One of the best things about meeting a couple that’s deeply in love is finding out how it all got started: People meet each other at the most unlikely times and in the most unlikely places, and hearing those tales often reaffirms our faith in everything romantic. Now, there’s entire Instagram account dedicated to exactly that. The account is called The Way We Met, and it documents ordinary couples from all over the world and asks them how they ran into each other for the first time. Some of the stories are surprising, others are incredibly sweet — and if you’re in need of a mood booster, all of these love origin stories will make you smile.
“If you would have told me I was going to meet my husband at an erotic poetry reading in South Korea, I would have told you you were crazy. But it just goes to show how unpredictable life is. Back in 2010, I was working in Seoul when I had been asked to recite a few poems at an erotic poetry show. I took public transportation to the venue and packed my dress and heels in a bag so I wouldn’t have to wear them on the 2 hour train ride. When I arrived, I headed straight to the washroom to change. However, to get to the washroom, I had to walk outside and into another building. On my way back, now in heels and a little black dress, I bumped into a handsome man standing outside. He smiled at me, and I smiled back. When the show began, I got up on stage and read my poems. I was so nervous, I didn’t notice the same man from outside watching me from the crowd. He then took the stage right after me. As DeAndre recited his erotic poems, he looked straight at me the entire time. It was pretty intense and hot! After the show, he came up to me and said, “I don’t care where you’re going after this, but I’m joining you.” Admittedly, I was intrigued by his forwardness. We spent the rest of the night dancing and laughing. He then put me in a cab and promised we’d see each other again one day. He left Korea for the states 3 days later. Soon after, my contract ended and I went backpacking through South East Asia. I then took another contract in Morocco. All the while, DeAndre was deployed in Iraq. We would email and speak on the phone as much as possible. In Summer of 2013, I was living in Toronto. DeAndre had some vacation time saved up so he decided to come visit me for 2 weeks. To be honest, I was never the romantic type and being independent was a huge part of my identity. But when DeAndre left to return to the US, he took my heart with him. A year later, his contract with the Army was up and he moved to Canada. He enrolled in culinary school to become a chef and we began our life together. We were married in December 2014- exactly 4 years after the day we met. Now I’m a bona fide hippie loving tree hugger who loves love, kale, and healing circles. Who would have thought?” A photo posted by The Way We Met (@thewaywemet) on May 12, 2016 at 3:19pm PDT
“We met at a Mexican restaurant in Austin. She was sitting with a friend of mine from college and I ended up talking to her for the rest of the night. She was nervous around me, mostly because I was super gay and she wasn’t…yet. We had an instant connection but it took 5 weeks of friendship before she finally admitted to having feelings for me. She had never been in a gay relationship before. She was the head cheerleader date the football player kind of girl. She never in a million years thought she would end up with a woman. Over the next 6 years I would chase her pretty much across the country. She moved to 4 different cities for work and wouldn’t move back to Austin because there wasn’t enough “fashion” (oh, if you only knew her). We did long distance for years. I finally convinced her to move back to Texas, we agreed on Dallas, where I started my own apartment locating company. For years she struggled with being gay. It wasn’t something anyone expected, including her, and her friends and family weren’t very accepting at first. Her mother pretty much refused to acknowledge that I even existed for the first 3.5 years of our relationship. I would have to leave our apartment when she came to town for Christmas, and Kayla would have to take down all our photos from the fridge and hide my clothes. It wasn’t until my own mother passed away in 2013 that things changed. Kayla’s mom sent flowers to the funeral and texted me- something she had never done before. After that, our relationship changed and Kayla’s mom wanted to be a part of our lives. Now she calls me more than she calls Kayla! We are closer than ever and It’s amazing. I asked her for her blessing to propose to Kayla and she couldn’t be more excited to plan a wedding. I am so thankful we were able to move past our jagged history because many families are not able to. I proposed to Kayla in St. Thomas in the ocean. I told her she better put the ring on her finger before I drop it. Finally after six years of dating, I get to marry the girl of my dreams.” (?: @imsteph) A photo posted by The Way We Met (@thewaywemet) on Dec 22, 2015 at 3:48pm PST
