This Valentine's Day a couple is eloping. Eloping is romantic enough, but wait till you read their story.
Seventeen years ago Linda Gabriel and Nick Clous were married to different people. The two couples were good friends. Over time Nick's wife passed away and Linda was divorced. Since they'd always been good friends they would catch a movie every now and again, go out for a bite together, things like that.
Without either of them realizing it, they were falling in love. Nick asked Linda to move in with him, she agreed.
Linda has suffered several serious health related challenges. She has been rushed to the hospital numerous times and Nick has been by her bedside every time.
Nick asked Linda to marry him. She said she just wasn't ready for a serious commitment. Undaunted, Nick gave her a "promise ring". She accepted. A couple of years go by which brings us to this Valentine's Day.
One morning back in January I received a call from a giddy woman. She announced that she had just been asked to marry the man of her dreams! She'd been to our web-site and saw that we offer romantic elopement packages. I told her "congratulations" and what day did they want to be married? "Valentine's Day", she gushed.
We discussed the different packages . Throughout the entire conversation she giggled and sighed, telling me how in love she is and the importance of everything being romantic. I assured her that the Castle Marne is definitely romantic!
The next day Nick and Linda came over. We sat down and talked about their ideas and discussed details. They shared their story with me. I was so taken by it I decided to share it with you.
Linda is 61 and Nick is 71. They are like school kids in love. They radiate their joy. It is a pleasure to be with them.
They have chosen to spend their honeymoon in the John T. Mason room. It has a queen-size bed and an in-room jetted tub.
Our packages include the ceremony, bridal bouquet and matching boutonniere, wedding cake for two and a candlelight dinner in the private Peacock Dining Room. Everything is included.
A few days after they made their reservation, I got a call from Linda. She had decided what kind of flowers she wants and details about the cake. She has chosen white tulips with a red ribbon and she will have a heart shaped cake of butter pecan with chocolate mousse filling.
She told me she'd picked out a dress and was sad her best friend couldn't be with her to help with all the decisions. As the dress was being wrapped up she mentioned to the sales clerk that it was to be her wedding dress. Feeling better she stopped by the make-up counter at Dillards. Again she mentioned that she was getting married. The make-up counter became a buzz of activity. What had been one clerk became several. The ladies fluttered around Linda, trying different shades of shadow, colors of lipstick and fragrances. The ladies have offered to do Linda's make-up the day of the wedding, for free!
I asked Linda how she and Nick found out about the Castle Marne. She told me Nick's son had stayed here and told her how romantic it was.
Remember the promise ring? Well it's officially an engagement ring now! I'll post photos of the wedding as soon as I've got them.
