Our engagement photoshoot in Paris by French Grey photography
People often ask if I knew that Andrew was The One when I first met him, but the truth is that we almost didn't meet!
He first wrote me in late August 2011 because he was passing through town for work and he didn't know anyone in Singapore and wanted a "strictly-dinner buddy" (and he meant it!). I was naturally skeptical and told him that it wasn't my "thing" but gave him a list of places he could check out. He wrote me again when he landed, hoping I would change my mind but as God would have it, I had had my wisdom tooth surgery earlier that week and was in no condition to go anywhere.
And so he went on to India for two weeks and we ended up e-mailing back and forth. We got along in writing so I figured that it wouldn't hurt to meet him for dinner when he was on his way back.
The night before my first date with Andrew, I made a mental list of all the reasons why I shouldn't meet him and almost cancelled on him. However, I decided that I could always make an excuse to leave if things were awkward (I even had a girlfriend on standby to fake an emergency), and if things went well I would have made a new friend. I had no idea that this was the man that God had intended me to marry!
Andrew was the perfect gentleman- immaculately dressed, faultlessly polite and disarmingly handsome. He made sure to open doors and pull out chairs for me, listened intently to what I said and made meaningful conversation. I remember thinking to myself that whoever married him would be very, very lucky but I was also quick to put up a wall to protect myself from falling for someone who lived 10,000 miles away.
He arranged for a second date before he had to return to New York, and I made sure to invite two friends along this time. I was so determined to prove myself that I spent an entire hour going on about how I was an independent and self-reliant woman who didn't need a man. I am so thankful that Andrew did not head for the nearest exit and in spite of myself, we had a really great time together.
I said goodbye to him that night and promised to keep in touch but I thought that I would never see him again.
He completely surprised me when he emailed me once he got back to the hotel, and before he left for the airport and again when he landed in New York. Andrew says it felt completely natural to continue from where we left off... and I was definitely excited to hear from him but figured that the long-distance flirting would eventually fade out. Au contraire, our messages worked themselves into a routine and we found ourselves talking every day for at least an hour.
Days turned into weeks turned into months and before we knew what we were getting ourselves into, we agreed to be exclusive until we could see each other face-to-face again. It was a big leap of faith, and I found myself booking tickets to see him in New York in March, four months after our second date.
I'll save the rest of our story for another time. Stay tuned!
Love,
Tricia
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