On Saturday afternoon, at Holy Cross Church, Kincumber, I will be lucky enough to get married to my best friend, Heather.
I met Heather by accident. Somehow, the OKCupid profile I set up (on the advice of the man who will stand next to me on Saturday) accidentally messaged Heather’s profile. She messaged me and we struck up a conversation.
Over the next few days we traded messages and spoke on Messenger and quickly realised we had something going on. As Heather lived in Sydney and I am a Melbournian through and through, we decided to give a long distance relationship a try.
We met, physically, for the first time in March, 2010. I took Heather on a date to Canberra, of all places to view the Masterpieces from Paris exhibition. It was in bed, around 6am, that I asked her to marry me.
Actually, it went something a little like this.
‘Jeeze, if I had a ring, I’d ask you to marry me.’
‘Well, do you really need a ring?’
‘I… I guess not. Will you marry me?’
‘YES!’
So that was that! The majority of the next day, before I had to drop Heather off at the bus station, was spent trawling the jewellery stores of the city’s malls looking for a ring. We found a little ruby number that suited our needs.
I remember putting Heather on the bus, with tears in my eyes. She tells me she was bawling too. We were both sure we’d met the person we were going to spend the rest of our lives with.
Heather came down to Melbourne the next weekend and somehow managed to get herself invited to my grandparent’s 60th wedding anniversary. It was a pretty heavy introduction to the family and the fact that Heather is a very vibrant, vivacious sort led to some interesting situations when lumped in with a bunch of pragmatic, rather serious Stuchberys. She’s loud and flamboyant, they’re reserved and quiet. She dresses in eye-scorching combinations of colour, they wear grey and black knits. She’s a dirty Irish Catholic, we’re god-fearing Anglicans. Eventually her charm offensive won them over, however. Now she’s a very integral part of our family. She’s loved to pieces.
Heather was meant to stay for the wedding anniversary, my birthday and then fly back to Sydney.
Somehow, she’s never quite got round to leaving.
In the last two years, she’s had to put up with a lot. She’s battled illness (including a rather spectacular case of Whooping Cough), dodgy employers, depression, anxiety, her future husband’s depression and anxiety, her future husband antagonizing large, powerful organizations, her future husband getting punched by various sides of the law. her future husband leaving the house an absolute pigsty and her future husband’s awesomely terrible eructations.
She’s a saint. A princess. A fairy queen. A beautiful, kind, intelligent. imaginative, brave young woman with a wicked sense of humour and a shipload of empathy.
That’s why I’m near jumping out of my skin with excitement. I can’t wait to get up in front of my family and friends and promise to treat her right for the rest of our days.
I love you, Heather.
Hi Michael
What a lovely story. Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding.
Heather sounds like a very lovely person, who will bring you lots of happiness
Best Wishes for the future.
From Lyn xx
Best Wishes for your lives together. Always remember the ‘together’ bit of marriage!
Congrats and best wishes.
Daaaaawww… That’s lovely. Congrats to you two!
Good luck man. Mariage is The Best.
Awwww congrats you guys. I hope the wedding is amazing and married life even better
It’s just as well I did a double-take with “eructations”, because for a moment there, I thought you had written something else entirely! See you in Sydney mate.
Time to start a new journey together by the sounds of it. Reckon the force of one-plus-one is a winner! Heaps happy for you both!
This may seem out of character (to anyone who knows me) but, sincerely, Congratulations to you both! I haven’t really kept in touch with her of late, but I’m really glad she’s happy (& hopefully healthier) & I think you two are great together. Thank you for sharing your tale, Best wishes for its subsequent chapters, many years of joy & many gorgeous additions to your family!
Congratulations, Mike
Nice.
Congratulations! I won’t wish you luck, because it sounds like you two don’t need it
You seem off to an excellent start, and I’m sure it’ll continue on that way.
Have a fantastic day, and then a fantastic lifetime!
How lovely. Best wishes to you both.
Congratulations Mike. Hope the big day is wonderful, you’re both very lucky.
Dawww. What a proposal! Congrats!
Aw shucks what a lovely story. Best wishes to you both.
Brought a tear (well, several actually) to my eye. Sounds like you’re both lucky – each to have the other!!! All the best for a great wedding and, more importantly, a brilliant marriage!!!
Congratulations Mr and Mrs Stuchbery.
Have a fantastic special day tomorrow.
I Wish you every success for your future together.
Congratulations, and best wishes for a long and happy life together!