Wild Dunes | Isle of Palms, SC (JP & Stephanie)

[Written by Stephanie]

“JP and I met about 3 years ago, the day after his birthday. I wasn't sure if I even liked him on our first date …haha. He invited me to this dive bar in Dallas called, Stan's Blue Note, to watch the Ole Miss/Memphis game. Being that I'm a big Ole Miss fan, I thought that was cool he wanted to watch the game together. The entire date was awkward. I think he was really nervous, but he kept telling me how pleasantly surprised he was with me and then almost the entire dinner explained to me how he thought nachos were an underrated meal and not just an appetizer.

We would go on a few more awkward dates, and I still thought this wasn't going to work out. However, one Friday night, I was out with my dad at a piano bar of all places, and I asked if he would come meet us (this was many drinks in). When JP came, we decided to do karaoke. We all had a blast, and it was cool that JP didn’t mind that my dad was there. JP got me an Uber home that night, but I left my phone in it. I was able to message him on FB and he went out of his way to get the phone. It was that day that I realized I might really like him, and panicked because of what a mess I was the night before. He waited a whole week to text me, which was nerve-wracking, but he asked me out to a Mavs game, and the rest was history. That night, he asked me to be exclusive, lol, and then a week later on Halloween, he asked me to be his girlfriend.

From then on it was pretty fast and we had a blast together. We went on a lot of fun trips, and JP introduced me to all things Texas, being that I am not a native Texan. I floated the San Marcos river, learned about west Texas, and of course Texas Tech. A few months in I introduced JP to my dad, and they hit it off. I was able to bring him on our family trip to San Diego, and it was then I think we both knew we loved each other. It was cool how he and my dad got along so well; it just felt like he fit. Honestly, I feel like a third wheel with the two of them. One thing I love about JP is he's never made me feel like I had to be anything else than who I am. I'm always so comfortable and don't feel like I have to dim my personality or hide anything and he's just so easy going.

In April of 2018, JP proposed. I thought we were going to Nashville (where I’m from) for my best friend Carli to get engaged, but turned out it was me. JP and my friends made this big thing about me needing to meet the photographer to tell her where she should be for the proposal. As JP and I walked up the bridge I was complaining the whole time because it was snowing and so cold. He was so quiet and I thought, ‘well this is weird.’ When we got to the lookout, he got on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was such a surprise and I loved that it was in my hometown. We walked from the bridge to one of the restaurants on Broadway, where my dad and all my friends were. It was awesome.

As we discussed the wedding, I always knew I wanted to get married in IOP. Since my mother has passed away, I wanted to do it in a place where I have so many memories with her. Growing up we would always go to the beach there. We would walk the beach and collect shells together, and I loved doing it. The first year after my mom passed, I decided to walk the beach and collect shells. I kept one and I had this weird feeling that I would be back, but for something big. I thought at that time maybe I would move here for work etc, not thinking I'd get married on that beach.

The wedding was perfect, and I loved that we were able to do it where we did. My maid of honor's fiancé, Cameron Himes, was our officiant. I loved that one of our best friends was able to marry us. We kept it smaller because we wanted to really enjoy our time with the people that mean the most to us. The reception was a blast, and I've never been on a more fun party bus than ours when we headed to the after party at Red’s.”