Wedding Date on Jun 2, 2018

Whitney's Version: It was September 5, 2009 and my first day of junior year. Homeroom had ended and I went to gym class. Before finding my friends, I walked over to where the freshman were sitting to check on a family friend. I looked up the bleachers to find her and made eye contact with this really cute boy (of course my friend was sitting directly in front of him). When I started walking in his direction he started snickering and laughing with his friends. I sat down (with this cute boys knees in my back), checked in on my friend and quickly left. The remainder of that week I started seeing the same boy everywhere; gym class, the hallways, after school before practice, and even talking with MY guy friends during lunch (after I saw they knew him, I immediately found out his name). About a week or two later I get a text from my friend Hunter saying, "my brother thinks you're the prettiest girl in school!" Side note: I've known Hunter for about 2 years, but didn't know he had a younger brother in high school. I asked "who's your brother?". He told me his brother was Parker; the cute boy! About a week later I have a Facebook message from 'Parker Meytrott' and realized he really his Hunter's brother! A Facebook conversation over a few days led to Parker asking for my phone number...he wasted no time! Parker and I talked for hours daily and I immediately knew I really liked him...a lot. We started hanging out any chance we could get; in school, before class, before practice, after football games, and with friends. On November 12, Parker and I kissed in the high school parking lot before I was leaving for the weekend to visit my sister at college. I tried keeping it a secret from Hunter, but I eventually told him. He originally was not happy but then said 'oh my gosh this means you can be my sister in law!'...little did he know! Parker and I continued to hang out ALL the time for months before he officially asked me to be his girlfriend on May 8, 2010....and the rest is history! I love you Park! Parker's Version: September 5, 2009 was a pretty big deal for me at the time. I was finally in high school and felt like a big shot. However, that day ended up being more than just a first day of high school...it was the day I laid eyes on my future wife! That's right, and from the moment I saw her walking through the old gym of our high school, I was in love. It sounds cliche and maybe made up, but it's not! And here's the story: It was gym class and I was sitting next to two buddies of mine from eighth grade; Adam and Dan. We were talking about our summer and about how our first day has been super scary even though it was only about 8am. Then, it happened. I spotted the prettiest girl I've ever seen before and she was walking right in my direction! Being the goofball I am, I told my buddies I was going to try to use a pickup line on her (the same one Jason Segel uses repeatedly in the movie "I Love You, Man"). So sure enough she happens to walk right up the bleachers I was sitting in to talk to her friend who was sitting directly in front of me! I was sitting there trying not to laugh or smile, and I said nothing. I choked. (This was probably for the better because the pick up line was terrible!) However, as soon as she left, I asked the girl she sat next to what her name was and I told my friends that my goal was to make that girl, Whitney, my girlfriend. So I continued to see Whitney around school over the next few weeks, but never had the courage to say something to her. But my moment came when my brother Hunter, who was a senior at the time, had asked me who I thought the prettiest girl in school was. I hesitated a bit because I was being shy, but he insisted I tell him. So I said, "Whitney". He replied, "Whitney Zammit!?" Not knowing her last name, I just said "I don't know. I think she is a senior". It turns out Hunter was really good friends with Whitney through track. He told me she was actually a junior and that he was going to text her what I said! Being a little freshman, I was so nervous, but after he told her she responded, "I think he's pretty cute too!" With a little boost of confidence and after we became Facebook friends about 3 weeks later in October, I messaged her. After a very little conversation, I asked for her phone number and from there the rest is history! The Proposal Labor Day weekend was approaching and Parker wasn't sure if he would be allowed to come home because of his vigorous schedule and the way West Point is. I was packed and ready to go to my beach house with my family, but I got the call that Parker was given permission to come home and I was definitely staying to see him! When Parker comes home we always have made it a point to try to have our families get together so we can see everyone all in one place with the limited time. That Sunday morning, September 4 (1 day shy of exactly 7 years from the day we first met), Park mentioned that I should invite my family over for dinner. I told him it wouldn't work since my parents were at our beach house, but he insisted I call them and ask. I called them, and to my surprise they were already home because a bad hurricane was hitting the Jersey Shore! (Parker played it so cool, but looking back at it I'm sure he was extremely relieved they were home!) Later on that day, my family went to the Meytrott's to eat dinner together and afterwards we sat around the fire pit. Parker put some music on and I kept commenting to him 'we love this song!'....'we also love this song!'. He purposely had some of our favorite songs on a playlist and this was all part of his plan! I mentioned to Parker that I was cold, so he walked me over to the fire and we stood there with our arms wrapped around each other. He grabbed my hand and started dancing with me. My ears caught the music again and a song was playing that Parker and I both have said would be our wedding song when we first heard it on American Idol in 2011. I stared at the fire while singing the lyrics and said 'I love you Park'. Parker responded with 'I love' and that is all that came out. He then pulled me in close and squeezed me the tightest I've ever felt while whispering in my ear. He held my hands as he pulled away from me and I noticed his eyes filled with tears. My world stopped, I couldn't hear the music anymore, and it all felt like a dream. I started shaking and all I could say was 'is this really happening right now!?' Parker shook his head yes, got down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. I could only hold my head in my hands and eventually I was able to respond with a huge 'YES!'. This whole day and night is truly something we both will never forget! I am so blessed to be preparing to spend my life with the man of my dreams and I'm so thankful God had made our paths cross on that September day 7 years earlier.