• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Everyday Style
    • Everyday Outfits
    • Capsule Wardrobe Remix
    • Style 101
    • Jess’ Favorite Brands
    • Home Decor
  • Advice
    • Real Women Approved
    • Advice
    • Ask Jess
    • Personal Notes
    • Healthy Living
    • Wedding
  • Beauty Tips
    • Favorite products
    • How to
  • Travel
    • Packing Lists
    • Chicago
      • Midwest Road Trips
    • Italy
      • Tuscany
      • Amalfi Coast
    • France
    • Montreal
    • Mexico
    • Nantucket
    • San Francisco
  • #QuarantineLife

The Golden Girl

Chicago Fashion and Lifestyle Blog

October 17, 2016

Our Last “First” Anniversary

484800_2834486378387_1264425707_n

Around this time four years ago, I received an early Saturday AM call from a boy I’d had a crush on for years. After turning him down several times for a date, I finally gave in and agreed to meet him for brunch. That brunch date turned into 48 hours of being inseparable and that’s how it’s been ever since.





Funny though, we don’t actually have an “anniversary” date per say. There was never a defined line of when we actually became a couple. (Probably because our history goes back so much further than that.)

Typically, we just pick a day in October to celebrate our “anniversary” (even though we actually went on that first date in September–I don’t know, it made sense to us at the time) and last week when I tagged along to Grand Rapids for his work trip, Neal surprised me with an upgraded hotel room, a nice bottle of wine, and the cutest note. We had so much fun that night and went out to dinner, and laughed about how we were really excited to have a “real” anniversary date to celebrate from here on out. I couldn’t help but get a little emotional that this was our last “first” anniversary.

In honor of this fact, I thought I’d share some of our favorite oldie but goodie photos. (The above is my favorite, taken a few months later at our St Patrick’s Day party. Check out that lavender wall from my old apartment. YIKES!)

382566_10151778066096477_1496261617_n 484065_10102385381992229_1302574853_n 526528_10102473133662179_57360667_n 12705766_10106734234746449_247220478857105177_n 1384112_10151979748806477_1574063883_n 10959474_4015080172494_7031620189855846857_n

Of course, I couldn’t not include this one snapped just moments after we got engaged. My squinty eyes and all ;-P 13243732_4695677026990_5260683532444018423_o

Did you feel the same way on your last “first” anniversary? How did you celebrate? 

Filed Under: Personal notes

Reader Interactions

< previous post
next post >

Comments

  1. Stacy says

    October 17, 2016 at 11:26 am

    Unfortunately, on our last “first” anniversary, we were on a cruise to the Bahamas and I got so sea sick! It was terrible! So ours ended up being a pretty big bummer. I think we’ll still do a nice dinner or something this year on our dating anniversary even though we’re married now.

    Reply
  2. Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says

    October 17, 2016 at 12:39 pm

    Too sweet! We still go out to eat for our first date anniversary, three married years later. 😀

    Reply
  3. Kelly in the City says

    October 17, 2016 at 1:36 pm

    Awwwww Jess and Neal, I love you guys! Before Mitch and I got married, I felt like anniversaries were super confusing. There was the anniversary of our first date, our first kiss, our engagement… Too many! I think you’ll love having just one anniversary. It makes things a little easier. 😉 Though I’ll admit that we often celebrate more than just our wedding anniversary because come on: any excuse to go out, amiright?!

    LOVE YOU!

    Kelly | Kelly in the City

    Reply
  4. Aoife @ Polished & Pink says

    October 17, 2016 at 1:46 pm

    I love this so much! Neal seems like the best guy ever.

