How did the two of you meet?
We met during our sophomore year of high school. I had just moved to Kalamazoo. The power had gone out the second day of class so they funneled all of us onto the football field and locked us there until they figured out what to do! I met him on the field where he told me I looked like Daryl Hannah in Splash and that he liked that. We quickly found ourselves running in the same circle of friends and doing the same extracurriculars. We were lucky, we became very close friends first and even got our first summer jobs together at a neighborhood ice cream parlor. We tried to date in the latter half of High School, but could never really get on the same page. We were notorious “will they/won’t they” gossip material! We stopped talking after High School but ran into each other two years later and the spark was still there. A few months later, I hopped on a plane to live in Peru for a few months when Abe decided to tell me that he never stopped thinking about me after high school. I was surprised but felt all those feelings come flooding back. We agreed to talk while I was in South America, and we did—every day I was away, extensively. Even with the time difference. Abe would stay up until 2:00 in the morning waiting to make sure I got home safe at night. When my return flight landed, the first person I went to see when I got back to Kalamazoo was Abe. We’ve been together ever since.
Liv Lyszyk Photography
Give us the proposal details! When? Where? How?
I guess after so many years, he didn’t want to wait! We’re a pretty casual couple. He basically pounced me at the door as I was coming back from a community meeting on November 14, 2016, the day he got the ring. I didn’t even get a chance to fully get inside before he was popping the question! Considering what was happening in the world at the time, we were both feeling pretty horrible and disheartening. He told me he wanted to give me a reason to be happy again. I was so happy to be able to give my friends and family some good news during a difficult time!
Liv Lyszyk Photography
What has been your favorite experience planning the wedding?
Making this wedding feel exactly like us, no matter what other people’s expectations are. We love Michigan, our home state. We love the woods, good food, and having a good time with our families so we’re just going to have a giant sleepover party at a summer camp in West Michigan.
How do you stay sane under the pressures of wedding planning?
I don’t! I’m kidding. I have a tendency to be very type-A. Embracing that part of me during this planning period, allowing myself to make lists and organize, but forgiving myself when things don’t always go exactly right, has been crucial. It’s all about balance!
Liv Lyszyk Photography
What is your favorite part of using Joy for your wedding?
I love the design! I’m a sucker for good visual and UX design. Joy looks good and is so intuitive for our guests!
What piece of advice would you give couples to ensure that they use Joy to its fullest potential?
Get engagement photos taken! Joy’s layout gives you the opportunity to feature you and your partner’s beautiful faces and the love that you share, front and center! As soon as I uploaded our photos, I couldn’t wait to share the site with family and friends.
Liv Lyszyk Photography
At Joy we believe that even though a wedding lasts a day, joy lasts forever. What does that mean to you?
The wedding day is the start of a new life together with your best friend, your partner, your greatest love. Marriage will be hard work and we won’t always have the perfect day but the payoff of the hard work creates a lasting joy.
