Happy Valentine’s Day, my friends! I’m not particularly hooked into celebrating this holiday (though I did grab the girls a few goodies at Target- books, beach towel, new notepads), but I love any excuse to look back through pictures. In fact, recently David successfully hacked into our college computers and retrieved all the pictures from a few years in the early 2000’s that we thought had been lost. They are not all fit for viewing (thank GOODNESS Instagram wasn’t a thing in my early college years), but there are some gems hidden among the crazy. I enjoyed sorting them so much that I figured it would be fun to walk down memory lane of how we met and our dating saga, in the spirit of the day, and hope you don’t mind being subjected to it. So here it is, volume one in the story of us!
Let’s start in the beginning.
The date was November 29, 2003. The place? Georgia Tech campus. The Sigma Chi fraternity house to be exact. My friend (shout out to you, Hew!) had dragged me out of bed that morning, forcing me to get dressed and come with her to the tailgate our sorority sisters had set up with a fraternity at GT. I had recently broken up with my boyfriend of the past year and so, begrudgingly, I agreed to go along. College girls in the south dress up like it’s prom for football games, so our feet were hurting in our heels and we were looking for a place to sit. We wandered right into a room in the fraternity house with a couch, sat down, and when we looked up, a young gentleman was just getting out of the shower, towel around his waist. He laughed and waved at us and joined us shortly after (with clothes) for some old fashion tailgating fun. That gentleman was David and though we officially met that day and he asked for my number, we didn’t hang out for long, as Kristin and I ran off later to meet friends for the game and despite his attempts, he couldn’t track me down afterwards.
It could have all ended there (with a winning Georgia of 34-17, might I add), but a week later I received a phone call from David inviting me to his Christmas Party Date Night. Truth be told I wasn’t going to go. Athens is about 1.5 hours from Atlanta and I was rather “eh” about the whole situation, but I talked a friend into coming with me and so we went and there, David and I had our first “date.”
The night was chaos, as most college parties are, but I remember vividly how attentive David was to making sure I had a fun time. I also remember his good friend telling me all the wonderful things about David (should we call you his wing-woman, Jordan?!). Whatever it was, something clicked that night and I fell completely head over heels. I called my parents the next day and told them I had met the guy I was going to marry. Six short years later (lol), that vision came to fruition!
So after that first date night, we started dating. He’d come to Athens, he took me out in Atlanta. One of the more memorable date nights was when we took me to the The Sundial Restaurant (a restaurant in Atlanta that rotates at the top of a building). I wasn’t 21 yet, but they didn’t check my ID, so we got a drink, had a meal, and the night ended with David playing the piano IN the restaurant! For Valentine’s day he surprised me with a trip to the mountains. Later in February we went to his fraternity formal (in Charlotte funny enough). I was smitten.
I was a sophomore in college during all of this and David was, shall we call it, a “super senior” (5th year). As his graduation approached, his mind got set on job searching and the real world. Shortly after graduation, he literally fell off the face of the map. I don’t remember all the details, but he graduated, took a job in Florida, and was gone.
2004 was a tough summer for me. I was sad and confused as to what the heck had happened, so imagine my shock when in late August I got a call from David, just to catch up. Me now (in my 30’s) would have said “what the heck dude?!” but me then (21) was so excited to hear from him that we chatted for hours. We continued to do so on the regular and in December he flew me down to visit him in Fort Myers. The weekend was a blast, but the reality was we were still a plane ride away from each other, him in the real world and me, a junior in college. So though we talked often and a strong spark remained, we were “just friends.”
Things remained that way for months, we’d talk by phone every week and my friends and I had nicknamed him my “ultimate” (lol) but we stayed just friends.
By early fall 2005, David had moved to Memphis. I was now a senior at UGA. He came into town for alumni weekend at GT and invited me to join him. You know I liked him because I wore GOLD for him, which is basically a crime within Athens city limits.
As always, we had a blast together at the football game and at the dinner event.
note to self: never attempt bangs again
After that, our phone call frequency increased and in December, David invited me to visit him in Memphis. I met his brother and sister-in-law during that trip (introduced only as David’s friend, which we all now laugh about). We visited Graceland and ate ribs at Rendezvous.
We never defined the relationship, but it was so obvious that we weren’t just friends. In early 2006 I joined him on a work trip to Whistler, then he came to Athens to be my date for my senior KD formal.
