Love + Marriage | 3 Years

The ShopMucho blog is meant to be a fun place where we can share everything we love including modeling Mucho merch outfits, recipes, DIYs, reviews at Mexican restaurants, and even some personal things here and there too. So, we hope sharing mine and Randall's story and how we became husband and wife 3 years ago today will be interesting to you guys! If nothing else it gave me an excuse to go through our old images and reminisce!

So here is our story, Randall and I have actually known each other since I was 15 and he was 18. I met him through mutual friends of my sister, Gina. We stayed just friends for a while because I was young, but started dating right around my high school graduation and 18th birthday.

We dated on and off for a few years, but life took us in different directions, and so we didn't reconnect until a few years later. I was living in CA going to fashion school, and he was in Memphis. He still hung out with my sister so she would tell me about when they saw each other and stuff. I finally reached out to him on Myspace because I missed him.

We started chatting long distance and then I was visiting him, my sister, and friends every chance I could. I finished getting my AA in fashion design, I followed my dad to TX, which is about 8 hours to Memphis. After seeing Randall on a weekend trip where we met up in Texarkana, which is the middle for us, I got pretty bummed leaving him.

When I got back to Fort Worth I was surprised to see a very large envelope on my bed. It turns out that the college I had applied to not really thinking I would get in because it is a very expensive fine arts school had not only accepted me but had given me a president's scholarship. Yes, I got in to Memphis College of Arts. I couldn't believe it!!

I may be one of those people that kind of believes in signs, I was meant to go back to Memphis and be with Randall, my sister, and friends. Randall was so very supportive while I was going to MCA. It was like bootcamp for artists and honestly I hardly consider myself an artist.

Anyways, Randall was working on his business degree, and he was a couple years ahead of me so he got his degree and big boy job first. I made it through school getting my BFA in digital media and got hired as a photo stylist.

So, we were living in a cute midtown duplex working on our careers. If you know me you will know that I was pretty set on not getting married. I was like so anti-marriage in my younger years. I had my reasons... but I had been thinking about marriage a lot and we had been back together for about 4 years. We never fight not at all like we did when we were kids. We are best friends. We make a great team.

Randall's birthday was coming up, and I was telling my sister on a girl's night out how I was thinking about maybe proposing to Randall. The reason I thought I should ask him is because he knew how I felt about the whole not being married thing. And honestly if he was toying around with the idea to ask me he probably was scared that I would have turned him down (I totally wouldn't have).

Gina thought it was a great idea and then she wouldn't have it any other way! I had too! I got super scared, I know how people think and I didn't want people to think I was trapping him or something like that. But in the end, I didn't care that much what others thought. No one knows our relationship better than we do, so I decided to do it.

I thought his birthday would be the perfect day since he would think the special treatment was just because he was another year older. It was a weekday, a Monday I think. So we both had to work. I wrote up the 33 reasons I loved him because he had challenged me on an evening walk a few weeks back that I could not come up with that many reasons why I loved him. Through out the day I sent him a text with a reason. I timed it so that I would be on the 33rd reason when I was ready to propose.

I took him to a nice steak restaurant downtown and then insisted that we walk by this gorgeous bridge I found that lights up at night and has a beautiful view of the river and Memphis bridge. I'm not sure if he really knew what was up, but he swears he had no idea. I was so nervous that I could barely remember how good dinner was. Once we walked over the bridge, there was a look out area where I told Randall the 33rd reason I loved him and proposed. I was shaking so hard. I just held both his hands and stumbled through my tears not saying anything I had practiced to say. I didn't even get on one knee. I think there is a reason why girls don't do the proposing, tear.

He said yes right away and hugged and kissed me. My sister and her boy friend, Josh, were waiting near by to get some pictures of us and take us back to their condo for champagne. Randall was so happy and he kept telling me how brave I was.

Below are some grainy photos from when I popped the question. I got on one knee for the picture :)

We got married on 03-22-14 at the Woodruff-Fontaine House. I knew I wanted something in the midtown or downtown area and a place that we could get married and have the reception all together. This place was perfect for us! We got married and had the reception in the basement. It felt nice and intimate with a little over 90 people it was tight during the ceremony but enough room to spread out once the party started. We didn't have to worry about the weather but it was perfect!

Randall and I did all the decorations ourselves.

As a nod to my hispanic background we did a Mexican theme because who knows how to fiesta better?! We used my Grandmother's beautiful vintage Mexican ceramics and lace doilies as the main decor on the tables and throughout the venue. Each pot had either succulents or colorful Mexican corn husk flowers. We had worry dolls as party favors and saved every pickle jar we could to have tea lights in. The food was a delicious Mexican spread, consisting of:

• Tacos - Beef and Chicken
• Enchiladas - Beef and Chicken
• Cheese Dip and Salsa
• 7 Layered Dip with Chips
• Cheese Quesadillas
• BBQ Nachos
• Monterey Jack Salsa with Chips

 from a small local business called Fascinating Catering on Summer Ave. They also provided fresh fruit, veggies, and non-alcoholic beverages. We had assorted flavors of Texas chocolate, margarita, dulce de leche, red velvet, and wedding cake cupcakes from Gigi's. The alcohol was a keg of beer, a white sangria wine made by us, and we also made tequila jello shot lime wedges (that ran out before Randall and I could get any). Here is a Beautiful Mess mojito jello shots recipe that inspired them. We just tweaked it to be margarita like.

My dress was purchased from a local consignment store called the Barefoot Bride. It was an Italian lace dress. It was about 2 sizes too big but I loved the style so much that I got it anyway and had it altered.

It was an awesome evening of love! We had a photo booth set up with my digital camera on a tripod, a remote, and plenty of props so people could just pop in when they wanted. It was so fun to look at after the wedding to see how family and friends posed! We even had a pinata filled with candy and plastic miniatures of various booze. And sparklers (My favorite picture)!!!

The night was perfect, like for real. I don't think I have much to complain about aside from a cousin passing gas on the dance floor. A few of our friends noticed and still bring it up to this day. I guess there could be worse things. That's what I get for having a bunch of Mexican food, but if I could do it all over I would keep it exactly the same.