During the 2012 London Olympics, I was interning for HCJB Global covering media stories of the grand event. I had never been anywhere in Europe and had only seen pictures of this magical place people call "the big smoke." I could not wait to meet Big Ben and live in a one-of-a-kind city during the Olympics. The one thing I never anticipated was falling in love.

The first day we met // Photo by Deanne Bradshaw — The first day we met // Photo by Deanne Bradshaw

I met Steven 3 days into my month long trip. He walked into our meeting, and immediately I thought, “this guys good looking!” I had no idea why he was there. I thought we had a team full of girls. That day, Steve and I didn’t get a chance to talk until we made a short trip to the pier with our team. (We were in Worthing, England) First we stopped for ice cream and after heading towards the pier, Steve saw my camera. He then realized we had something in common to talk about. He chatted with me about photography and soccer and I just kept thinking how cute he was. Guys like Steve never talk to me. I’m usually too goofy and weird. Steve had that mysterious/hispter vibe about him so I figured it would never be anything anyways. Steven left and wouldn’t be with the team again till the following week when we were in London.

We were in the midst of really awkward circumstances, trying to get to know each other personally while respecting the “romance covenant” HCJB Global asked me sign before my trip. This romance covenant forbade me from having a romantic relationship with anyone during my internship. But who can resist a British man’s accent? At first, it all felt surreal, but as I got to know him, I quickly fell for his kindness, intelligence, humor, black-framed glasses, and mostly his heart. Steve and I continued to get to know each other and spent more and more time together as the days went by. We had to be secretive so after everyone went to bed we would sneak down to the lobby of our hotel and stay up till dawn talking. I’d sneak back into my room before anyone woke up. We were both pretty exhausted by the end of the trip. We did get in trouble by my team leader but on the final day of my trip, after I was relieved of my internship duties, we were finally given permission to go out on a date. (Made me feel like I was in high school. I know!) It was surreal. Going on a date. In London. With a Brit.

Steven took me to Piccalilli Circus and we ate at a fancy Mexican restaurant where the food was nothing like El Vaquero but more like Taco Bell. It was still so much fun! I felt like I was in a dream and that in just a few short hours I’d wake up and it would all be over.

That night, after our date, Steven drove me to the airport where I was going to meet the rest of my team. Steve and I sat in his car talking and he told me he loved me. I was so not there yet and was a little freaked out, I mean, I had only known the guys for 3 weeks and 1 day. In my mind, I thought it would never work out because of the distance but told him I would keep in touch. Somehow he knew that we were a perfect match.

The moment I landed in the US and had phone signal, I Facebook messaged him telling him I had made it to the US and that I missed him.

The following day, we Skyped and talk for hours. This continued to happen for the next year and a half. As I got to know Steve, I was amazed by how similar our dreams and desires in life were. We both love networking and getting to know other people, we both want to travel, and we both want to help those who have less then we do. I then knew it was no coincidence that Steve and I met.

Fast forward through numerous Skype/FaceTime calls, phones calls, iMessages, care packages, and flights. We are now engaged and planning the wedding of our dreams. At least an affordable version of it!

xoxo

B.

P.S. Want to know how we got engaged? Make sure to come back tomorrow to read Part 2!

Steven & Beth // Part One