Around this time, March-ish 2006, I got the urge to define the relationship. I was head over heels. I knew he felt the same, yet I hesitated to call him my boyfriend. So I demanded clarity and definition, and when I didn’t get it, a late night phone call between Athens and Memphis resulted in me telling him I couldn’t do it anymore and to please never call me again. I meant it too. If we couldn’t officially be together then I had to be done. He reached out a time or two, but I never responded. I graduated, moved to Atlanta, and got on living life in the big city.
This was when MySpace was a thing and though I had called it quits and refused to touch base with him, I still checked in on his MySpace page every so often because that’s what girls do. Though I had decided to move on, I was never quite able to let go.
Then in late July 2006, he called. I answered. He asked to come visit me. I said yes.
It was during that visit that we made amends and he made it clear he was serious about dating me seriously. I knew he was sincere because he let me take him to Six Flags, a place I love and he despises.
My outfit though…
From right then and there, I could tell things were different. We picked up right where we left off and started dating seriously. He had moved to Charlotte by this point and every weekend either I would drive the four hours there or he would make the trek to Atlanta.
The long distance was tough and in early 2007, I decided to move to Charlotte. I knew there was no promise of marriage, but I knew the long distance was getting too hard for both of us and wasn’t in love with my job, so I figured I’d just go for it. So in June 2007 I moved to Charlotte!
That is David carrying the giant “Love Sac” into my apartment. The same one that’s in our homeschool room today!
I took a job with CBS radio, we got Koda, and we kept dating.
It was soon clear to both of us where this was heading. After a secret trip to visit my parents and ask for my dad’s blessing (this still means the WORLD to me), David proposed to me on the Blue Ridge Parkway on June 20, 2008. I said YES and then he whisked me off to Hot Springs, North Carolina for the weekend to celebrate.
I moved into his house as we planned the wedding.
Then on May 2, 2009 we got married in the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Georgia next to Lake Chatuge.
To this day I still like to joke about our SIX years of dating after I knew he was the one after our first official date. But looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing.
So though we’ve been married 8.5 years, I’ve known him for almost 15. That’s crazy to me, especially because I’m still crazy about him and can’t imagine doing life with anyone else.
And there you have it- way more than you ever cared to know about our road to marriage, but it sure was fun for me to walk down memory lane!
Now I’m so curious–
How did you meet your significant other?
Was your path to love smooth? Or were there some detours along the way?!
Amanda Hernandez says
Ahh! My husband was in Sigma Chi too and that’s how we met as well! I never knew that about you : )
Brittany Dixon says
Haha, no way! Where was he a Sigma Chi?
Amanda Hernandez says
Western Michigan University. I guess Sigma Chi is a great place to find a husband!
Brittany Dixon says
Agreed! The ones I know are pretty great guys!
Morgan S says
Just had to comment as a fellow WMU grad, also where I met my husband (not sigma chi but rugby there). Go Broncos!
Loved reading your story Brittany!!
Katherine Maxwell says
What a sweet love story– thanks for sharing! I had no idea you guys had a Vizsla! I might be bias because my husband and I have one, but they are the best π
Brittany Dixon says
I’m biased too because Koda was THE BEST dog. We will definitely have another vizsla one day <3 What is your pup's name?
Katherine Maxwell says
Her name is Maya π She’s 1.5!
Brittany Dixon says
Oh, still full of a little energy I imagine π Give her some ear scratchies for me! <3
sherry says
Your story is beautiful! Made me smile at the memories and pictures. Happy Valentines Day to y’all!
Brittany Dixon says
I can’t not mention all of your and dad’s support that got me through those six years- haha! I still remember you picking me up from the airport after the Ft Myers trip <3
PS- you and dad need to write down your story too! Or would the college still frown at that? π
Dietitian Jess says
Your story is actually quite similar to mine- I met my husband when we were both attending Penn State (at his fraternity- Sigma Nu). He was older and we dated off and on… when I graduated a year after him I moved to Maryland and put him behind me because he wasn’t ready to be 100% serious. 3 months later we started dating seriously and it was much different then college dating- I moved to Philly less than a year later to be with him and proposed less than a year after that. I like you- knew he was the guy for me in the beginning but it took him a little longer to catch on π
Brittany Dixon says
Ah I love your story, and you’re right- so similar! Though you were able to write yours much more succinctly- lol π
John J. says
Wow, that was fun seeing you recapture those romantic years. I remember many a phone call with you relative to your dating experience with David! He’s a great guy, and a good fit for you. Happy
Valentine’s Day to you both. I have my own special Valentine of 40 years. We’re both fortunate (as are our spouses! π
Brittany Dixon says
Thank goodness I had my favorite therapist with me for all those ups and downs; I wouldn’t have made it through it without you! I think David owes you a thank you note for your role in deciphering all the twists along the way. π Love you so much, Dad! <3
Heather says
Wow! This is such an awesome story. You two were truly meant to be together. Crazy to think what might have happened if you hadn’t gone to that first football game, huh?
