Stephanie: Internet dating. People have one of two reactions when they hear that phrase.

1. Oh, wow, you know, I've read/heard/seen that a large number of people meet their significant other that way. Good for you.

or

2. Are you nuts?

I guess I was a little nuts. I started doing online dating mainly because all of my friends were married and it's hard to meet other available singles when all your friends and their friends are hitched. The bar scene has never been my thing either, so I figured, why not? I was at a good point in my life - I had finished college, bought a house, had a decent job. I was ready to find that person - the person that isn't just my boyfriend, but someone that I had a real connection with. Someone that was my lover, my best friend and a true companion.

I had been doing the online thing for a couple of years before Stephen and I met. And it was a bunch of misses. I did get a couple of results that lasted for more than a few dates but, while most of them were great guys, they weren't THE guy.

I got my first email from Stephen one night and I was impressed. I could tell that he had actually read my profile and that he was interested in getting to know me. His email made me laugh and I could see this was a special guy. I had to laugh when I finally asked him what his real first name was and he responded to me, "Stephen." I was like, "WHOA, we have the same first name - masculine/feminine!" After a couple of weeks of talking via email/text/phone he asked me out. And what really told me the kind of man he was, was that he actually asked me out. Most men will say, "yeah, so we should have dinner some time," and then they leave it up to the girl to take the ball into her court and pick a date and time. Stephen said to me, "I want to take you out to dinner. How's Thursday night sound?" I knew that this was a guy that was serious about what he wanted and I liked that very much... 

Stephen: I think i'm going to be serious here for a change. I had just gotten out of a disappointing relationship that had drained me physically, mentally and emotionally. I needed to reevaluate my skills at picking out a girl to date. Then it hit me like a sledgehammer, I don't need or want a girl. I need and want a woman. However, my business life and home life took up a lot of my time (I could go into that but, it's not important right now). I really only had one option if I were to find the right woman. The Internet. I signed up for an online dating site, perused the site for a couple weeks. I even went on a date or two. Alas, I hadn't found the right caliber of woman and I was starting to lose hope. Unexpectedly, the website changed it's format one day. It started showing a list of users that were more likely to respond. That night I read her profile. I knew instantly that we were compatible. So, I sent her a message. I think I must've checked my inbox 10 times within a half hour or so. Maybe that's how long it felt. All I knew was I needed to talk to her. Then it happened. An actual response! YES! Over the next couple weeks we chatted online and by phone. We even called each other Indiana Jones and She-Ra(I would've called myself He-Man but, we all know I'm no where near the physical specimen that he is). Then, after those weeks of talking and chatting till the wee hours, we went on our first date...

Stephanie: Ah, here we go...the first date (hubba, hubba).

So, we'd made plans to meet at the Olive Garden for dinner. I was cautiously excited. I didn't want to get my hopes up too much but at the same time, I was intrigued by meeting this man I had talked to for those couple of weeks and seemed to have so much in common with and such a unique connection with. And what I am about to say is deliciously ironic: Before I left to meet Stephen I was talking to my coworker about my plans for that night. She said to me, "hot date tonight, huh?" I laughted and said, "yeah, but we'll see what happens. Nothing may even come from this."

I got to Olive Garden before him because it was right around the corner from my work. He showed up about 20 minutes after I did and I saw him get out of his car. Now, here's where the story gets that whole Hollywood feeling to it. As soon as I saw Stephen, it was like magic. I immediately knew that he was The One. And I don't say that lightly - I have never been a person that believed in love at first sight or that you just knew when you met that person, but here I was, it that very place. It was like the cartoons where Cupid shoots his arrow at a character's heart and, BAM, that's it.

So, I proceeded to become a blathering idiot at the beginning of our date. I was so enamored with him, that I could barely talk during dinner. I kept kicking myself in the foot and saying, "Stephanie, get your act together. He's gonna think you're not interested or a snob." But Stephen was patient and persistent with me. After we ate, he asked me if I would like to take a walk around Carolina Place. I didn't want the date to end so of course I said yes. As we walked up to the entrance, Stephen looked at me and asked me if he could hold my hand. In all the years that I dated, never has any ONE man asked me if he could hold my hand. They would just grab my hand and make the assumption that was what I wanted. I was so impressed that he was being such a gentleman and being sure of my feelings and not just assuming. We walked around the mall and checked out the stores for what seemed like only minutes but I know it had to be an hour or two. It was like being with an old friend that I had known for years. And I think I blushed more that night than I had since I was a teenager. Finally, we walked back to our cars because it was a work night and as I told him, "I turn into a pumpkin at 11." When we got to our cars, he brushed my hair back from my face and asked me if he could kiss me. Oh man, "OF COURSE!" And it was...well, it was:

"Since the invention of the kiss, there have only been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind."

And that...that was pure magic.

Stephen: The First Date.  For those of you that know me, I can be a little awkward when meeting someone for the first time. At least, that's how I feel.

I thought I would pick a place that was nicer than your run of the mill McDonalds. At the time I was living near Matthews and Stephanie lived in Rock Hill. So, I chose a place kinda halfway. Olive Garden it was.

