Real People in Love: Nicole & Josh

I can't tell you how excited I was when Nicole from My Teacups in Peony agreed to participate in the Real People in Love series. Nicole features wonderful love stories on her blog so I knew she loves love as much as I do. Nicole & Josh are getting married 3 weeks after Jus & I do and Nicole & I bonded over having non fall themed fall weddings.

How old are you & Josh?

Josh and I are both 23. He's about 3 months older than me, his birthday is actually coming up April 4th!

How long have you been together?

We've been dating... hold on let me count... about 4 years :) and we've been engaged 2 months.

What are your occupations?

Josh just graduated from the University of North Caroline last May. He was lucky enough to get a job right out of school in New York working as a CPA. I work as an office manager at a year round youth camp. I basically get to talk to parents and play with really adorable kids all day long! We definitely have 2 completely opposite jobs which make for really fun conversation! After moving to New York this coming November I plan on finding a reception/HR job while pursuing my photography.

How did you meet?

Josh played guitar and was the singer in our church's youth band. He traveled home on the weekends from school to play, so at first we really rocked at the "I have a crush on you, even though we've really never talked." Eventually we started spending time together through friends and our relationship just evolved naturally and pretty fast.

How did you get engaged?

This story will never get old to me :) I flew up to New York in mid December to spend some time with him before we both flew home to be with our families for the holidays. Josh had asked random questions about rings and such, but I honestly had no clue it was coming. One night he surprised me and took me out shopping and then to a "secret reservation" (Josh's words exactly). We showed up at the Rockefeller Center and bought tickets up to the top of the building. We could see the entire view of the city, and in a nutshell, he got all sentimental, promised to love me forever, I giggled and cried and he asked me to marry him. It was the perfect memory, I'll never forget it.

Tell us about your wedding day (not necessarily elements but feelings too):

Although I'm probably the world's largest hopeless romantic, I don't believe in soul mates. I believe you fall in love with someone and you work hard at your relationship. I believe you create your own romance and just have a great time together. Josh still gives me butterflies, but he is also my best friend. Our wedding day will be a celebration of the commitment we will make to each other and a little party to kick off the rest of our lives :)

Define Love:

I definitely believe in love. True love. But I don't think it's quite what people think. Yes, it's butterflies and special moments, laughing and talking til 2 am... but it's also commitment and hard work. Love is genuinely putting another before you, simply because you want to make them the happiest they can be. I think love is pushing each other's buttons yet loving them so much it doesn't matter. When the "honeymoon stage" of a relationship wears off, you really want to be standing there beside your best friend.

What is the toughest part of being in a committed relationship?

I really think it's what I mentioned before... knowing where to go and how to handle your relationship once you get past the fluff and warm fuzzies of all the "firsts." To some people love is only the butterflies and good feelings. But a committed relationship is what comes after. Building up trust and learning how to keep your relationship fun and new.

What is the best part?

In our case, the laughs and kisses. Josh can make me laugh like no one else can. We'll spend an entire night on the couch just dying laughing. It's the fact that you can wake up every morning next to your best friends. Having that feeling that they will always be there beside you and supporting you is like no other.

What is the best day you & Josh have had together?

I wish I could replay this day over and over again. We woke up really early and started driving. We stopped at McDonald's, got ourselves our coffee and biscuit and headed on. We had started looking at puppies a few weeks earlier, but I honestly thought it'd be impossible to convince Josh we were ready for a pup. We planned to go see and play with a litter of cockapoos. Once we showed up {in this random little podunk town in North Carolina} we spent a couple hours playing with the most adorable little girl puppy. We immediately fell in love with her and the second she fell asleep in Josh's lap we were sold. We took her home with us and spent the entire night watching movies, eating yummy food and playing with our adorable little puppy Riley!

What makes you different from other couples?

Haha, I don't know we're pretty boring :) I think the fact that we are complete opposites makes us very unique. Josh is very intelligent and analyzes everything. I am very spontaneous and cannot stray away from my artistic side. We've learned how to work with the other's likes, so I feel it's rounded us well as a couple. There's a quote on the sidebar of my blog that just perfectly explains us.

What is your favorite thing to do together?

We could spend hours and hours watching The Office, Friends and Criminal Minds. We've also just bought new cameras and have been exploring New York taking some pictures and attempting to sharpen our photography skills. We also {attempt} to cook new meals together. Dancing and cooking is hands down the best.

Do you have a song?

"You're Amazing" by Josh Kelly has always been our song and I honestly couldn't tell you how it started. Josh also has a few really sweet songs he's written for me.

What is the most essential element of making it?

Don't take things too seriously. Just because you're genuinely happy in love, it doesn't mean the other person won't ever make you angry. :) You're two completely different people joining your lives together, things are bound to happen. As long as you communicate and put the other's happiness first, you can work anything out. Also, don't be afraid to be silly with each other. That's half the fun of always having someone around! Do little things to make the other person smile. Buy them their favorite candies and hide them around your house. Leave little post its everywhere to surprise them.

What are your hopes for the future?

To be happy. To raise a family and share millions of laughs with them. To travel around the world and see every inch that I can!

Anything else the world needs to know about love?

Love really is the only shocking act left on the planet. Don't take it for granted. Whether you're in a committed relationship or not, never let your feelings go unheard. Love really is all it's cracked up to be.

PS Don't forget to sign up for the Giveaway! It ends tomorrow night!