Our Story
The geeky truth...
Derik came into Kate's AT&T store in October 2012, looking
to switch to an Android smartphone from his iPhone, because the
iOS 6 update killed off Google Maps. Kate knew he was an Apple
guy through and through, and advised "you'll be back". Two weeks
later, he sure was, tail between his legs, and she said those
famous, clichéd words:
I told you so!
In an attempt to be classy, Derik brought over a couple bottles of wine to Kate's apartment on that fateful Friday night date. Whatever "class" he had was quickly thrown out the window at his total inability to use her corkscrew, as he completely ripped up the cork instead of freeing it from the bottle. At least he brought backup - in the form of bubbly!
Now unnerved, Derik matched Kate's uneasiness. He picked up on
this cue of hers, and asked her:
Would you be more comfortable if I kissed you?
(the answer: yes!)
Derik loved to travel. As he'd say: "to know me is to fly with me".
Kate had never stepped foot on a plane.
Naturally, that had to be remedied. First stop? Not just any city, but THE city. New York. Cue the 6:00 AA4512 XNA-LGA (Three hours in an E135 without so much as a fuss? She's a keeper!)
That trip opened this country girl's eyes - she realized that the world was much bigger than she'd ever imagined, quite the emotional revelation. For him, he'd found a travel partner who could not only keep up, but surpass him, challenging him to see and do MORE.
On her first day in the city, Derik made a point to take Kate
through Times Square once at day, and again at night, to note
the contrast. It helped that the night visit happened right
after exiting their first Broadway play together. They walked to
the center of the bowtie, taking it all in. A bus of athletes
stopped next to them and began chanting "kiss her! kiss her!".
That kiss sealed the deal — they were in love.
A weekend in London and Berlin for a concert
A weekend in Turks and Caicos to escape the cold
Hitting multiple European countries on a single trip, repeatedly, to maximize bang-for-buck
Flying through Mexico City en route to Europe because the price was awesome
Ten days in Sydney, Auckland, and Tahiti
Annual summer escape to the Caribbean
Friends trip to the Dominican Republic
New York at least four times annually
September 4, 2015
Family is important to us. Derik knew Kate would want her
sisters nearby when he proposed to her. So he took the
opportunity during a siblings trip to New York. After a Halal
Guys picnic in Central Park (which his nerves prevented him
from enjoying!), Derik shared the story of how it'd been 33
months since their first trip to The City, that they'd been
through highs and lows together, that they'd made each other
laugh and cry, and a bunch of other things that neither of them
remember, but eventually:
We've been on a lot of adventures together... will you join me for one more?
(the answer: a tearful YES!)