Unique wedding readings

So, I know I said I wouldn’t post anything about the actual wedding until after the engagement, but I had been thinking about some of the details this past weekend when I met up with my cousin over Thanksgiving.

Addison and I want a traditional meets unique wedding. So, we’re trying to move away from the old cliches that have been done before, but still hold the nice traditional feel to it. Especially with one of my other cousins getting married this past year, I definitely want to do things completely different so my wedding can be seen as different by the family.

One thing that is often done over and over again from wedding to wedding are the readings. Yes, I love 1 Cor. 13 description of love. But I’m not sure I want it at my wedding. Besides my cousin having it in her’s, my ex boyfriend gave me a necklace with an engraving of the passage. So…why not keep things different, unique and fun. You know…like Addison and me (or we like to at least pretend).

So, I came up with this: Why not a reading from one of my favorite books. I always had a quote from the Princess Bride be my life’s theme since I was about 14-15. (And no, I mean the book, not the movie…although I love the movie too).

“Look on the bright side… We’re having an adventure. And most people live and die without being as lucky as we are.”

As cheesey as this next statement may sound, I really felt like that statement had to do a lot with marriage. So, I looked up the surrounding passage (It’s been a while since I read the book).  It’s Indigo and Fezzik, both terrified, making their way through a scary situation. Yeah, Fezzik and Indigo aren’t romantically linked, but I still think it’s sweet. What about this as a passage reading at our wedding? Too out there?

“Look: We cant go back and we certainly don’t want to stay here, so we just must keep on going as we were before these little things happened. Down. Down is our direction… but I can tell you’re a bit edgy about all this, so, out of the goodness of my heart, I will let you walk down not behind me, and not in front of me, but right next to me, on the same step, stride for stride, and you put an arm around my shoulder, because that will probably make you feel better, and I, so as not to make you feel foolish, will put an arm around your shoulder, and thus, safe and protected, we will descend.”
“Will you draw your sword with your free hand?”
“I already have. Will you make a fist with yours.”
“It’s clenched.”
“Then let’s look on the bright side: we’re  having an adventure… and most people live and die without being as lucky as we are.”

And please! Remember to vote for us! Voting ends tomorrow!

The picture

It’s funny seeing people posting our link over and over again because one of two pictures always shows up: the beautiful ring, or the picture of Addison and me when I’m still blonde.

That picture was taken during one of our first legit dates. I say legit because, well let’s face it, when you’re poor college students, taco bell runs and ordering pizza are sometimes the best you can do (and yet, I love all of those dates just as much).

But I remember this one particularly. Addison was taking me out to eat at an actual restaurant that I’ve been wanting to go to forever. It’s an Italian place and as some of you know…I am very Italian (or at least I try to be). Wanting it to be extra special, I went out and bought a new dress that I found on sale. Looking at the dress now, it really wasn’t that cute. You can’t see it in the picture, but it was tan with brown lace and I bought a new headband and shoes to go with it.

I never do that. And it was nice to treat myself for once. A friend lent me jewelry to wear and everything. I was so excited for this date!

We had gone to the restaurant, and seeing as the floors were slick wood and I was wearing a new pair of heels (which now I never wear heels. I’ve grown wiser), I slipped in front of everyone in the crowded restaurant and Addison caught me.

A funny older man laughed as I fell into Addison’s arms right at this man’s feet, “At least you did it gracefully, sweetheart.”

I sometimes joke that Addison swept me off my feet. But really, I’m just clumsy and he’s the sweet knight in shining armor who catches me when I need him.

After dinner we went for a walk in this cute park in Blowing Rock. It was dark, so when we snapped this picture, the flash made us glow a bit. Yes, this picture is over 2 1/2 years old, but it is still one of my all time favorite pictures of us together. It was one of the firsts.

In fact, Addison sent me a picture frame when I was away in New York this summer with about 5 different prints I could choose from to put inside it. A lot of them were new pictures, but this one was in the pile. I didn’t hesitate with my choice on which one to feature. It still sits on my desk.

Addison also has a version of this in one that I made for him, except it’s a compilation of 3 different photos. I had realized early on that most of our pictures together, we weren’t standing side-by-side. Rather, we always stood with one person behind the other. I put them in a square like grid with the fourth square saying, “I’ve got your back.”

And that’s what I think about when I see this picture. I think about our first fancy date. I think about him catching me when I fall. And I think about how we always have each other’s back.

So please…vote for us! So we can each other’s backs forever!

But in the meantime, I thought I’d share some other pictures, to especially demonstrate our weird habit of always standing behind each other in photos (from newest to oldest):

Indeed a clean race

Okay, everyone. I know I’ll say this is the last time I’ll talk about this, but I’m sure it’ll come up again. But here goes nothing: Please, for the love of all things good, chill out about the “cheating thing.” Yes there’s a message board talking about people doing it for Christ and Lindsay. But there aren’t any rules saying generating multiple IP addresses are wrong. I know I’ve always said I’ve felt uneasy about it when people offered, and while I don’t think it’s completely fair, it’s not against the rules. Besides, life isn’t fair…so stop pretending it is.

