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 Ashley on Carl
Carl is the most caring, fun and genuine person I have ever met. He is the wonderful father of two beautiful children (Brittany and Cody) who he raises with strong morals that I respect and hope to emulate. He works as the structural foreman for Liphart Steel and can do just about anything with metal. Carl was born when his father was stationed in Germany during his time with the US Air Force. His family is originally from Kingston, TN.
Carl has made every day since I met him indescribably happy. Since I have met Carl, I have become a serious country western dancer and a NASCAR addict. With each day, I feel that I found myself when I found him. I can't imagine spending even a single day of my life without him. |
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 Carl on Ashley
Ashley was raised a Navy brat - born in Groton, Connecticut and lived all over the East Coast. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia and is currently an information architect for SRA International in Clarendon, Virginia.
When I met Ashley on New Year's Eve, I was impressed by her intelligence, beauty and boldness. After spending time with her, I fell in love with her honesty, caring and selflessness. She has chosen to give me her heart and I have chosen to give her mine. |
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| How We Met |
Ashley and Carl met at a New Years Eve party at Nick's Nightclub in December 2002 (technically speaking - they did meet before midnight). Nick's is a country and western dancehall in Alexandria, Virginia. Carl had come to the club with Ricky and Kathy Kesner and even though Carl honky tonks all the time, it was his first trip to Nick's. Ashley had never been to a honky tonk, let alone Nick's. She had been listening to country music on the radio for some time and had heard about the party on 98.7 WMZQ. Neither of them had been to Nick's before, but they have been honky tonkin' together ever since. |
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The Proposal (February 14th, 2004)
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Both of us had been traveling the two hour stretch of Rt. 95 between Richmond and DC for a little over a year. In January 2004, we made the decision that I would move down to Richmond. We had been moving for several weeks when Valentine's Day came around. Carl had been sick for the entire week and with all of the business of the move, we hadn't planned anything. Ricky and Kathy asked us if we wanted to go out with them on a double date, so we made plans to leave after Carl got off work (on Saturday - Valentine's Day). To make a very long story short, I had made a bunch of special plans to try to surprise Carl with a gift which all fell through. So, I was pretty depressed. It wasn't turning out to be a very good Valentine's. After Carl got home, we got packed up and ready to head up to DC. We decided to go ahead and "do gifts" before we left. I felt bad, but I did have part of my gift for Carl - which I gave to him. He had known all that I had gone through and was very happy with what I had given him. He handed me a card. He didn't have any other gifts other than the card... I was disappointed but was prepared to be forgiving given all of the circumstances. After he had me thinking that all he had done was get me a card, he left me in the kitchen while he went to get something from the bedroom. He returned with a beautifully wrapped small box which I was sure was earings. I didn't realize what was happening until I had slid the small box from the package and looked up at Carl. I could tell from the look on his face. As I opened the box, he slid down on one knee and right there in the kitchen, he asked me to marry him! It was a complete surprise and I am so happy that we shared this special moment alone at home. |
Ashley & Carl's hand showing the engagement ring.
Carl & Ashley's hands showing their wedding rings (taken on the plane on the way out to the honeymoon).
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