Courtney Miller and Andrew Sterling
Engagement date: February 2008
Wedding date: September 5, 2009
For better or worse? Been there! 2008 was a trying year… I’m 29 and played ball, rowed crew, and ran marathons… all on half a heart. I was surprisingly diagnosed with heart valves that weren’t functioning, so half my blood was pouring back into my heart instead of flowing through my body, and I needed two risky open heart surgeries in four days in Cleveland.
My engagement, just a few months before, was my shining light; my fiancé was who I held onto during the darkest time in my young life. We got engaged at the Inn at Perry Cabin (of Wedding Crashers fame) in St. Michaels, and I recall how happy and full of love my heart was. I worked with the concierge and wait staff all day and they set our room, overlooking the water, up while we were at an amazing dinner. I could see the wait staff peeking around the corner… “he do it yet?” I wrote three poems for my bride to be, one about how happy she made me, one about our life together, and one that popped the big question! I had them prep the room, candles, scattered rose petals, and had dessert delivered to the room. One serving tray had crème brulee; the other had the Tiffany’s solitaire.
She was stunned, and I was lucky enough to have the perfect engagement, the happiest moment that literally saved my life. The wedding is in Annapolis, and will celebrate LIFE and LOVE!