In fact, I got an email last night from the lovely Lindsay from the leading couple of this competition. She wanted to assure me that she was running a clean campaign and in fact is doing a lot of the stuff that Addison and I are doing for campaigning.

Now apparently people are claiming Addison and I are cheating. Someone told me that somebody on another message board made a big deal about Addison and I paying for advertisments on some site. For the record: WE HAVE NOT PAID FOR VOTES OR ADS!

Believe me? I don’t care. I’m sure the other couples don’t care if you think they’re cheating either. We’re just a couple of kids in love and we know what we’re doing. We don’t have to prove anything to anyone.

That being said, I’m not going lie. I am the sensitive type, so when I see haters springing up here and there about me and Addison, it hurts a bit.

But as for people on Team Addison & Nikki, if I’m okay with the other team, then please, you be okay with the other team. Okay?

Thank you… now please continue voting! You guys are awesome and I love every one of you!

Down in the 4th

I just got the best Facebook message ever, and it really made me feel better after those people who started a war on some message board, trash talking Lindsay and Christopher and then eventually trash talking Addison and me. And yes, I am highly discouraged that apparently every time we get within 1000 votes, someone overseas stays up all night to vote over and over again (or so I’ve been told). But hey, all’s fair in love and war.

But just so we’re all clear on this… THIS COMPETITION IS NOT WAR! Love, people. C’mon. You know  better.

But back to the email. Bryan from the eHarmony couple and our main competitor for 3 of the 4 original weeks sent me the sweetest message telling me not to give up. The part that really spoke to me though?

“Its like football. If the Mountaineers were down by just a field goal in the 4th quarter, would you leave the game?”

For those of you who don’t know about Appalachian State’s one huge claim to fame…then shame on you. I’m pretty sure it’s still in the ESPN’s 10 top sport moments of the decade reel. But basically, App State, my lovely tiny-as-heck school, somehow beat Michigan in the Big House. And yes, it was in the 4th quarter by a field goal.

I’m sure Armanti would tackle me now for getting so discouraged at times. So thanks, Bryan, for that fabulous reminder. And you know what? What ever happens…happens. And while it would be a dream come true to win, life will go on.

But in the meantime, I won’t give up. Thank you for everyone who has been supporting us. I say after all of this, let’s have a huge party. Heck, I need a vacation.

Go forth and vote! And thanks in advance!

ARMANTI EDWARDS VOTED?!?!?!

So Kristin Kirk is a rockstar and a half. She has been tweeting it up and more trying to help Addison and me out. She even tweet our former all-star Mountaineer quarterback who is now playing for the Panthers– Yes— ARMANTI EDWARDS!

Best day of my life. I wonder if he would get the whole NFL to vote for us? now that would be something!

Silver lining

So I woke up pretty discouraged today. Yesterday because of an awesome article in the Watauga Democrat, Taylor Swift fans and Firefly junkies wanting us to honor Joss Whedon with our future baby, we got the most hits we’ve ever had in one day! I was floored and honored!

Upon waking up today, somehow the other couple managed to get back to their 1000 hit lead again. Total bummer, and at the brink of giving up, my friends really pulled through.

Jaclyn Miller, a friend and fellow PSU leadership team member added our blog to Stumble and made this beautiful pic/poster-thing. Funniest thing ever.

Everyone at the union has this nickname type-thing for Addison based on his mood (ie. if he’s happy- he’s Gladdison. If he’s upset- He’s Saddison. If he’s cool- He’s Raddison. You get the picture).

I was also really bummed I had to leave the University Writing Center staff meeting for another meeting. Talk about stressed. But as I left, Tara Moore proposed that the entire vote right then and there on the computer lab PCs we were all at. It really made my day a little brighter considering how sleep-deprived I am.

This contest has really shown me how great friends and family are. I also am completely in-love with my community here at Appalachian and the Town of Boone. I had no idea we’d be in the Watauga Democrat yesterday and next week we’ll be in the Mountain Times!!! Also, WASU’s radio station might be airing a segment on us either this Monday or next Monday.

So instead of looking at those votes and getting discouraged when I feel like I’m running out of people to ask to vote, I think about my friends and family.

Like Addison’s mom. She’s a rockstar. I think she’s one of our biggest campaigners right now and definitely a great blessing.

So thank you everyone! All your support is really heartwarming.