I met my husband at a sports bar….I was supposed to hang out with my friend, but there was some miscommunication, so I headed to our local Carolina Ale House to pick up some wings….in my bikini, cover up, and lucky cowgirl hat. While I was sitting at the bar waiting and nursing a cerveza, a cute guy leaned over to chat, and the rest is history! Who says you can’t meet a quality person at a bar??
Katy Widrick says
This is SO SWEET!
Lucas and I met our sophomore year at Syracuse University. We called him one of the “bathroom boys” because he and his roommates lived directly across from the girls’ bathroom in our dorm, and so we’d always stop to talk with them (and often, in towels because we were headed to the shower…hee hee).
I liked him right away. And so, I chased him. And kind of chased him away. But our circles of friends overlapped through my senior year (we’re the same age but his program was a 5-year undergrad) and finally, on Halloween night of 1998, he worked up the courage to tell me he kind of liked me, too.
Since then…we’ve been pretty inseparable! We moved in together after I graduated. A couple of years after he graduated, we moved to Florida. Got married in 2006, had babies in 2012 and 2015 and can’t wait to see what happens next!
Kathy says
So fun to read and see the pictures. π !! Thank you for sharing your story!! Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
Liz says
What a great love story! Thanks for sharing it.
My husband and I met on Match.com! I was the second person he dated from the site, and he was my first. One date and that was it! We were living together within 6 months and married within a year and a half. He had been married before, right out of college, and that marriage was very short. But we had gone to the same college, and actually had several mutual friends, we just never met! When you know, you know π Ten years and two kids later and Iβm still so thankful I took a chance on an internet blind date!
Rebecca says
What a story! Proof that some things are just meant to be. Also, the photo of Koda as a puppy is adorable!
My husband and I officially met through mutual friends, but I knew of him before hand. We like to joke that it was an ‘arranged marriage’ because my mother and his step-mother started plotting long before (I was 14!). Fast forward many years and he joins the historical reenacting group I’m in and that’s when we become actual friends. Two years later we start dating in September, get engaged in December, and then married in May (2014).
Heather says
I love reading/hearing about how people met! You guys look like such babies in these photos!!! (and I mean that in the best way possible!).
I met my husband briefly in a coffee shop that was in the building where he worked. Unbeknownst to me, he had seen me a few times and decided one day to go in and try to his luck… well, apparently at the time I did not show interest and he went on his way. Fast forward to a YEAR later, he tried again. The conversation was a tad better and then he messaged me on MySpace to ask if I wanted to go to lunch. On our first date we got to talking about movies, which led to our second date – he invited me to his place that night to watch movies. Things went quick from there… 6 months later we talked about moving across the country with him, and I did! Then 3 years after we met, we got married!
Katie says
I loved reading this so much! Reading your blog for years (since before you had Hailey!), I have always thought you have such a strong marriage (and I still think that, of course!) and with that assumed you guys had such a strong connection and relationship from day one…so all the twists and turns had me laughing! Thanks for sharing, and you guys are so cute.
eve says
He was dating my best friend, but after they had broken up (clearly not a right fit), I confessed to said friend I was falling for him, She told me instantly ” her knowing him was to bring him closer to me” and she approved instantly. That was 18 years ago, and that bestie is still a good friend of ours. Also he made me mix tapes (actual tapes) and the first one he made me made me cry, cause all the songs were all so on point with me and my life at that time.
Elizabeth says
That was fun!
Me & Jared: Abby (my bff) & Brett (Jared’s bff) were dating and ended up hooking Jared & I up. This was in 2002 and I was 17 – I think I met him in his basement after a SHS powder puff game – you & K (& everyone else from SHS) may have even been at his house??? Anyways – the rest is history. We went to college together, started our careers, moved in & got married in 2010. Now we have 3 kids and have been “dating” for going on 16 years – crazy, that’s almost 1/2 my life!
