We took the time to compile a list of all the special places for our relationship, and put one of these at different tables throughout the wedding reception. Was pretty cool as people would walk around to read about the different places. Here is that original list here, copy and pasted for sizing purposes.
Indianapolis, Indiana
This is the site where many Serendipitous events allowed WJ and Natalia to meet each other. It is also the place of their first movie together “Shakespeare In Love”, and their first Official date on St. Patrick’s Day 1999. Many fond memories abound in this city. Additionally, this is where Natalia and her family first emigrated to the United States of America from Russia.
Milton, Florida
Birthplace of WJ, also the home of most of WJ’s mother Judy Vincent’s family. A source of many tremendous memories for WJ especially all of the amazing Christmas Celebrations. Every other year growing up, WJ and his family would road trip to Grandma Polk’s house in Milton to celebrate Christmas. All the grandkids would sleep on the floor in the living room in sleeping bags. Lots of fun, Grandma and Grandpa Polk have both passed on, but they are here for certain in spirit.
Troitsky, Russia
Birthplace of Natalia, also home to the majority of Natalia’s relatives, most notably her Grandparents. This will also be the site of WJ’s First Trip to Europe and WJ and Natalia’s Second wedding. It is a very special place, and Natalia looks forward to showing WJ all the places she knew so well growing up. WJ is most excited about meeting Natalia’s grandparents. They both had a big part in Raising Natalia as a child. It looks to be a very emotional and rewarding trip, one to remember for a lifetime.
Cleveland, Ohio
Around a month or so after Natalia and WJ first met, WJ ended up moving to New York. Alas, he was lovestruck, and organized a reunion at the halfway point between where he was living in New York, and where Natalia was living in Indianapolis, Indiana. That just happened to be Cleveland. It was a very emotional weekend, WJ and Natalia visited the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame and the Cleveland Zoo that weekend. It was very sad when they had to part company that Sunday Night, it had become very clear to both of them how much they missed each other.
Niagara Falls, New York
Site of another emotional reunion for WJ and Natalia. Natalia drove all the way to Niagara Falls, New York from Indianapolis, Indiana in order to see WJ again. It was another wonderful weekend, visiting the Falls, and sampling some of the finest food in the world. Niagara is home to “The MarketSide” home of the 8th Wonder of the world, a special Chocolate Chip Pancake, Michael’s an old-time Italian joint with the best Rigatoni’s and Chef Salad you have ever eaten along with Johnnie Ryan Soda, and Sammy’s Pizza which has the best Wings, and some of the best pizza the world has ever seen.
Buffalo, New York
Thankfully Natalia was smarter than WJ. She realized how powerful the love between them was; even if WJ was too proud to admit he had fallen for her. Buffalo, New York is the very first place that Natalia moved to, following WJ. She gave up her job, left her family, borrowed money to buy a used car, and dropped out of school to move there. Thank goodness she did, because WJ was too stubborn to admit life just wasn’t the same without her.
San Antonio, Texas
This is the third city that Natalia followed WJ to. An absolutely beautiful city and home to a lot of special memories. This is where they bought their first car together. They also went on their first canoe trip here, down the Guadalupe River. It was a wonderful trip; they explored the river’s nooks and crannies, doing lots of wading along the shore. Years later they learned the river is full of poisonous “Water Moccasin or Cotton Mouth” snakes which live along the river’s shoreline. Their guardian angels must have been working overtime that day.
St. Paul, Minnesota
This was where WJ took Natalia for their Second Year Anniversary. There was a Russian restaurant called Moscow on the Hill. When the moment was right WJ proposed a toast. Flush with anticipation, Natalia thought maybe perhaps this would be the moment when WJ proposed marriage. WJ proudly announced that they should celebrate officially becoming boyfriend and girlfriend. Natalia was a bit surprised, but really WJ was only delaying the inevitable. Only one year later the actual proposal for marriage finally came.
San Diego, California
This was the first trip to California together that they took. It was also Natalia’s first trip to the ocean in the United States. WJ almost drowned trying to learn to surf, and Natalia developed one of the worst sun burns of all time. Despite these challenges it was a memorable trip. They enjoyed a delicious seafood dinner on the upper deck of a beach restaurant as the sun went down. Another sunset was spent together on Coronado Island. On top of everything else, they ordered drinks at the bar where all of the bar scenes were filmed in the movie Top Gun.
Elk Mound, Wisconsin
Of course this is where WJ grew up. So many special memories of this place, there are far too many to mention here. Suffice it to say, there is not a better place, with better people to have grown up with in the U.S.A. than those found here in Elk Mound. More recently of course, WJ proposed to Natalia on their Third Anniversary on the 50 yard line of the original Elk Mound High School Football Field. Lucky for WJ, she said yes. Now that old field represents some of the best memories of the first part of WJ’s life, and the first official memory of his new life with Natalia.
Navarre Beach, Florida
This was the “Holy Grail” of all those Christmas trips WJ’s family would take growing up. Every one of those times, they would make at least one trip out to Navarre Beach to see the ocean. Now it is the home of the every other year family reunion of WJ’s relatives in Florida. Everybody pitches in and like 10 family units crash together in a house on the beach. It’s crowded but cozy. Last summer Natalia got to make her first “Road Trip” to Florida with the family. WJ and Natalia hope to always be able to make this trip with the family, it is a special place.
Canton, Wisconsin
Yet another place full of amazing memories. This is where the majority of WJ’s father Bill Vincent’s relatives live, as well as where WJ’s dad grew up. Some of WJ’s favorite memories growing up, especially all the Christmas Celebrations and Thanksgivings at Grandma and Grandpa Vincent’s house. Then there were the summers spent at Uncle Bob and Aunt Sally’s farm. Of course we can’t leave out the many weekends camping on “The Land” which is where WJ’s parents have now retired to. Then there were the “Labor Day, and Memorial Day” get togethers. Whether it was, “Kick the Can”, “Hide and Seek”, “Truth, Dare, Double Dare, or Promise To Repeat” oh, whoops sorry can’t share a lot of those, they are Top Secret!!! But, ask Jen, Liz, James, WJ, Charlie, Tonya, Jamie, Gordie, Kim, Heidi, Holly, Haley, Jennifer, Erin, Mark, Jeremy, Zach, or any of the other kids that were there the night of the “Bear in the Woods”.
