Candice & Kyle’s story

Wedding Date: May 16, 2009

Our Love Story:
I have published our love story on our wedding blog, complete with photos taken the date of the proposal.  You may click the links below to view each story individually, or you may click on the link above to view the entire blog.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed sharing it!

How we met

As most of you probably already know, Kyle and I met at Baylor University. However, as dorky as this may sound, we actually first met on the INTERNET!! Yes, I admit, it is true…. Sometime after I had committed to going to Baylor, whether it was during the final days of my senior year of high school or the few months of summer before college started, I did a little search on the infamous internet provider–AOL. After typing in “Baylor” as the search keyword, I came across various users of many ages with either an interest or some sort of affiliation with the university.

One user in particular caught my eye, partly because he was to attend the very same institution as I, in the very same year, and partly because he happened to be online that very moment! Thrilled with the coincidence, I took the opportunity to meet a classmate before even registering for classes, thus I initiated a chat with “Astrke.” What we actually talked about, I haven’t the slightest recollection, however, in the end he made it on my friend list and I am certain we parted with salutations and mutterings of potential future sightings on campus.

The summer passed and the time had finally come to move onto campus. After spending the morning getting settled into a closet they call a dormitory, my mom took me to the Student Union Building to drop me off with the rest of the freshman class of 2006. I recall choking back tears as I watched her drive away, leaving me on campus…alone. ….It took all of five minutes to make friends with some kids eating their sandwich plate in the grass under some trees. I think I made more friends, more easily during that first week at Baylor than I ever had in my entire life!

After Welcome Week ended and classes had started, I was lounging in my dorm and decided to sign onto AOL Instant Messenger to catch up with some high school pals. Suddenly, I noticed a familiar screename pop up in a chatbox inquiring if I had, in fact, started classes at Baylor. It was Astrke from my AOL search! Immediately, I responded to see how he was liking BU thus far. We talked about welcome week, the first few days of classes, some of the people we had hung out with…. Wait! CorrieLee, Benji, Dax? I had hung out with the same people! Rollerblading with a shopping cart on campus just a little while ago? Me too! Oddly enough, we had already met and spent time together and didn’t even realize it!

Thus began our friendship, which later became a relationship, and soon will be a marriage!

The Proposal

The date was December 8, 2007. It was an unseasonably warm Saturday afternoon in Waco, TX, perfect for a romantic rendezvous with nature. Earlier that week Kyle had promised me a picnic if I drove the hour and a half commute from Dallas to Waco to visit him that weekend. A sucker for sack lunches in open parks, I obliged.

Utterly involved in my chicken feast, I was completely unaware of Kyle’s silent plotting.

Stuffed and satisfied Kyle suggested taking a walk. I agreed, but offered that we clean up our leftovers and put them in the Expedition first. He urged that we leave them. I insisted that we put them up. He was adamant that we walk first. I caved, retrieved my dog from his hitch and we started on our walk. About 10 steps from the table Kyle grabbed my hand, dropped to one knee, and produced from his pocket a small black box containing the sparkle of something in every little girl’s dreams. “Candice Woodward, will you marry me?” he inquired; the little black box quivering ferociously in his trembling hand. Previously oblivious to the now apparent purpose of our outing, and completely dazed by this unexpected proposition offered upon me, I stood speechless. I was awakened from my temporary paralysis as Kyle cleared his throat, eyes searching for an answer. “Yes!” I finally responded, and I leapt into his arms brimming with love, happiness, and excitement!

I hadn’t the slightest inclination that he was going to propose.

Shortly after, we proceeded to pack up the leftover chicken.