Ashley + Brian’s Sappy Love Story: The 1st Chicago NotCouple

“The next couple of months were incredible and then in early June, I asked her to marry me. She said yes and we set the date for nine days later…”

Talk about a roller coaster of amazing! Ashley and Brian are a gorgeous, eccentric and incredibly talented couple. Not only are they both stunning models, this magnetic duo is a wonderful example of love that never loses its wonder. We are thrilled that Ashley and Brian will be tying the NOT at the very 1st Chicago NotWedding tomorrow! We hope you enjoy their Sappy Love Story.

We first started dating in January 2009. But, there were sparks between us throughout the previous year. We were both traveling a lot with modeling. We would always randomly text each other no matter where we were, Alright, I’m (Brian) going to tell it from my point of view. Enough of the we. Ashley was always very memorable every time I ran into her. Whether, it was at the agency, sitting at Madison Square Park in NYC, or just via text message. She was just that unique. She was like a breath of fresh air, very opposite from any other model girls that I have ever known. Maybe because she was from Iowa She was a beautiful woman on the outside, but at that time I was more intrigued about her character and her personality and her amazing use of words. Still to this day I have to read some text messages three times before I understand what she was saying. Very spontaneous and creative and completely relatable to what we were doing at the time. I loved talking to this girl. She was funny. It was so easy to just be myself and open up to her.

Fast forward to December 2008. I was hosting a private screening of a film that I had produced earlier that year. Of course I invited Ashley and I remember standing next to her at the party and I just grabbed her hand and held it. It was an uncontrollable movement, but when it happened, it felt amazing to hold her hand and I had this feeling come over me to want to take care of her. To protect her. I don’t know if I ever told her, but while I was visiting my parents in the summer of 2008 I had envisioned her sitting by the pool with a newborn baby. This picture just popped in my head while I was mowing the grass. But, even at that time we hadn’t really spent any serious time together. I know, now, that it was God’s plan all along.

Then there was the unforgettable defining moment. On New Years Day, I visited my parents house. My mother had told me that I received a package a few days earlier. It was a package from Packwood, Iowa. Well, I only knew one person from Packwood, Iowa. Ashley Dickey. She had sent me the most thoughtful gift I had ever received. Ever. She took the time to knit me a hat and had included a couple of other items that she knew that I would love. Things that she remembered me telling her months before. It was so incredibly thoughtful and when I saw how much work that she had put into it I kind of started to like her. Okay, I really liked her. In that way. I wanted to give her a big hug and kiss to show my appreciation.

We agreed to have coffee at Starbucks a week later. We talked for hours and I really wanted to spend more time with her and get to know more. I held her hand that night as we walked (I had to ask permission). There was a connection. Big time. I think the very next day I asked her to go to dinner with me and my parents. I wanted to spend as much time with her as I could. We had an incredible time and of course my parents loved her. Then the first kiss happened that night as I was dropping her off. With my parents watching from the car I might add. Awkward. Ha.

We had a stint of long distance when she was in Germany for the month of February. We Skyped every day and talked twice a day ($2000 cell phone bill, no joke). But, it was worth it.

The next couple of months were incredible and then in early June, I asked her to marry me. She said yes and we set the date for nine days later…

Photos: Jeremy Lawson Photography | Makeup: Nika Vaughan
___________________________________________________________________________________

Ashley and Brian will be tying the NOT at the 1st Chicago NotWedding tomorrow at City View Loft. There are still a few tickets available so grab yours here now!