Love Story: Adrienne and Charles

by aisledash staff, Posted Jul 3rd 2010 10:00AM

Every week, thousands of couples say "I do," and each one of them has their own unique love story. Some are funny, while others will bring a tear to your eye. Aisledash.com has found the most romantic love stories of recent brides and grooms and will share their experiences with you each week. If you are engaged and want to share your love story, e-mail your name, wedding date and a brief summary of how you met and got engaged to ideas@aisledash.com.

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Charles and Adrienne met at a party one evening, back in college. By Valentine's Day, 2003, they had been dating for two months, and Adrienne asked Charles, "Are we boyfriend and girlfriend or what?" He said they were. But now he'll tell you that he had only barely begun to appreciate the amazing person Adrienne was and the mature partner she would become.

Through the rest of college and graduate school, with her studying sociology and him studying business and finance, they stuck together. While their families and friends pestered them about whether or when they would get married, they were young and knew they could take it one step at a time. Moving in together. Getting a cat.

Their cat is named Oscar, "after Oscar de la Renta," Adrienne says. "After Oscar de la Hoya," Charles says. Later they added a dog, Chloe, to the family; both animals were from shelters. Adrienne's interest in expanding the family may have had something to do with Charles' long hours at work during that time.

When Charles graduated, he spent three years as an investment banker, an 80-100-hour-a-week commitment that was crucial to his future career. He and Adrienne are planners and work hard. She's in public relations, and he's in private equity. They both understood that sacrificing time together in the early days would mean more time together with a better quality of life later. Charles became impressed with how independent and supportive Adrienne was during what turned out to be the most challenging years of his life.

Six years after they started dating, Charles asked Adrienne's parents to breakfast ... without her. Her parents knew something was up. "It was awkward to be so formal," Charles said, since he knew her parents pretty well at that point. He asked for permission to marry their daughter. "Finally," they said.

For several months, Charles had to keep his plans a secret, including picking out the ring. He took Adrienne to a romantic inn in Napa, California, but his original plan to propose in a nearby apple orchard didn't work out, since it was freezing cold, dark, and the couple got lost. Finally finding their way back to the restaurant at the inn, he proposed near an outdoor fireplace that kept them warm, and well-lit enough to see each other's faces for the special and long-awaited moment.

The next items on the agenda were elaborate bachelor and bachelorette parties in Cabo San Lucas. The highlight of the bachelorette festivities was a huge scrapbook Adrienne's friends made for her from photos during the past decade, which she treasures.

The highlight of the bachelor party was a disaster that still brings a smile to Charles' face -- they spent a fortune renting a 50-foot yacht to go marlin fishing. Boarding the boat, they were pumped up on the luxury of it all, joking and shouting about being the "King of the World!" However, less than an hour later, all thirteen men were in the center of the boat, laying down, seasick, for the rest of the trip. No one even tried to catch any fish.

Now, safely back on land, the bride and groom are having their wedding at the crème de la crème of wine country hotels, Auberge du Soleil, in Rutherford. After almost eight years of learning everything about each other, they wrote their own wedding vows ... and surprised each other with them during the ceremony.

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Love Story: Adrienne and Charles

The bride shares a laugh with friends while getting ready.

Love Story: Adrienne and Charles

The bride and groom, bridesmaids and groomsmen pair up for a formal portrait.

Love Story: Adrienne and Charles

The happy couple share a laugh on their wedding day.

Love Story: Adrienne and Charles

The bride poses for a portrait.

Love Story: Adrienne and Charles

The groom gives his bride a sweet kiss.

Love Story: Adrienne and Charles

A view of the wedding location Auberge du Soleil.

Love Story: Adrienne and Charles

Green, white and peach-colored blooms are hung from chairs along the ceremony aisle.

Love Story: Adrienne and Charles

The father of the bride escorts his daughter to the wedding ceremony.

Love Story: Adrienne and Charles

The bride gets teary during their wedding ceremony.

Love Story: Adrienne and Charles

The bride and groom and her parents pose for an informal portrait.

Love Story: Adrienne and Charles

Read more Love Stories:

Love Heals All Wounds: Dawn & Maurice

She Danced Into His Heart: Jessy & Marc

A Love of Football and Pita Brought Them Together: Beth & Graham

Courtesy of Red Room

Patricia Volonakis Davis is the award-winning author of Harlot's Sauce: A Memoir of Food, Family, Love, Loss and Greece, a humorous and touching memoir that she hopes will encourage young women not to make the same mistakes she made. Amidst a wave of strong reviews,The Marin Independent Journal called it "delicious," The Greek Star called it "an inspiring, great read," and the Orange County Registercalled her a "Renaissance woman." On her Harlot's Sauce Radio e-magazine and podcast, she loves talking about her writing endeavors, interviewing celebrities and other "Renaissance women" about life and love, and encouraging new writers. Patricia has a Master's Degree in Creative Writing and Education, and her writing has appeared in various newspapers and magazines nationally and internationally. She was also recently named one of Top 25 Mentors for Young Women and Girls 2010, by the Hot Mommas Project. Read her blog and listen to her podcasts on Red Room.

Tags: Love Stories