💕 How I Met My Husband: A Story of Missed Moments and Meant-to-Be

Rachael Shine
Sep 8
2 min read

📷 A Memory He Remembers — and One I Don’t

Two smiling people in green aprons pose together indoors, one wearing a black cap and glasses. Background shows stairs and office items. — When we got to hand make custom rings in Japan

If you ask my husband how we met, he’ll confidently tell you:

“It was in high school. I walked into the photo room during lunch, and there you were — sitting there like you owned the place.”

Apparently, that moment stuck with him...But me? I have zero memory of it. 😅

Funny how two people can share a moment without both realizing it was a beginning. For me, our story starts just a little bit later.

A group of eight people smiling around a table with pizza boxes. There's a Christmas tree in the wood-paneled room. Festive and joyful mood. — The friend group in question, this was the second time we ever hung out

🌟 When I Remember Meeting Him

Smiling couple with glasses and purple hair, close together outdoors on a sunny day. Blue sky and blurred nature background.

The first time I really remember meeting him was after high school. I was headed out to hang with a mutual friend, and there he was — hanging back a bit, blending into the background.

Turns out, he was intentionally steering clear of me.Why? Because his post-high school friend group was full of rowdy boys, and he didn’t think he had enough charisma to keep up.

Spoiler alert: He had plenty.

🗓️ From Friends to Forever

About a year later, our paths crossed again — and this time, the timing was just right.

We started dating on February 13, 2017, right before Valentine’s Day.
He proposed on July 5, 2019, fireworks literally and figuratively.
And we got married on July 13, 2020 — surrounded by people who saw our whole journey unfold.

It wasn’t instant. It wasn’t a whirlwind.

It was real, steady, and rooted in quiet moments and mutual respect.

💫 Why I Love Our Story

Man with blue face paint and woman with purple hair smiling in a cozy room. Wood cabinets in background. Playful atmosphere.

Our beginning wasn’t one of those cinematic first glances where the world slows down. It was a story that built over time — through friendship, laughter, and learning who we were (and who we wanted to be) outside of high school walls.

I love that we both have different versions of how we met. It just means we were meant to find each other — even if we didn’t quite notice it at the same time.

💌 Capturing Love Stories Like Ours

If you’ve been following my work, you know I believe in telling stories with soul. Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to capturing couples who aren’t perfect, but real — with histories, quirks, and a timeline that doesn’t follow the script.

Because love isn’t always a fairytale...Sometimes, it’s a slow burn that starts in a photo room you don’t even remember. 😉

✨ If you’re ready to tell your story in photos, reach out anytime — I’d be honored to help you document your own journey. rachaelshinephotography.com/contact

Bride in white dress and groom in blue suit holding hands in abandoned building. Graffiti on walls, rustic, joyful mood.