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Exploring Womanhood > Journals > Jennifer's Wedding Journal > Entries
EW is pleased to bring you a very special journal . . . Jennifer and Vince are long-time sweethearts who tied the knot on June 2, 2001. This is Jennifer's countdown to her long awaited wedding day. Read along as we celebrate this special event with Jennifer and Vince.
Introduction
~ Meet Jennifer
 My name is Jennifer, I am 31 years old, and engaged to be married to my long-time sweetheart and best friend, Vince. Vince and I have been engaged since August of 1995, and have known each other since June of 1987. Our story is a long, complicated, rather unique story. But I'll give you the condensed version!
Vince and I met in June of 1987, while I was at my high-school Senior Week escapade at the Jersey shore. One of my friends I was staying with, Carmella, was dating Vince's brother Tom at the time. I was dating someone else, but things were not going so well and I was just enjoying hanging out with my friends, trying to forget about my so-called "problems" (you know, the ones that 17 year-olds have!) with my boyfriend. Then along came Vince . . . a sweet, funny, incredibly adorable guy. He showed up at our hotel one day looking for Tom. When I think back to the first time we met, I had no idea about the impact he would have on my life in the future. In fact, he had a crush on me and was not afraid to show it - but for some reason, I did not feel the same. I don't think it was because I had a boyfriend. I don't know what it was - I kept saying "He's cute, he's funny, he likes me - so WHAT is the problem?" I couldn't quite figure out why I was not attracted to him!
Senior week ended, and we went our separate ways . . . or so I thought. Shortly after I got back, he called me asking me for a date. Again, I asked myself why I didn't feel the urge to go out with him, but I proceeded to do so in spite of that question mark in my mind. We went to a movie and had a nice time. He was so kind and so attentive. And he planted a kiss on me when he dropped me off at home, and I did NOT like that at all! Again . . . I still don't know why.
The years passed and life went on. I had a few bad relationships, one of which left me with the greatest gift of all - my first born son, Nicholas. In the meantime, Vince also had a child of his own - a daughter, Christina. It would come to be that these two children would ultimately bond us together. Every once in a while Vince would call me, just to say "hello" and to see what was going on in my life - and to check if I was available. But I continued to make myself very unavailable to him - every time he asked me to go out, I had an excuse of why I couldn't, whether it was another guy, other plans, etc.
Then finally, he asked me to go to his brother's wedding, and I couldn't turn him down. I thought it would be fun, and besides, I love weddings! We made plans to meet after the church ceremony, outside the church. To my disappointment, I couldn't find the church and they all left for the reception (which was out of state) without me! I felt horrible . . . terrible . . . all I could think was that Vince was going to think I blew him off, once again, and in the worst possible way. I didn't want him to think that I could be that mean; I would never accept a date to a wedding and not show up! The next day he called me, and he was pretty upset with me. But he kept his cool, and listened to my story. I don't know if he ever believed me, even to this day! He said that now I "owed him" a date, and he would not take no for an answer. Hmmm! So I accepted and we made plans to meet once again.
Something had definitely changed . . . I don't know what, but we had a great time together! We talked and laughed for the longest time. We just suddenly clicked. He told me later that when we kissed goodnight that evening, he knew I had changed my mind about him. I have to laugh because I felt it too; surely there was something happening! We dated for quite sometime after that, and the fact that we were both single parents (he had custody of his daughter) kept us on the same track. We helped each other through the rough times that single parents can go through. Moreover, the kids gave us more opportunities for adventurous dates then we could count and life was never boring!
I'll never forget the night we got engaged - we weren't speaking at the time (one of our many "little" fights), and I had just returned from a weekend away with my son. Vince showed up at my front door, hands behind his back, and he said "Jen, I'm crazy about you, will you marry me?" He pulled out a little box from behind his back and opened it . . . only to reveal a beautiful engagement ring for me! I was so surprised; I had no idea he was going to do this! Of course I said YES! He was so charming; he was shaking and so nervous! But I loved him even more at that moment.
Fast forward to here and now. We own a house together, have a son together, and we finally have a date set for our wedding - June 2, 2001! We always joke about how we did everything "backwards". But it doesn't matter to us. We are so in love, and we share a beautiful family and a happy life together. Of course, it's not without bad times too, but we have managed to get through so many of those that it has only made us stronger as a couple. I can't believe that in a few short months, I will finally be his wife! I am excited, scared, nervous, but most of all, I am grateful . . . grateful that I have been so lucky in my life to find the happiness that I know so many spend a lifetime looking for.
I am looking forward to sharing the final months leading up to my wedding through the writing of this journal. I know that it will be a therapeutic outlet for me, and will help me to keep track of what I'm doing! Thank you for joining me on the road to my Wedding Day!
Jennifer's Journal Entries
Copyright © 2001 Jennifer Beswick. All rights reserved.
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