Experience a Love Story Ceremony

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One of the questions I hear most often is, "What does a Love Story Ceremony actually sound like?" 

Every ceremony I write is completely custom and unique to each couple. The sample below is shared with permission to give you a feel for my storytelling style.

This love story begins in June 2020 in sunny Orlando, 

where Miranda, a dedicated medical student, 

has just returned from Tallahassee for her clinical years. 

and between the stress of school 

and a streak of lackluster dates, 

she’s just about ready to delete the Hinge app. 

But before she can hit that button, 

one photo gives her pause—

a dog named Scout standing on a fire hydrant. 

It’s odd. It’s amusing. She’s intrigued.

Scout belongs to a guy named Daniel. 

Miranda decides to leave a comment, 

and just like that, a conversation begins. 

They start texting about their dogs

and their shared love of travel and hiking, 

and the messages quickly turn into a daily habit. 

Miranda feels a spark—Daniel seems thoughtful, 

grounded, and genuinely fun to talk to. 

For the first time in a while, dating doesn’t feel like a chore.

On the other side of that screen, Daniel is also in Orlando 

and pleasantly surprised by how naturally things are 

unfolding with this girl who liked Scout’s photo. 

Her dog, Ollie, is adorable, and their chats somehow just flow. 

He finds himself growing increasingly excited each time his phone buzzes. 

Daniel asks Miranda out after a couple of weeks of texting, 

but thanks to a prior camping trip with his buddies 

Justin and Cole, the date doesn’t happen right away. 

He is quietly panicking that the infamous dating app window might slam shut before they ever make it to appetizers.

Their first date is at The Stubborn Mule in downtown Orlando 

on June 18th, right in the thick of COVID, when outdoor dining 

is a gamble, and indoor dining feels like a game of spaced-out musical chairs. 

On the evening of the date, Daniel shows up on time 

and waits outside, trying to look casual while secretly 

scanning every car that passes. 

Was that her? No. That one? Nope. 

At one point, he is convinced she has drive-by ghosted him. 

Meanwhile, Miranda is circling the block like 

she is competing in the Daytona 500, 

cursing downtown Orlando parking and feeling worse 

by the minute as she spots Daniel awkwardly pacing outside.

Eventually, she finds a spot, sprints over, 

apologizes profusely, and Daniel—relieved she is real 

and not just a highly convincing bot—instantly relaxes. 

They sit down inside, chatting over Moscow Mules, 

and find that their text banter translates effortlessly in person. 

Miranda shares how she is gearing up for her third year 

of medical school—during a pandemic, no less—

and they bond over how close they both are to their families. 

She even pulls out old Halloween photos, 

including the now-legendary year her whole family dressed 

as farm vegetables and she was the corn on the cob. 

Daniel figured that anyone who proudly confesses to being 

a corn on the cob is either very confident or just wonderfully weird—and either way, he is all in.

The first date goes so well that Daniel, after waiting just 

a day or two for the perfect balance between eager and cool, 

asks her out again. 

This time, they plan a dog meetup. 

After all, if Ollie and Scout don’t get along, 

the relationship is probably doomed.

Fortunately, the dogs hit it off right away, 

like they’d been friends forever. 

After the park, they grab lunch, 

where Daniel realizes he’d forgotten his wallet. 

Miranda graciously picks up the tab, probably sensing 

this might not be the last time she saves the day.

For their third date, they take the dogs to the beach. 

Sunshine, waves, and two happy pups seal the deal. 

From then on, they are inseparable—

drive-by scares and forgotten wallets (mostly) behind them.

And that date leads to the next, and soon Miranda and Daniel

are building a life and a future together.

After over three years of dating—

and more than a year of living together—

Miranda starts dropping hints that she’s ready to settle down. 

Daniel gets the message loud and clear. 

Thankfully, Miranda knows he’d be entirely out of 

his element picking out a ring solo, so in September 2023, 

they go ring shopping together. 

She picks out exactly what she wants, and while Daniel 

doesn’t buy anything at the moment, he’s quietly taking notes.

Shortly after, Daniel buys the ring and starts planning. 

They’ve already booked a trip to Italy for Miranda’s birthday 

in March, and he decides it’s the perfect cover: a romantic getaway that just so happens to include a surprise proposal. 

His original plan? 

A dreamy boat ride around Capri on her actual birthday, March 7. 

He even goes as far as ordering a smaller ring box engraved 

with the date so it would be easier to hide. 

It’s all very well thought out—until life 

(and the Mediterranean Sea) has other plans.

By March 6, they’re four days into their Italian adventure. 

They’ve explored Rome and Sorrento, and today, 

they’re headed for a hike along the Amalfi Coast 

iconic Path of the Gods. 

The boat captain has just messaged Daniel with bad news: 

the seas might be too rough tomorrow. 

The Capri boat proposal could be a no-go. 

Daniel starts sweating—figuratively and literally.

To make matters more stressful, Daniel has decided to

save some money and skip the $50 shuttle to the trailhead. 

Instead, he insists they can manage the local train and bus system for just $3. 

Miranda, who knows him well, isn’t surprised—

Daniel is both overconfident with directions and proudly frugal. 

That $47 “savings” turns into a two-and-a-half-hour misadventure involving language barriers, 

a very confused bus clerk, and a lot of waiting in 

a sleepy Italian town surrounded by locals.

Eventually, they catch the right bus and arrive at the trail. 

It’s peaceful, empty, and absolutely stunning—

panoramic views of the Amalfi Coast and Positano far below. 

But Daniel can’t enjoy it fully yet. 

He’s still carrying the ring, trying to act normal, 

and hauling a tripod around to “take photos,” 

which Miranda immediately finds suspicious 

since Daniel hates taking pictures of himself. 

Daniel sets the tripod up multiple times during the hike, 

pretending it’s just about capturing the scenery—

meanwhile, he’s rehearsing.

Miranda starts to piece it together. 

He’s unusually stressed, fiddling with the camera, 

and now suggesting they backtrack to find “a better angle.” 

They reach a quiet overlook with a perfect view, 

and Daniel sets up the tripod one final time. 

He runs over, stands next to her, and then says, “Wait…”

That’s when he gets down on one knee and pulls out the ring.

Miranda is stunned. 

Even though she had a feeling it might happen on this trip, 

she’s in complete shock. 

So much so that she doesn’t even cry at first—

which is very unlike her. 

She vaguely hears him say, 

“Miranda, I love you so much. Will you marry me?” 

but admits she totally blacks out during the rest of it.

Daniel’s hands are shaking. 

He can’t remember a word he says, 

but once she nods yes (through tears), he finally breathes. 

The ring fits. The view is perfect. 

And for a few minutes, they just sit together, 

feeling like they’re on top of the world—

until it starts hailing, of course.

They hike down into Positano, hoping to celebrate, 

but discover it’s a ghost town in early March. 

So they take a winding public bus ride back to Sorrento, 

tired, happy, and finally relaxed. 

They spend Miranda’s birthday the next day in Capri, 

celebrating and calling their families. 

Everyone is thrilled—but really, it already felt 

official long before the ring.

Even if the proposal didn’t go exactly according to plan, 

it turns out to be everything it should be: 

scenic, heartfelt, a little chaotic, and very them.

And here we are today.