Our story

We met in the elevator of our dorms in 1995.  It was move-in day and he was a freshman, his very first day on campus.  I was a junior, beginning my third year at Stanislaus, and was moving in on the opposite side of the complex from him.  He was 18 years old.  I was 19 years old.  He was 6'5", tan, handsome.  I was 5'11", tan, and waaaaaaay thinner than I am today.  I was also hopelessly in love with and committed to someone else. 

That first meeting scared the shit out of me because he had made such an impression and I was in no position to be feeling that way.  After directing him to his room that first day, I saw him off-and-on for the next few weeks, only to say hello.  The second month into school we both volunteered for the same committee in the dorms and we began a friendship.  That quickly turned into more and as I sorted out the other issues in my life he stood by me, patiently waiting.  Within months, we were inseparable.  That first year was hard because I had hurt someone else I had loved very much and I had such conflict about that but knew that I was making the right decision for me.  Chris was always patient and understanding.  By the time summer rolled around, we'd been together for nearly 6 months. 

He was 19, I was 20

My 21st birthday.

 He went home to lifeguard for the summer and I went home to lifeguard for the summer.  We made trips back and forth and looked forward to the new school year together.

By the time Chris was a senior in 1998, I had graduated and was student teaching and living in my own apartment.  The new school year began and he broke up with me.  He had never known college without me and he needed to do that.  I understood but do you know how hard it is to know that one person is absolutely the right one for you but they don't know it yet?  I was scared to death.  After 15 months of not being together but still being friendly, I gave him an ultimatum.  I had waited those 15 months for him to pull his head out of his ass and I was done.  I let him know it.  He finally did come to his senses, and so we were, once again.

After 5 years of being together (minus those 15 months of a no-label relationship) we moved in together in 2000.  I was teaching and he was a firefighter.  He proposed not long after and so the planning began. 

We married on May 11, 2002.  It couldn't have been a more perfect day in every way possible.  It had been 7 years that we'd been together and I felt like it was all worth the wait.  I actually had the Hallelujah chorus play after we were announced husband and wife because seriously, Hallelujah!  7 years is a freaking long time.

I was too emotional to say much at the reception but the one thing I did say, and the one emotion that sticks with me more than anything is that we had every. single. person. in the world. that we loved and cared about in the same room at the same time.  That was equally as amazing to me as becoming Mrs. Christopher Peters.

Happy Anniversary to you, my dear Chris.  Not only does this mark our 8th wedding anniversary, but in a few months it will mark 15 years of our life together.  You've given me a life I wouldn't have dared dreamed of and I am grateful every single day for our life together and the 3 gifts you've given to me.  I didn't realize that you'd give me 3 amazing gifts back-to-back-to-back, so I also thank you for loving me no matter what the condition my body or mood may be in on any given day.  It's so cheesy and cliche but you are absolutely my rock.  Honestly, though, the reason I love you more today than I did 8 years ago today is because you are their rock.  A girl can't ask for much more than that. 

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Peters

Our wedding cake was cheesecake.  Mmmmm, cake.

Nothing says, "I love you, new husband" like freaking the best friend on the dance floor.  Love you, Matt!

Our pretty wedding party

Love you.

*All black and white photos courtesy of Cherry Thomas Photography

She's one of my oldest friends and she's amazing in every way.  She wasn't even our wedding photographer!  These are just photos she captured of our day.  Thanks, Cherry.