Abby and Taylor met in 2011 at law school—although technically they met at a BBQ before school started at the historical house Taylor was renting that year. Abby made a great first impression with her opening line. She asked Taylor, a die-hard Wolverine fan and UM alum, who’d put up the Michigan flag above the TV.
Once school started, Taylor found out Abby was a student in one of the Legal Research & Writing classes he was tutoring. The law school had a no-dating policy for tutors and students, but at Taylor’s birthday party, after Abby’s final memo was due, Taylor snuck a quick “birthday kiss.”
How long have you been together?
Unofficially, we’ve been together for almost five years. Officially, we’ve been together a little over three and a half. The gap was due to Taylor’s well-intentioned belief that he couldn’t commit to a relationship when he wasn’t sure where he was going to move after law school. Abby’s charms and patience—or was it stubbornness?—convinced him to give it a try in Portland, and we’ve had many stellar years since.
Give us the proposal details! When? Where? How?
It was the Sunday after Thanksgiving (he couldn’t ask before turkey or the Michigan game on Saturday) at our house. We’d just gotten back from a chilly walk and had written out the grocery list. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were on in the background. Abby had her coat on and grocery bags in hand when she turned around saw Taylor on one knee. He managed to say, “Will yo-” before he got cut off by an enthusiastic, “Yes!” We actually still went grocery shopping, although Abby was not very helpful—too dazed and smiley.
Joy is being surprised every day at how happy you are, whether its at work or an epic vacation. It’s not about what you do, it’s about who you do it with.
What has been your favorite experience planning the wedding?
Connecting with family and friends to share the good news was the highlight. As far as planning goes, we’ve enjoyed trying out dessert food trucks around town—neither of us are cake people.
How do you stay sane under the pressures of wedding planning?
We find two or three great options and select from them, rather than spending hours and hours and stressing about whether we’ve made the right choice. Good is good enough for us.
What is your favorite part of using Joy for your wedding?
The FAQs and lists to give recommendations on travel, lodging, eating, and drinking. We’re having our wedding in Portland to share our home with our out-of-town guests, and love the ability to give them advice about how to maximize the experience.
What piece of advice would you give couples to ensure that they use Joy to its fullest potential?
Take some time to think about what information you’d want to know if you were a guest. Check out all of the different options available on Joy and think about how to get all of that information across in a helpful and inviting way. Don’t be afraid to cut the information and options that don’t work for you.
At Joy we believe that even though a wedding lasts a day, joy lasts forever. What does that mean to you?
Joy is being surprised every day at how happy you are, whether its at work or an epic vacation. It’s not about what you do, it’s about who you do it with.
