Ashton + Sadie
Ashton & Sadie
“Sadie and I both went to Northwood University, and even though it was essentially a glorified high school with only 1,600 students, she still claims she never knew who I was. I think she’s in denial, because I DEFINITELY knew who she was. I finally got some facetime with her when we were both in the same ethics class, but she still wouldn’t really talk to me other than just some casual conversation about lecture, notes, etc. It wasn’t much to go off of, but I just knew there was something special about this girl that I couldn’t walk away from. Fast forward a few weeks, I was a student ambassador who gave tours to prospective students and parents. I had been working with the Associate Director of Admissions, Susie Poli-Smith, who also knew Sadie, and she informed me that Sadie was single for the first time in years and now was my chance to make an impression. I absolutely FLEW to campus to lead a tour that I knew she had to shadow as a part of her training, doing my best to impress her any way I could. In my mind I’m thinking, “Don’t mess this up, man,” and repeating it over and over to myself. I also knew the best part was still to come, a 1 on 1 lunch with her in the school cafeteria. It doesn’t sound like the ideal, romantic lunch spot, but I was ECSTATIC. Just then, as we’re wrapping up the tour and heading to lunch, I had to bail on her (that’s a whole other story). I felt horrible because now she had to eat alone, and even worse I felt like I’d never get a chance like that again. I went home and dwelled on it for what felt like an eternity, and finally reached back out to Susie for Sadie’s phone number. I waited until the next day so I didn’t seem desperate, and texted her to apologize and asked if I could make it right by taking her out to dinner. She agreed, and after a romantic dinner date to Applebee’s for half-off apps, the rest is history.”
“I would say after 3 years of dating I knew I was going to marry her, but that would be a lie. I knew she was the one from the moment I met her. I spent months getting top secret info from her best friends as to what style of ring she’d truly love, and then worked my tail off to design the perfect ring with my jeweler. Now that I had the ring, it was game time. I thought about hundreds of different scenarios, but after careful deliberation I decided to get on one knee at center ice at Campus Martius. I already made reservations at a restaurant around the corner so our families and friends could stay warm while we skated for a bit, booked the photographer, and called the venue ahead of time to make sure her and I would be the only two people on the ice.
We get downtown, walk to the park, and my biggest fear comes to life. THE LINE IS WRAPPED AROUND THE BUILDING. They told me I had to propose exactly at 9 p.m., and it was 7:45. There was no way we were going to be able to rent skates, put them on, etc., and I was in sheer panic mode. At this point I’m almost in a full blown panic attack texting her best friend that I’m not going to pull this off, and out of nowhere I told Sadie I had to use the restroom and walked away. I ducked down behind people so she couldn’t see me, walked to the front of the skate rental line and asked a woman if I could but because I needed to propose. Without hesitation she said yes, and I told Sadie that I had run into a family friend at the front who was going to let us cut. We walked up there and this woman (bless her heart) had, within seconds, fabricated a completely fake story about how she knew me and my family. So here I am, still completely panicking that she’s going to blow my cover, finally pull Sadie up to the rental counter and proceeded to get situated.
We hit the ice and my blood pressure is finally dropping to a safe level, but I’m still extremely nervous. I see the photographer and I’m trying to act normal when I hear the announcement, “Ladies and gentlemen we will now be resurfacing the ice so please make your way off as soon as possible.” Okay, the blood pressure is climbing again but I know it’s go time and I’m so excited I almost can’t contain it. Sadie, being the rule follower she is, wants to get off the ice right away. I grab her by the hand and try to buy myself some time while these little kids kept doing laps and ignoring the security guard’s instructions to leave. I try taking selfies, acting like my phone was acting up, you name it. Finally, everyone is off the ice except for us to and Sadie is freaking out saying, “Ash come on we have to get off now.” I grab her both of her hands and skate backwards until I’m at center ice, and that’s when I told her how much she meant to me and that I wanted to spend every day for the rest of my life with her. After she asked me “Is this real?!” about 3 times, she made me the happiest man in the world by saying yes.”
“It’s hard to describe our love story in a few sentences, but to me it is so surreal how it all worked out, and how happy I am every single day I wake up next to her. She is my best friend, and life with her is just better. I can’t explain it any other way. Every single part of my life is enhanced because she’s in it, and I am forever grateful that I get to call her my wife beginning 6/1/18.”