    Reply
  5. Lucy Claire says

    October 17, 2016 at 6:51 pm

    This is just the sweetest thing ever! You two look so much in love in every one of these photos!! So exciting to watch your future grow together!! xx

    Reply
  6. SarahLagen says

    October 17, 2016 at 9:35 pm

    You two are so darn cute and look so happy together!! My bf and I treat our anniversary similar … we started dating sometime in August and usually just pick a date to call our anniversary! The problem is we can’t always agree so sometimes he will say we have been dating for 3 years and I’ll say 4… but whatever, he’s all mine! 🙂

    xo, Sarah

    Reply
  7. Kaylee DeLacy says

    October 18, 2016 at 7:56 am

    It’s a little comforting to know that other people also have confusion over when their anniversary is. Brian and I are still pretty new – our first date was in June, but we became “official” in August. We just had a conversation the other day about when our anniversary would be and we couldn’t decide – because neither of us knew what the “right” one was! It seem so silly, but I really wanted to know what date I was allowed to celebrate on! Haha!

    Reply
  8. Alyssa Thomas says

    October 18, 2016 at 8:17 am

    Oh my goodness you two are so cute! Yesterday was the anniversary of our proposal and I was feeling so sappy and loved up all day long. I say, celebrate all the anniversaries possible!

    Reply
  9. anniekryz says

    October 18, 2016 at 8:57 am

    How did you guys meet???

    Reply
  10. Brianna @ Diva and the Divine says

    October 18, 2016 at 11:08 am

    You two are the cutest! My husband and I don’t celebrate our dating anniversary much anymore, but when Nov 20 rolls around I do acknowledge it and tell him “hey! we’ve been dating X years.”

    Reply
  11. Catherine Marks says

    October 18, 2016 at 12:53 pm

    Our very first date was on January 1st, so we’re usually already dressed up and going out and then eat black-eyed peas and collard greens and talk about the year ahead on our “dating anniversary.” But I say the more celebrations the better, so we still celebrate that one and the day we got engaged in addition to the obvious big one. 🙂
    xoxo,
    Catherine
    http://www.classiccatherine.com

    Reply
  12. tóc giả says

    September 7, 2020 at 3:18 am

    This is an article that I feel full of content, quality images, hope that in the future you can share more for all to refer to.

    Reply
  13. túi lọc bụi says

    October 15, 2020 at 2:11 am

    This is a great article with great content, the image you include in the article helps me to read better. thank you

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Hi, I’m Jess!

IMG_8690 (1)

Welcome to The Golden Girl–a real girl approach to living your best life! (Because the internet needed a happy medium between real life and the highlight reel.) Click here to learn more about me! 

GG's Popular Posts

  • What Assumptions Do You Have About Me? What Assumptions Do You Have About Me?
  • 30+ At-Home Self Care Ideas 30+ At-Home Self Care Ideas
  • Billie Razor review Real Women Reviewed: The [UNSPONSORED] Billie Razor
  • 5 Cute Ways to Style a Sweatshirt 5 Cute Ways to Style a Sweatshirt
  • The Top Bestsellers of 2020 | On a High Note: Vol 22 GG Reader Buys: The Top Bestsellers of 2020
Shopbop.com

Fast Free Shipping Worldwide

  • JUST ARRIVED
  • SHOP WOVEN
  • SHOP CAMIS

Fast Free Shipping Worldwide

JUST ARRIVED

  • x karla

    Get the Look

  • Alex Mill

    See More Alex Mill

  • PAIGE

    Sarah Slim Jeans at Shopbop

< >

SHOP WOVEN

  • J. Crew

    steal their style

  • Obey

    love this outfit

  • J. Crew

    Shop J. Crew Wallace & Barnes Forest Camo Shi...

< >

SHOP CAMIS

  • Fleur't

    heart Fleur't Prelude To A Kiss Camisole

  • Calvin Klein Underwear

    Shop Calvin Klein Underwear Naked Glamour Cam...

  • Calvin Klein Underwear

    Buy Now at Shopbop

< >

Shop High Rise Skinny Jeans, Black And White Dresses, Light Blue Jeans, Cosmetic Bags and more. Get this widget.

Featured Posts

48 Hours in LA

Do you do this in restaurants?

A Parisian Picnic

Do you believe in fate? (Our story).

Copyright© 2021 · Brunch Pro Theme by Shay Bocks