Morgan says
My husband and I met at a sports bar in Jax., FL a few weeks after I moved back home from college. I was invited there to watch football by some friends I had known since high school and so was he. We ended up talking a lot that day and found out that we attended the same college (although he attended it much earlier than I did as he is 7 yrs older than me) and we were both the only UGA fans at the sports bar that day with all of our UF loving friends.
We both went our separate ways after that day but continued to run into each other will out with our mutual friends. During this time we also realized that our families knew each other very well and his grandmother was my Uncle’s neighbor and they lived right behind my mom’s house which means our paths could have crossed many years in the future but didn’t.
We started dating 2 months after we met and got engaged 6 yrs later and married 1 yr after that. We’ve now been married for 5 yrs and together for 12.5 yrs with a 2 y/o.
Kim says
I just love love love your LOVE story π I met my husband in college too and got married in 2008 (we’re the same age) and it’s so fun to look at old photos. I am SO glad Instagram and FB (at least I did not join till the end of Senior Year) was not around LOL. Happy V-Day!
Emily says
Haha sounds a lot like my husband and I. We went to different schools in Virginia. We actually met when my friend who lived in my dorm hall took him as her date to her sorority event. It took 4 years, him moving to Florida, me to Philadelphia and lots of long distance before I finally said screw it, moved to Florida and we will celebrate 9 years married this summer!
Nadine says
Such a sweet story. The road to true love is never easy! And baby Koda!!!!
Donna Mason says
Brittany I have followed you for MANY YEARS and I loved reading your story here. It was obviously meant to be from the beginning. OMG when I saw KODA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So adorable. I know you miss him every single day but he surely lives within your hearts forever. Happy V day to all of you! XO
Her Heartland Soul says
I love this story!! Josh and I met online, ruby we emailed for three months before we ever met. For our wedding I had a book printed of all our emails. It was over 200 pages long!!
Itβs funny because after my first date with him I went to lunch the next day with my girlfriend and she asked me if he was the one. I remember being like, what?! Iβm not even thinking about it like that. π (I had just turned 20.) That quickly changed though as at six months I was buying a one year anniversary card and at one year I knew he was the one.
Liz says
I love this! I met my husband on a bus when we were in the Army. I totally brushed him off. Then we deployed and he had a girlfriend that broke up with him early on in the deployment. Somebody mentioned I could date him and I was like, “Um, no. Not my type.” Turns out, he was! We dated in Iraq and he broke up with me before we left to get back with the girlfriend he was with when we got there. They dated briefly and then he and I were long distance for awhile. He moved to Atlanta with me and broke up with me after a year. He found a new girlfriend moved in with her, and then after a year, he and I started talking. He broke up with that girl and the rest is history. We had a rocky start that time, but we took a trip to Italy and he decided he loved me and 4 months later, he proposed. Been married for just over 4 years π I loved your story because I totally feel like we had so many break ups and problems but apparently, that’s just how it goes when you’re young! All lessons learned.
Shannon says
What a great story!! I’m so glad that I’m not the only one with a ‘saga.’ My husband & I met in March of 2005 & started dating a week & a half later. We dated for a year & a half & we broke up…for 3 years! We still remained super close (sometimes even TOO close..) & causally dated other people, but were still super connected. I still saw his family, he still surprised me for my 21st birthday, & it was clear that we never really broke up. Such a confusing time!! We wound up getting back together in September of 2009, just when I had gotten an out of town job & we agreed to give the 1.5 hour long distance relationship another shot..when I was very clear that if it all didn’t work out, we’d either have to break up or that if we were getting back together, moving in together would be the end result. We did long distance for 4 years & I found a job that allowed me to move in with him, while still commuting for 45 minutes & for us to get engaged. 2 months before we got married, I got another new job, a teaching position in the same school! & here we are 3 years married & 13-ish years later since we started dating…It’s clear when two people are meant to be & while I could have done without the drama, it just makes it a fun little story to tell :p
Kelli H says
I lknow be the trip down memory lane. I had no idea you guys had such a winding road leading up to your engagement! Iβm so glad you guys ended up together. You seem like such a strong and loving couple.
Brittany says
I love this story!! I was actually a KD too at SDSU and met my husband through my sorority sister who is second cousins with my husband. We had met once and a whole year went by before we saw each other again and reconnected, we were engaged 3 months or so after that re connection. Now it’s been over 7 years since then!
