nbsp;like&nbsp;I&nbsp;had&nbsp;to&nbsp;act&nbsp;a&nbsp;certain&nbsp;way&nbsp;around&nbsp;him&nbsp;because&nbsp;he&nbsp;had&nbsp;already&nbsp;seen&nbsp;me&nbsp;for&nbsp;such&nbsp;a&nbsp;long&nbsp;time&nbsp;just&nbsp;being&nbsp;myself.&nbsp;I&nbsp;loved&nbsp;that&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;always&nbsp;up&nbsp;to&nbsp;do&nbsp;anything&nbsp;-&nbsp;kayaking,&nbsp;dancing,&nbsp;going&nbsp;to&nbsp;a&nbsp;festival,&nbsp;exploring&nbsp;a&nbsp;new&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;town&nbsp;-&nbsp;and&nbsp;that&nbsp;he&nbsp;put&nbsp;his&nbsp;heart&nbsp;in&nbsp;everything&nbsp;he&nbsp;did.&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;also&nbsp;impressed&nbsp;by&nbsp;the&nbsp;way&nbsp;he&nbsp;always&nbsp;treated&nbsp;everyone&nbsp;with&nbsp;kindness&nbsp;and&nbsp;respect.&nbsp;There&nbsp;are&nbsp;so&nbsp;many&nbsp;qualities&nbsp;in&nbsp;him&nbsp;that&nbsp;I&nbsp;admire&nbsp;(those&nbsp;only&nbsp;being&nbsp;a&nbsp;few).&nbsp;When&nbsp;he&nbsp;asked&nbsp;me&nbsp;if&nbsp;I&nbsp;wanted&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;his&nbsp;girlfriend,&nbsp;and&nbsp;later&nbsp;wife,&nbsp;the&nbsp;answer&nbsp;was&nbsp;an&nbsp;easy&nbsp;one.&nbsp; He&nbsp;proposed&nbsp;in&nbsp;Paris&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;Pont&nbsp;des&nbsp;Arts,&nbsp;which&nbsp;is&nbsp;known&nbsp;as&nbsp;the&nbsp;lover's&nbsp;lock&nbsp;bridge.&nbsp;It&nbsp;was&nbsp;nighttime&nbsp;so&nbsp;everything&nbsp;was&nbsp;lit&nbsp;up&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Eiffel&nbsp;Tower&nbsp;was&nbsp;flashing&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;background.&nbsp;When&nbsp;he&nbsp;asked&nbsp;me,&nbsp;I&nbsp;said&nbsp;"Yes,&nbsp;of&nbsp;course."&nbsp;I've&nbsp;never&nbsp;been&nbsp;more&nbsp;sure&nbsp;about&nbsp;anything.