When I got there, she was waiting patiently. When I saw her, I thought 'Wow!' I was definitely intrigued. However, during dinner, the conversation was moving along like cold molasses. Naturally, I thought I had done or said something wrong or I had bad breath. After some quick thinking I knew it wasn't me. I kept trying to get the conversation going but, it kept dying. Then I thought maybe she isn't into me? Either way, I was going to have a good time.

If you've ever been to the Olive Garden, then you know you won't leave hungry. Luckily for us, the mall was right next door. So, I suggested we walk around to aid in the digestion. We walked, talked, people watched. I think we closed the mall. When we got back to her car, we talked a little longer. The longer the date went on the better it got. Then, I made my move. Granted, it wasn't much of a move but, I took the first step. Easily, the best kiss of my life. It's as if our lips were cut from the same mold. 'Wow!' I thought. She kept saying "I have to go. I'll turn into a pumpkin at 11:00." I think I got home around 11:45.

Stephen:  In my mind, I think all women want their proposal to be a surprise, unique, and heartfelt. I have been thinking of a great way to propose to Stephanie for a few months. I couldn't come up with anything. I was stuck. So one day I was at Mom's house moving some furniture around. I told her, "Mom, I think she's the one." "Wait right there," she interrupted. A couple minutes later she came back with a small ziplock bag. "I want you to have this and give it to Stephanie." OK now we're getting somewhere! All I have to do is get this diamond into a setting and we're golden!

The next step was getting permission from Steph's family. Which turns out wasn't that difficult. Steph's mom, Jane, watches Nicholas for us sometimes. So, I just asked, and I was given consent! She asked me if I had gotten a ring yet and I told her what I had. She offers me a diamond from her mother's engagement ring. Alright! Is there anyone else I can ask permission? Maybe if i keep asking people, they'll keep giving me diamonds!!

A couple months pass as I figure out how am I going to pop the question. All of a sudden, it hits me - Christmas. After I get her finger size, I go to the jewler's trying to find a way I can use two diamonds for an engagement ring. Its harder than you realize. Eventually, I found one. "I need this ready for Christmas." No problem!

Christmas day was unseasonably warm so, I wore cargo shorts, perfect for hiding the box as opposed to jean shorts. The whole day it was in my pocket until we exchanged gifts that evening. I thought it would be nice to have our Moms there to share in the delight (hopefully).  We opened gifts in our usual controlled chaos, youngest to oldest. That meant Steph had to open right before me. When she finished unwrapping her gifts, she thanked us and graciously motioned to me and I interrupted,"Wait! That's it? I thought you had another.... Oh! My mistake, I forgot. Last night I saw Santa. He gave me a gift for you."(taking the box out of my pocket and kneeling) The house erupts with screaming. Stephanie is silently smiling. As I'm unwrapping the box She says to me, "You don't even have to ask." "Will you be my wife?" I ask. "Yes" she replies. I slip the ring on, we kiss and then....

 Stephanie: Well, he did get me, and he did it well. I had no clue that he had gotten a ring and was going to propose Christmas night. The night was simple, started with dinner with my mom, Stephen, Nicholas, Kathy and Mary. I made dinner for everyone and after we stuffed ourselves (also, this was my FIRST turkey I ever made and it turned out pretty darn good if I must say so), we moved on to unwrapping gifts. I spent most of the evening taking pictures of everyone opening their gifts and having a great time watching Nicholas play with his toys and laughing and having a good time with everyone. We got to me and I opened all my gifts. I finally finished and told Stephen, "you're up," and he stood up and started walking toward me and said, "wait, you have another gift! Where is it!" And then he started to get down on one knee and I could see him take something out of his pocket and he said, "last night I saw Santa and he told me to give you this." He began to unwrap a small box and I swear, I began to hyperventilate. I just remember repeating, "Oh my God," over and over again and I think I was the color of Christmas red from excitement. He started to ask and before he finished I told him, "you don't even have to ask! YES!!!!!" And then I preceded to smother him in kisses. Kathy reminded him to tell me about the ring - that it was a piece of history and a symbol of two families coming together. One diamond was Kathy's and one had been my grandmother's. I have to say, I love my ring but I love the man who gave it to me so much more.

And Stephen, I've known you were the one since that first night...:-*

ACCOMODATIONS:
Rooms are being held at the Hampton Inn in Rock Hill, Phone No. 803-325-1100 until October 10 at a rate of $89.00 per night.  Reservations must be made no later than October 10.  Be sure to state you are attending the Schillo/Hawk wedding.

DIRECTIONS

Here is a printable map from Winthrop University. To make things easier, The Little Chapel is #21 on the map and The Tuttle Dining Room at McBryde Hall is #15.

http://www.winthrop.edu/uploadedFiles/virtualtour/maps/CampusMapPrint.pdf

Directions to Chapel for Ceremony:

I-77 N:
Take exit 82B and bear a right at the end of the ramp onto Cherry Rd. Merge to the center lane. Go 3.5 mi approx and turn left at Alumni Dr. Make next left onto Founders Ln. Parking is next to Chapel. There will be signs present.

I-77 S:
Take exit 82 and merge on to 82B. Merge onto Cherry Rd and stay in center lane. Go approx 3.5 mi and turn left at Alumni Dr. Make next left onto Founders Ln. Parking is next to Chapel. There will be signs present.

In addtion to our registry here at Honeymoon Wishes, we are also registered at Bed, Bath & Beyond.