Carrie says
I love the story of you guys! So many memories in there and some awesome outfits/pictures!! XOXO
Emily says
This is so cute! I love hearing stories about how people meet. I met Christian when we were 22, both fresh out of relationships and had moved to NYC less than a year earlier. We were at a beer-tasting party, and started making small talk. After introducing himself to me, I asked him what he does for a job. He responded βIβm a custom wood furniture maker, like Aiden from Sex and the City (2008, so a timely reference)….or Jesus.β
Well, with a line like that I was smitten. But then he followed up with βwant to see me do a backflip?β He had been a DI gymnast, and proceeded to do some sort of backflip back handspring thing in the hallway of our friendsβ apartment. We have been together ever since, and in May that will be 10 years!
Sue says
When I met my husband, he was engaged and I was in a four year relationship. I was his waitress at a local watering hole. The rest is history- we will be celebrating our 26th anniversary this year! When it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be!!
Leah says
What a great love story! Thanks for sharing it with us. Some things are just meant to be!
I picked my husband up in a bar. So romantic, huh?! He was 3000 miles away from home on a business trip. As cheesy as it sounds, it was love at first sight. Two years of long distance dating and then he moved to the US from Canada. We got engaged, bought a house and married the next year. We been together 18 years, married for 15.
Jenny C. says
I love this story! My husband, Ben and I met the summer of 2006 at a friend’s high school graduation party. Right away I had a crush on him, but unfortunately when I saw him a month later at the friend’s birthday party, he was back together with his ex. Flash forward to the fall of 2007. I had just gotten out of my first (and terrible) relationship, I had mono, and I had moved back home after a few weeks away at college. I met up with my friend and he brought Ben along, who was also single again. After hanging out a few times with friends it was obvious that we liked each other. Ben was the first guy to properly pursue me and we quickly started dating. If you had told me then that I would meet my future husband at 18 I wouldn’t have believed it. Last April we got married after 9.5 years together. I couldn’t be happier!
Allison says
I met my husband at at a Las Vegas nightclub on my 21st Birthday! Weβve been together 13 years π and married for 5. We dated a long time too- 3 years was long distance β long distance is hard but I think it makes for a stronger relationship in the end!
Laura says
My husband was a sigma chi too! I was a theta. Thank you for sharing.
Also, I made the lasagna earlier this week-it was great!! I didn’t have long lasagna noodles so I just made it layered with the no bake kind. My 4 YO who hates lasagna told me it was yummy and my husband called me betty crocker! More recipes please!!
Christine says
Thank you for sharing – even though I knew the outcome I did say “oh no” a few times when read you guys had periods of no talking!
My husband and I were introduced at work in 2010 – I was 28 and he was 31. I was hesitant to go on a date because we worked for the same company and if something didn’t work out I was afraid of awkwardness! I agreed to drinks and apps. When the bill came I insisted on paying because I didn’t want him to think I was just going out with him for a free meal, haha. I literally tore the check out of his hands. AND THEN I complained to my friends that he let me pay! I did however agree to another date and within a few months we were a couple. 2012 we were engaged, 2013 married with a home and 2014 and 2017 two babies! I’m so very much grateful everyday for him, our family and the life we have.
Claire says
Well, we med in residency for pediatrics (he med-peds)….but he was married. So, I didn’t really pay much attention. However, spring of our second year him wife suddenly passed away. WOW! I was shocked. I remember posting to the funeral home website a comment of condolence. NEVER thought a thing about it. HE did though. Well, my best friend really worked hard to help him get his 20 month old settled into daycare on super short notice. Then, 5 months after she died, we had a rotation together in the ER and got to talk some. The next month, I was on nights (all month) and he texted me random “mom” questions at night. Then, he started texting at other times…I had to get a texting plan just because of this! The next month we went to the state fair together (and everyone around us thought we were dating…my best friend even got mad b/c I hadn’t told her)…but we weren’t dating. Finally, at the end of October, we sat in his car in the Target parking lot while Kate at a dum dum and decided that it would be ok to start dating (obviously us both thinking marriage at this point in life) even though it had only been six months since Cindy had died. We will have been married 5 years March 9…and have added two more sweet children to our little family! That’s the short story of our unique story!
jen says
Okay, I LOVED reading this! But I also LOVED following your fashion throughout. Took me back girl! π
Brittany Dixon says
Oh my gosh, I know! Those little netted shoulder shrug things were terrible- lol!!
Lauren Brennan says
I loved reading this! And Iβm glad you were able to get the pictures back because they made this post complete!
Dana says
What a beautiful love story!! Thanks for sharing π