Illia’s Love Story

It’s a magical thing when two people fall in love. When souls recognize souls, and just know this life was meant to be spent together. It happens every day in so many ways; slow and steady with each step taken being carefully weighed, or it can happen like it did for us. Instant and without hesitation. Well, sort of. 

Our love story is a little different. We knew each other for a few years through mutual friends, had attended events the other was at, and even double dated other people at one point. His energy was always so positive and kind. He was warm and everyone seemed to smile when he was around. That’s what I remembered most about him whenever he was mentioned. 

Several months passed since we had seen each other and we never did talk outside of those few gatherings through the years, but we were connected through social media. Even though we’d never reached out to one another, I’d been seeing some of his stories that I thought deserved recognition. One random reaction that went to his message requests, and a misunderstanding later, he decided to say hello and asked me for coffee. I was happy to catch up with an acquaintance and agreed to meet after work. I was excited and not at all nervous because it’s always been easy to be around him, so when I arrived I was SHOCKED by what I saw, but even more by what happened over the next 6 and a half hours.  

What I saw was the most handsome man in the room looking at me with the most welcoming smile and what happened was that the moment I sat down and we got to talking, I knew my life was changing. I felt it in my gut. This was different and I knew he knew it, too.

It was like talking to my best friend since kindergarten. It was like we had known each other our whole lives and no one else seemed to exist for those first minutes that turned into hours and flew by until the doors were closing. The simultaneous sense of butterflies in my stomach, my heart beating in my ears, all with an overwhelming peace was exhilarating and petrifying.

Six and a half hours was more time than it took for me to know I’d just spent the first night of all that remain with my soulmate. By the time I got home, a 6-minute drive, he confirmed that all I’d felt he felt as well. We were all in. Not one day since have we looked back. Not once have we held back and I now have the honor of being his fiancée.  

They say “When you know, you know.” You can hear that your whole life and think it’s such a cliché, and maybe it is. 

I can tell you 3 things I’ve learned:

1. You never know when or where love will find you.
2. A cliché is sometimes cliché for a reason.
3. The same is true when you find your wedding dress: “When you know, you know.” 

I wanted to find a dress that was unique and timeless which made me feel beautiful, confident, and romantic. I wanted to find a dress that felt like “us”.  

I can’t wait to walk toward my other half in my stunning Elissar Bridal gown.

Xoxo

Illia