Her Side

My&nbsp;side&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;story&nbsp;would&nbsp;pretty&nbsp;much&nbsp;be&nbsp;the&nbsp;same&nbsp;as&nbsp;Tati's&nbsp;as&nbsp;for&nbsp;how&nbsp;we&nbsp;met&nbsp;and&nbsp;how&nbsp;the&nbsp;relationship&nbsp;evolved.&nbsp;So,&nbsp;I'll&nbsp;switch&nbsp;it&nbsp;up&nbsp;a&nbsp;bit&nbsp;and&nbsp;give&nbsp;a&nbsp;few&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;reasons&nbsp;why&nbsp;I&nbsp;chose&nbsp;Tatiana.&nbsp;We&nbsp;were&nbsp;friends&nbsp;at&nbsp;first&nbsp;and&nbsp;then&nbsp;at&nbsp;some&nbsp;point&nbsp;she&nbsp;became&nbsp;irresistible.&nbsp;I&nbsp;mean,&nbsp;I&nbsp;wanted&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;with&nbsp;her&nbsp;all&nbsp;the&nbsp;time.&nbsp;&nbsp;I&nbsp;thought&nbsp;of&nbsp;her&nbsp;as&nbsp;a&nbsp;friend&nbsp;and&nbsp;then&nbsp;slowly&nbsp;and&nbsp;somewhat&nbsp;inconspicuously,&nbsp;an&nbsp;attraction&nbsp;developed.&nbsp;The&nbsp;funny&nbsp;thing&nbsp;is,&nbsp;before&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;same&nbsp;friend&nbsp;group,&nbsp;I&nbsp;remember&nbsp;running&nbsp;into&nbsp;her&nbsp;at&nbsp;occasions&nbsp;years&nbsp;before&nbsp;and&nbsp;never&nbsp;thinking&nbsp;anything&nbsp;of&nbsp;it.&nbsp;Honestly,&nbsp;I&nbsp;think&nbsp;maybe&nbsp;I&nbsp;thought&nbsp;she&nbsp;was&nbsp;snooty&nbsp;or&nbsp;something.&nbsp;Whatever&nbsp;the&nbsp;case,&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;wrong.&nbsp; After&nbsp;getting&nbsp;to&nbsp;know&nbsp;the&nbsp;real&nbsp;her&nbsp;(or&nbsp;possibly&nbsp;the&nbsp;mature&nbsp;her&nbsp;and&nbsp;mature&nbsp;me),&nbsp;man&nbsp;oh&nbsp;man&nbsp;was&nbsp;I&nbsp;wrong.&nbsp;Do&nbsp;you&nbsp;want&nbsp;to&nbsp;know&nbsp;who&nbsp;Tati&nbsp;is?&nbsp;Tati&nbsp;is&nbsp;about&nbsp;action!&nbsp;She&nbsp;doesn't&nbsp;let&nbsp;anything&nbsp;slow&nbsp;her&nbsp;down&nbsp;and&nbsp;she's&nbsp;fearless&nbsp;(sometimes&nbsp;she&nbsp;scares&nbsp;me)&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;love&nbsp;it!&nbsp;It&nbsp;takes&nbsp;me&nbsp;out&nbsp;of&nbsp;my&nbsp;comfort&nbsp;zone&nbsp;and&nbsp;opens&nbsp;me&nbsp;up&nbsp;to&nbsp;new&nbsp;things&nbsp;I&nbsp;would've&nbsp;probably&nbsp;never&nbsp;experienced&nbsp;without&nbsp;her.&nbsp;I&nbsp;love&nbsp;going&nbsp;on&nbsp;adventures&nbsp;and&nbsp;trying&nbsp;new&nbsp;things&nbsp;with&nbsp;her. She's&nbsp;an&nbsp;encourager.&nbsp;Through&nbsp;whatever&nbsp;trials&nbsp;we&nbsp;face,&nbsp;she&nbsp;&nbsp;maintains&nbsp;a&nbsp;positive&nbsp;outlook&nbsp;and&nbsp;sense&nbsp;of&nbsp;confidence.&nbsp;I&nbsp;think&nbsp;mainly&nbsp;because&nbsp;her&nbsp;faith&nbsp;is&nbsp;so&nbsp;strong.&nbsp;She&nbsp;prays&nbsp;about&nbsp;some&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;"small&nbsp;things,"&nbsp;that&nbsp;I&nbsp;would&nbsp;never&nbsp;even&nbsp;think&nbsp;of.&nbsp;Those&nbsp;things&nbsp;strengthen&nbsp;my&nbsp;faith&nbsp;because&nbsp;I&nbsp;see&nbsp;them&nbsp;come&nbsp;to&nbsp;fruition&nbsp;in&nbsp;her&nbsp;and&nbsp;our&nbsp;lives. She's&nbsp;a&nbsp;lover.&nbsp;She&nbsp;loves&nbsp;dogs&nbsp;mostly,&nbsp;but&nbsp;some&nbsp;humans&nbsp;she&nbsp;loves&nbsp;as&nbsp;well.&nbsp;Just&nbsp;kidding&nbsp;about&nbsp;that,&nbsp;&nbsp;she&nbsp;loves&nbsp;being&nbsp;with&nbsp;people&nbsp;and&nbsp;just&nbsp;getting&nbsp;to&nbsp;know&nbsp;them&nbsp;and&nbsp;have&nbsp;fun&nbsp;with&nbsp;them&nbsp;and&nbsp;create&nbsp;memories.&nbsp;She&nbsp;truly&nbsp;cares&nbsp;for&nbsp;so&nbsp;many&nbsp;people&nbsp;and&nbsp;it&nbsp;shows. She's&nbsp;genuine.&nbsp;You&nbsp;know&nbsp;what&nbsp;you're&nbsp;getting&nbsp;with&nbsp;her.&nbsp;She's&nbsp;not&nbsp;afraid&nbsp;to&nbsp;tell&nbsp;it&nbsp;like&nbsp;it&nbsp;is&nbsp;when&nbsp;needed,&nbsp;or&nbsp;to&nbsp;stand&nbsp;up&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;right&nbsp;cause.&nbsp;I've&nbsp;seen&nbsp;her&nbsp;do&nbsp;it&nbsp;many&nbsp;times. I&nbsp;could&nbsp;go&nbsp;on&nbsp;and&nbsp;on...&nbsp;anyone&nbsp;who&nbsp;knows&nbsp;her&nbsp;knows&nbsp;she's&nbsp;an&nbsp;adventurous,&nbsp;world&nbsp;traveling,&nbsp;&nbsp;fun&nbsp;loving,&nbsp;sarcastic&nbsp;bundle&nbsp;of&nbsp;joy.&nbsp;I'm&nbsp;so&nbsp;blessed&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;marrying&nbsp;this&nbsp;woman.&nbsp;She&nbsp;really&nbsp;is&nbsp;a&nbsp;light&nbsp;to&nbsp;my&nbsp;life&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;look&nbsp;forward&nbsp;to&nbsp;traveling&nbsp;and&nbsp;adventuring&nbsp;through&nbsp;this&nbsp;life&nbsp;with&nbsp;her.&nbsp;I've&nbsp;never&nbsp;been&nbsp;more&nbsp;sure&nbsp;about&nbsp;anything&nbsp;or&nbsp;anyone.&nbsp;I&nbsp;love&nbsp;you&nbsp;Tati. I&nbsp;can't&nbsp;wait&nbsp;to&nbsp;celebrate&nbsp;this&nbsp;special&nbsp;time&nbsp;with&nbsp;so&nbsp;many&nbsp;of&nbsp;our&nbsp;close&nbsp;friends&nbsp;and&nbsp;family!&nbsp;We&nbsp;are&nbsp;so&nbsp;blessed&nbsp;to&nbsp;have&nbsp;all&nbsp;of&nbsp;you&nbsp;in&nbsp;our&nbsp;lives!

Tatiana & Charlie

Tatiana & Charlie

Wedding Party

Tatiana's wedding party

Charlie's wedding party