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And where was I before the day that I first saw your lovely face...
Jessica describes how she met Andy: "The first time Andy and I met was when he messaged me via ICQ on August 19, 2000. The extent of the conversation was pretty much just hello, where do you live, etc. Honestly, I was annoyed that someone messaged me, but I soon got over it.
On September 1st, we were chatting online and the topic of us both being bored came up. He asked if I wanted to meet him and I said, "Sure." We planned it for two days later. I woke up that day, took my shower, and headed off to work that day. I didn't tell anybody that I was meeting Andy. I didn't think anything of it. It was just something to do on a Sunday afternoon. I was supposed to get off work at 2, but ended up staying over 45 minutes because the next shift was short staffed. I rushed home and didn't even have time to take a shower, I was so worried about being late. I threw on a pair of old jeans, a blue t-shirt, and threw my hair up in a ponytail.
I pulled up to the movie theater at 3:30. Andy was parked out in the back of the parking lot reading a book, so that was the first time I laid eyes on him. Immediately I realized how horrible I looked. We drove around for awhile and then went down by the river and sat and talked for the next 4 hours. I told him I needed to get back home, so we left. I didn't see him online for two weeks. We didn't exchange phone numbers. I didn't think he liked me. Then one day out of the blue, he emailed me and asked to meet me again. And now, two years later...here we are."
Now I see it everyday and I know...
 Jessica describes their engagement: "We discussed marriage before I even moved in with Andy. It was just a 'known' thing that I was going to finish school and then we would take that step in our lives. Shortly after he got his job at the county jail, he invited me to move in, and month by month the marriage talks became a little more serious.
One night he asked me when I thought I'd be ready to be married. I told him that I was ready now, but we weren't ready financially. He didn't agree. That should have been my first clue.... About a week later we were talking again. He asked about how long of an engagement I wanted I told him a long one, and he 'jokingly' asked how about within the year? That should have been my second clue....
Not too many days later we were eating supper and the subject came up again. And that is what I consider to be his proposal. He told me he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me, and he felt that we should be together in marriage. He said within a year would be ideal for him, perhaps the next spring. So I went to work that night and thought about it all night long. I came home the next morning and told him that I wanted to marry him the next spring. Then on Saturday, October 6, 2002 he took me shopping to pick out my ring. That made the proposal official, and the planning began..."
That I am...I am...the luckiest...
The bride discusses their 'big day': "We were scheduled to be married on Friday, March 14, 2003, but due to the circumstances in the middle east we weren't sure if we would make it to the date. Andy is in the National Guard. As part of our 'wedding plans' we had it set up that if he got the call to be activated, we would still be married in the church. After he got the call two weeks before we were supposed to be married originally, we rushed to get everything together! I wasn't nervous, but anxious. Everything was the way we planned it. It was a beautiful ceremony.
Our service was centered around the family and making a home for us. My father in law was going to do the devotional, but with such short notice, he was unable to do so. We still had communion and we still had the service the way we wanted it, including an organist. A lady from the church we were getting married in heard about our situation and sang several solos for us. It was wonderful how such a small town community would step out of their way to make our wedding happen! I couldn't have asked for a better day!"
For our reception, we ended up having a dinner buffet at the place we had planned on for our dinner reception. We didn't obtain the photographer in time, but he still took photographs for us two weeks after the wedding.
I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you...
"I had my wedding dress, the girls had their dresses, and the tux shop was good enough to get our tuxes together within an hour after we called them. The florist was more than willing to get the flowers for us too!"
I know that's a strange way to tell you that I know we belong...
 When asked if there was anything she would do differently, Jessica replied: "If I were doing my wedding all over, I would have a destination wedding where only my parents, siblings, and my husband would be there. I think it'd be neat to be married in Disney World!"
When asked what she would do the same: "Nothing...except maybe call the photographer in my many phone calls I was making. They were the only one I didn't think of calling! Also, we didn't take a honeymoon, so when he comes back home I'm planning a nice big vacation!"
I am...I am...the luckiest...
To sum up their wedding day the bride answered: "Everything was 'uniquely ours' because of the love the caring community poured out upon us as we embarked on this journey! I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for helping me have such a wonderful ceremony!"
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