Do you remember last spring when we held a contest to giveaway a FREE wedding video? In case you missed it or forgot – with the relaunch of our wedding videography option, we offered up a contest in which we would give one lucky couple our videography services for no charge. The results were outstanding! So much so that we went ahead and declared 2 couples as the winners. (what can we say – we just are suckers for incredible couples)
One of those couples was Michelle and Jeff. Here’s what made us fall in love with them…
Their Story
Michelle’s roommate (Laurel) and Jeff’s roommate (Drew) are siblings (The Glenns). Laurel and Drew have a younger brother, David, who had a fantastic graduation
Jeff met Michelle at a Tim McGraw concert with Laurel and Drew a few months later. It was such a fun night that they ‘borrowed’ (and still have!) the table number from the group’s late-night trip to Whataburger. This was the beginning of what Jeff calls his ‘celebrity crush’ on Michelle. That was the first of many concerts, sports games, and evenings out together as friends.
Jeff asked Michelle to dinner (as a date!) in May of 2015, and the two have fallen more in love every day since.
In October of 2017, Michell and Jeff took the trip to Spain they had been dreaming of together since the beginning. On the first full day of the trip, Jeff talked Michelle out of wearing a less photogenic outfit (a tank top and shorts) because ‘it’s our first day and we should wear something really fun for it’ – it worked.
When they were heading to their first stop of the day, the dreamy Parc del Laberint d’Horta just north of
Michelle tried everything she could think of to keep him happy, from, “Look, here’s a sign! We’re close!” to, “Look at that weird tree – it looks
like broccoli!” That was the last of her hilarious attempts before he grabbed her hand, laughed and said ‘come over here’ as he walked her towards the center of the garden’s pavilion, knelt on one knee in the dirt and proposed. Michelle
They continued the best day ever with a visit to La Sagrada Família and the best dinner of their life at Con
What has been your favorite part of being engaged?
We both had the same response to this question: being engaged! For
What are you looking forward to most about being married?
Our answers to this question were pretty similar! For Michelle, it’s having my best friend by my side to share every joy, low, and experience of life together. For Jeff, it’s fulfilling the future we dream of now with lots of kids and dogs all under one roof.
What famous couple would you compare your relationship to (real or fake) and why?:
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend – Their relationship developed slowly after they initially met, and they fell in love as they really got to know one another. Our story is very similar. We laugh with each other, sometimes poke fun at each other, and adore one another in a similar (though much less paparazzi-noticed!) way.
What has been your least favorite part of wedding planning?:
Running out of time! We have always wanted more – more time in Spain to soak it all in, more time at every step of every decision. Not because we’re indecisive, but because it is fun and we want to really enjoy it!
What has been the most important vendor you’ve hired, and why are they so important?:
Our planner, hands down. We are working with Kristin Ashley Events based in St. Louis. We had seen a previous wedding of hers and had a great recommendation, and having her expertise, vendor relationships, and design talents available to us has been so important. Michelle works full time and is a part-time MBA student on the weekends and we never would have been able to plan a fabulous wedding in a timely manner without
Kristin and her team.
We are big believers in the idea that what you put out into the world, you get back. (also know as karma) What is the kindest thing you’ve ever done for someone?:
Being present. In this over-connected, over-prioritized, goal-driven age, we often forget to really stop and pay attention to the people around us. We both try very hard to keep phones tucked away and pay attention to the humans around us. How are they – really, how are they? Most of the time the answer is ‘happy!’, but there have been several times when asking a friend or even someone we didn’t know all that well how they were
really doing went a long way for them. Understanding one another, sharing in the events and the emotions of our day to day lives, and really being there in a constant and supportive way – that’s the gift we try to give to our people.
What does life look like on your 50th anniversary?:
On our 50th anniversary, Michelle will be 79 and Jeff will be 76. We are enjoying a long trip at Mahekal, where we rented the larger family house with a private beach area for the week with our children and grandchildren to celebrate. He will still tease her for being ‘a cougar’, and she will still be asking ‘how much do you love me?” just to hear the answer. We’ll head home just in time for Christmas, which we’ll celebrate with dinner served on the china that Michelle told Jeff she never wanted, then registered for at the last minute. “Aren’t you happy we have this now, honey?!” “Yes – if it still makes you happy!”
Why would having a video of your day be important to you?:
We want our wedding to be a joyous event, loaded with happiness, friends, and family. We are fortunate enough to have several grandparents and both sets of parents still with us, and this will be a beautiful way to have memories of them with us forever. We also hope to share these moments with those who are unable to join us, as well as with those who will be in our future. Two of Jeff’s grandparents will be unable to join us in Mexico due to health concerns. It would mean so much to them and to us to be able to share this day with them through wonderful videography – to bring the love, joy, and fun right into their living room with them.
So to Jeff’s grandparents, Michelle and Jeff and your family and
