The Lucky Lady: Lindsay West, 25, Registered Nurse
Her Leading Man: Ricky Thompson, 39, Broadcast Designer
The Big Day: October 12, 2013
Wedding Location: Fayetteville, Georgia
How did you meet your man?
It was April 27, 2010 and I had recently graduated college and moved to Atlanta. I had only planned to stay there for a short while before going to California to live and work. One nigh my cousin, Natalee, invited me to join her at the Cheesecake Factory to meet with a “nice guy” she knew from college, and one whom she felt would be a great match for me, and she was right. This guy would become my soon-to-be-husband, Rick. Needless to say, I never made it to California.
What was your first impression of him?
That he was a nerd, but a cutie! LOL!
Was it love at first sight, Lindsay?
I never thought of it that way, but we were attached at the hip after our first blind date.
What made you fall in love with her?
I fell in love with Lindsay because I realized how committed to our relationship she truly was.
Did you know she was ‘The One’ right away?
No, I didn’t but it only took a few months. I began to miss her while out with friends and anytime I was away from her. That’s when I knew.
Describe your most romantic date ever.
Rick couldn’t really cook at all back then, and he doesn’t drink alcohol, so for our very first Valentine’s Day together, he told me to get dressed and meet him at his place. When I arrive, he answered the door dressed like a waiter, complete with black slacks, a white shirt, black tie and a napkin draped across one arm. He took my coat, directed me to the dinner table, and said, “Mr. Thompson will be here to join you shortly.” The fact that he had a table was interesting to me because the day before he had no furniture in his small one-bedroom apartment. The table was dressed with a huge bouquet of red roses and mildly scented candles, and music played softly in the background. He offered me red wine too. After bringing to my table one of my favorite dishes from The Cheesecake Factory, which I later found out it took him five days to figure out how to make, Rick the waiter, disappeared to the back room and Rick, my date, appeared for the rest of the date.
Who said, “I love you” first?
He did, and he proudly claims that. However, the jury is still out.
Sweetest thing he has ever done for you?
I really detested my first RN job and I’d been there almost a year. After seeing how stressed out the job was making me, he said, “How about you quit and allow me to pay your bills until you find something less stressful?” We had only been dating for 10 months at the time and we each had our own places and bills. It really proved to me just how selfless he really was. I didn’t take the offer, but it was so nice to know he had my back.
How did he pop the question?
One night we took an impromptu drive because we were opening a new business and under a lot of stress. I wasn’t really in the mood to go, but he insisted. He drove to a remote park in Lithonia, GA. We sat on a bench and began to tell me how much he loved and cared for me. He got down on one knee and pulled out a small black velvet box. He asked, “Will you spend the rest of your life with me?” I responded, “You’re joking. There could be a lizard in there.” He opened it and the box was empty. I was even more upset and agitated, so I stormed off to the car. When I swung open the car door, a diamond ring was resting on my seat. I turned around and he was right behind me, once again down on one knee. “Now, will you marry me?” he asked. I jumped up and down and kissed him. Of course, I said “yes.”
Photos: Cendino Temé Photography