Our Story: The Process of Eloping

So I fell in love with Ryan on my first trip to SLC to visit him. It was so hard to leave. I kinda teared up as I drove away. I had never felt like that before. St George was a long drive. He said he'd come down the next weekend. At least I'd see him soon.

So, Ryan came down to St George to visit me and see where I lived and worked. (For Ryan's view on this, click here.) We had a good few days, went to dinner, watched some movies. When he drove away, I started bawling. It was Saturday.

Ryan comforted me and we talked on the phone until my battery died. I just didn't want to live without Ryan.

The next few days we talked seriously about getting married. I didn't want a big, fancy wedding. And I knew my family wouldn't like it much that they hadn't met/known my beau for a long time. My dad would be especially unhappy and give me lectures beyond belief that I was engaged to some dude he'd never met and that I had only dated a few weeks.

By Monday, we had decided that eloping would be our best option. We could cruise down to Vegas the weekend that he and his family were coming for the marathon, but Ryan's cousin was getting married in SLC that weekend and most of the family was abandoning St George plans for the time being.

On Tuesday, I started making wedding plans. I booked a wedding chapel in Las Vegas and called about a room to stay in. I researched marriage license information and everything I could think of that we would need to know. We planned out our Saturday to the last detail. Saturday, we would get married. Sunday, we'd worry about telling our families.

Ryan wanted to properly propose to me in person. So we were just boyfriend/girlfriend planning on eloping. He drove down on Friday and had a geeky marriage proposal sign all ready (click the pic to enlarge). Of course, I said, "YES!"


We packed up (but Ryan forgot his dressy shoes) and headed to Vegas. Our first stop was the Marriage License Building. What is with the line of people outside? Holiday weekend? What holiday? Labor Day? Oh no! I'm not used to holidays. In dispatch, we have to work no matter what day it is. I had no idea. The line was SO long. I don't remember exactly how long, but we must have waited nearly 3 hours. I was so glad that was our first errand in Vegas because there wasn't time for much else. We finally got our marriage license and headed to the HoJo to check in to our room.

We decided to go eat and then come back to the room to get ready for the ceremony later. It wasn't scheduled until 8pm that night. (For anyone planning a wedding, do NOT plan a late in the day wedding, it just gives you more time to be nervous and fret over every little detail. And I'm laid back!)

Anyway, we went to eat at Ryan's favorite place Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. I remember we were both so nervous and neither of us ate much. By the time we made it back to the room to get ready for the ceremony, I was feeling sick to my stomach. Anyway!

The only people that knew we were eloping were my sister Heidi, and my good friend Tyler. Tyler was mad that I didn't tell him about the event sooner because he had to work. Heidi was to be one of our witnesses. I felt bad that Ryan didn't have anyone there 'with him' but that IS what eloping is all about. He had ME!

Stay tuned...

Upcoming stories include: how to tell your parents you eloped, how to live apart from your new spouse for a month, how to tell your parents you're pregnant with twins, how to take care of your injured husband when you're pregnant with twins....