That being said, please please please don’t turn this into a war. Someone told me that somebody is going on one of the message boards of a different couple’s supporters. While I super appreciate standing up for us, don’t feel like you have to do that (especially since I’m afraid people will think it’s me or Addison impersonating someone). Just let them run their race. Let’s make our race about ourselves and about Addi’s and my relationship.

But thank you and please vote! And keep on spreading the word!

Thank you Taylor Swift and Firefly Fans!!!

So I found out today that someone posted on a Taylor Swift Message board about my blog post called “That one moment” which I referenced her song “Mine” in. As a result, I got tons of Taylor Swift fan votes last night. Thanks so much everybody!

Also, the Firefly crowd is getting on board. Someone even suggested Grizwold Badger….Hmmm. Not sure how I feel about that one.

But hey! At least now we’re only 776 votes behind instead of 1000. That’s kinda optimistic…right?

Anywho…please keep voting! We’re depending on you!

If we win, we’ll name future baby after Firefly!

That’s right…if we win this competition, Addison and I will choose a name for our future child based on the cult-classic TV series, Firefly (one of our all-time favorites!)

***DISCLAIMER*** There is no baby currently. Phew. Just had to get that cleared up. We need the ring first, people!!

Addison had mentioned it a few times before (he particularly likes Serenity),  but I never really took it seriously. But  hey…if we win, why not?

And we’d love to take suggestions. People already emailed me today about how we should name her

River (which I personally like), Zoe or Inara.

So please, Firefly fans everywhere, spread the word! We’ll have a Joss Whedon-honoring kid. Wepromise!

Just vote here at Simon G. Jewelry’s website and click on “Vote for this couple.” If you join our Facebook group/page, we’ll send out email update on whether or not we win and if we do, when the time comes, we’ll send out pics of our Firefly baby.

But no, our baby will not be named “Firefly.” That is where I put my foot down. Thank you all for your support! Please keep spreading the word!

Wow…friends are awesome

So apparently my discovery of the message board for the other team really spurred some hardcore campaigning from my friends!

The lovely Lindsay Tigar submitted Addison and my picture to a site I’ve never heard of (which Mom would hate the title, but I’m very appreciative lol) and the site actually posted the picture of us with our link to the contest! I couldn’t believe it!

Another friend of mine who is a professor at Appalachian  made voting extra credit for her class. That really touched my heart tremendously.

AND! The Mountain Times interviewed Addison and me last night for an article that will run next week about the competition. I’m sooo excited! I’ll have to send a copy home to the parents.

Yeah, we’re still behind, but I’m not losing heart. And I hope you don’t either. Please keep voting for us! We need your help! And I’ll bake you cookies if we win ;-).

Why I think it’s FATE…

So, to avoid being discouraged by the fact that we’re over 1000 votes behind and that I found a message board of Lindsay & Christopher’s supporters talking about “crushing” us and how they are apparently able to use proxy servers to get hundreds of votes a day…. I’m going to talk about why I think it’s Fate that we will win (but don’t worry, I’m not delusional. If we don’t win, I won’t be too disappointed.)

First FATE cue (besides us catching to bouquet and garter in August) was how I found the competition.

I’m a journalism student and my minor is all about interpreting media across all mediums. This particular week we were discussing favorite magazine ads. Now, I have about 20 magazine subscriptions because I consider them study material, so when I was asked to find my “favorite” magazine ad, I knew exactly what company I wanted to do: Simon G. Jewelry.

I hadn’t been to their site before, but every time I saw their ads with the beautiful rings tied to a tag with a funny saying like “Compromise can come after the wedding,” I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. The night of the assignment, I went to the site and found the competition. I joked with a friend of mine that Addison and I should enter, but he’s so shy that I knew he wouldn’t want to broadcast over the Internet that we wanted to get married. After all, I don’t think he had mentioned it too much to his parents at that point.

Shockingly enough, he said “yes” and I started the voting process…not thinking much of it. Soon we were in the lead from the very beginning. People had started multiple events on Facebook and my Aunt in Japan was pulling double time getting the Eastern half of the world to spread the news.

Another reason I think this is FATE is because, if you haven’t noticed, every promotional poster they’ve made for the competition has been the ring that I picked out. The couples got to pick out their own rings, and ever week, it was always mine even though I don’t think anyone else in the Top Fives had chosen that ring.

Every week we were consistently in the top five, even though almost everyone else changed out every week. By the last week though, some random couple who hadn’t been there before shot ahead by 1500 votes. I was completely discouraged and just stopped campaigning altogether. I figured there was no way we could ever catch up (I didn’t realize the voting reset to 0).

Then POW! The final round came and somehow we still made it, even though we had stopped trying. And that’s where we are now.

So I won’t get discouraged, because honestly, if it’s meant to be…then it’ll happen. If Addison is meant to buy me a ring from his own pocket (sorry, baby), then that’s the way God intended it.

Please find it in your heart to vote for us! And spread the word.