I was sitting reading my favourite wedding blogs (I LOVE my job!) and came across this beautiful shoot on Fifties Wedding (fab site!) and I knew I HAD to feature this on the Military Wedding Discounts website.
After contacting Charlie she gave me the contact details for the lovely Suzi Lighten of TSL Photography who very kindly agreed to us posting this gorgeous story.
So grab a drink, sit back and enjoy the romantic story of Issy and Issac….
He was on his way home and so was I. For one whole month we did not even know each others names. We just called each other “Train Buddy.” It was about everyday at the same time and stop that we saw one another. So the habit became welcoming and we started to talk more and more as friends. Until one day I asked him his name and invited him to a party. Needless to say he showed up and was very interested, but I was taken at the time so we just remained good friends. He and I became best friend over the next 3 years.
He knew me like the back of his hand and he could always tell what I was going through. During our fourth year of our friendship the economy tanked, Issac lost his job and my old relationship ended. We decided to move in together as friends and he starting to take a huge liking towards my son (Matt) who was 9 at the time. I wanted to help Issac in any way I could. He found a job once again, but they let him go after 7months of training, so he wanted to do something better and worth while in his life. So he talked to the Army staff and of course they sucked him right away.
I was very supportive and was scared when he first told me, but then again, I know he wanted to accomplish something worth while in his life, so I was very happy that he wanted to support our nation. As he began to train for the army’s test (both physically and mentally) I began to change my outlook on life and about him. He was becoming something more than just a friend inside and I did not know how to take it. I was scared to feel something more for him because I cherished my wonderful relationship and I didn’t want to screw it up just because he would be gone. As the final days of all the paper work and physical test were said and done. I began to really feel my heart change. It was on May 12th 2010 when the recruiters said they would be on their way to pick up Issac at 3pm to head off the LAX airport to depart for boot camp.
We took off to grab our last lunch together before he left. In the middle of our friendly discussion, I asked him why he never asked me out and his response was he was he was afraid I was going to turn him down. I thought about his answer for a moment and told him to ask me. He did so we began our relationship from that point. He and I were so happy that I brought up the topic. As we finished our meal we headed home for the last hour to watch a movie together as a family. As the recruiter knocked, I started to tremble and feel scared. We opened the door and Issac gave me one long last kiss and hug before he said good bye. I remember closing that door and wishing we had more time, wishing why we he never asked, wishing I could of brought up the topic sooner, but it was meant to be the way it was.
As the first week flew by, I began to find myself alone and wanting his company. I wanted to hear his laughs and jokes. It wasn’t until the second week that I got to hear his voice. I told him that I missed him and tears of longing really came from the heart. I kept my phone on loud and with me 24/7. I couldn’t wait to hear from him again. I grabbed every call he ever made and no-matter what time of the day it was. I was just so glad to hear his voice. After nine weeks of intense mental & physical brain wash I was allowed to visit him. I took a few days off for vacation and flew all the way to SC in the middle of Summer. It was so hot and sticky and I didn’t care, I got to see Issac graduate from boot camp and spend one day in happy bliss, that I was eternally grateful.
After the graduation was over and I flew back home, Issac went onto the next part of his training. He began training for his job that he signed up for. This was supposed to be 2 or 3 months only, but they dragged it out for 5 long months. In between the training, Issac was aloud to come home four a day weekend in October. This was another two and half months that went by, but just before he arrived he had a little incident. He accidentally got his hand broken by another soldier, this was a little sad, but we said it was just another step we have jump over.
Issac arrived home on my birthday weekend, Friday October 8th 2010. My brother (Sam) and I picked Issac up from the airport and we went straight to the elementary school to pick -up Matt (my son). Matt has not seen him for 6 months since he took off to boot camp so the tiny tears burst-ed out my little 11year old eyes. Matt was to ex-tactic to see him. The following day was supposed to be a gathering of both of our families (Issac’s parents and my parents and my brothers and sister). We all arranged for a luncheon at a childhood restaurant that my parents always took me to as a little girl.
Issac had in mind to ask my parents if he could get their blessing to marry me. Of course I knew he would ask them, but I had no idea what was in store for me next. Of course my mother and father were extremely happy that their oldest daughter was going to tie the knot. I was so happy and full of joy that I finally was settled in my heart and was starting to expect the question somewhere down the line in our new future. A few minutes later Issac chimed the glassware and had another announcement that also caught me off guard. He bent down on one knee and with his injured hand and proposed in-front of both our families. I was so caught off guard, that it felt unreal and I thought it was one of his gimmic’s, but he had a ring and he meant every word as he struggled to get the words out and put the ring on my finger. I was so in shock that I forgot our families were there and my father yells out so what did you say? I turned around and said “Yes.”
The whole restaurant was in good cheer and it was a most magical moment of my life. After a joyful and splendid week, Issac flew back to finish his training. He flew back again for the Christmas and New Years Holidays and went back to the training camp for one last week. He came back to CA for three weeks of vacation before he got shipped to Germany on 2/1/2011.
I was already starting to research Photographers the weekend he left after the engagement. Issac and I wanted a classy modern look to our photos. With Issac being in the Army I thought about all the black and whites movies that we could interpret into our own vision. It was the classy army hero that won my heart over and over and that I wanted to reiterate into our photo scene. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was happy that I choose something that fit my us just right. I have always been attracted to the classy acts of women in the 50′s and I was always inspired by their beauty, kindness, and formality’s. You could say I wish we could of kept that custom in this time and age. One of the inspiring movies right after the holidays was ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Christmas in Connecticut.’ They really had me spining my wheels to recreate something like that but in the 2011 age. I have always been an Audrey Hepburn fan so I wanted to incorporate the classy, sassy with a twist of modern moments into our photo shoot and they came out perfect. I believe TSL Photography really turned those pictures into a gold mine for our families and friends to remember.
We are on the verge of making plans for a classy Wedding look but with more of a modern twist to incorporate the fun things in life that we both enjoy.
Well what a start to our Real Weddings page eh, how beautiful was that!
A big thanks once again to the lovely Suzi Lighten of TSL Photography – a hugely talented lady I’m sure you’ll agree.
As this post shows, although the page is called ‘Real Weddings’ we do love to feature an Engagement shoot too so please feel free to contact us if you would like us to feature your story!
Big Love
Military Day Discounts xx