“I am from a small town in New Hampshire, but was at a conference in New York City about two and a half years ago. I have always been a fan of Maxfield Parrish who is a great painter. One of my favorite Maxfield Parrish paintings is called the “King Cole” and is in the King Cole bar at the St. Regis Hotel. There is never a time when I’m in the city that I don’t go in there just to take a photo and admire the painting. I wandered in one late afternoon and started to take a photo with my iPhone. At the same time, a very nice gentleman walked into the bar on his way to the barber, who’s salon was located in the basement of the St. Regis. He asked me what I was doing, as most people go to a bar to have a drink and I was clearly there on a mission. We ended up talking for at least 4 hours. I am 54 years old, divorced, and never thought I would marry again. He, at the age of 65, had NEVER been married and accepted that he probably never would be. Well, we were both wrong. We are getting married this summer in Newport, Rhode Island amongst all of our very surprised and happy friends. All because of my favorite painting.” A photo posted by The Way We Met (@thewaywemet) on Aug 5, 2015 at 12:52pm PDT
“We met at an “Anti-Valentine’s Day” party at Birds cafe in Hollywood. I noticed him when he walked in wearing the same camo jacket as me. What can I say? I like to buy boy’s jackets.” A photo posted by The Way We Met (@thewaywemet) on Jan 26, 2016 at 3:36pm PST
“On a cold winter day, Pierrick was on his way to meet a few friends at one of his favorite restaurants located in the West Village called Buvette. I was moving out of a friend’s apartment into my new place in Chelsea. It’s at the corner of 13th street and 7th avenue that our magical encounter happened. Staring at each other while crossing the street, it felt like the time stopped for a few seconds. Pierrick turned around and said, “You are so beautiful that I needed to stop and talk to you.” We exchanged a few words and then our phone numbers. Over the next few months, we got to know each other. After two wonderful years together, Pierrick proposed to me on the same street corner where we met. We have now been married for 8 months and every time we pass by 13th street and 7th ave, we stop to share a kiss and remember that special moment.” A photo posted by The Way We Met (@thewaywemet) on Oct 21, 2015 at 11:02am PDT
“I was setup with my boyfriend by a friend. She ranted and raved about how we needed to meet and how we would hit it off. I wasn’t convinced and didn’t want to be setup. She was persistent though and made me agree to just one date. So I met him for ice cream. I remember he made me feel so special and I was instantly hooked. After only a short time dating, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Going through the worst while starting a new relationship is definitely not ideal. However, he never left my side and 8 months later proposed. He is the love of my life. It takes a great man to know that a bumpy road lies ahead, but to willingly jump in the drivers seat anyways.” A photo posted by The Way We Met (@thewaywemet) on Sep 25, 2015 at 2:22pm PDT
“It was 2011 and I had just recently moved to Edinburgh, Scotland. I was living in a hostel and my dorm-mates were two of his close friends from home that he had been traveling with. One morning, while everyone was in bed hungover, in barges this Australian guy with a massive backpack, a guitar case, a tin of milo, and a jar of Vegemite. He starts playing the guitar and all I can think is, “can someone shut this guy up?” A month later we fell off the stage in a club while making out. He made me bacon and eggs in bed the next morning. That was 4 years ago, and we’ve since traveled 28 countries on 4 continents together.” A photo posted by The Way We Met (@thewaywemet) on Oct 9, 2015 at 3:34pm PDT
“Shaun and I ran in similar circles for years. Sometimes he came to the club where I worked and we often attended the same parties and events. We even exchanged numbers once but nothing came of it. Years later, by crazy coincidence, he ended up on my neighbor’s deck for a get-together. My neighbor is also a close friend of mine who convinced me to move into a two family home on the other side of her. While sitting on her porch, he randomly looked at Facebook on his phone and noticed I was one of their mutual friends in common. He went up to her and asked her how she knew me. Her response was, “Crystal? She’s a good friend of mine, and you’re actually steps away from her patio door.” What are the chances of that! The rest is history. We are now married with two boys. It was fate.” A photo posted by The Way We Met (@thewaywemet) on Sep 2, 2015 at 9:13am PDT
“Twenty-one years ago while going through a messy divorce, a very dear friend kept insisting she had the perfect match lined up for me when I was ready to “get back on the wagon.” Impatiently, She tricked me into meeting him when she arranged a birthday party for her husband and invited me. I was suspicious at first and asked her, “will he be there?” When her answer was no, I agreed to attend. Then, according to my friend, he changed his mind last minute and was able to come due to changes in his work schedule. When our eyes locked, it was amazing; I knew instantly there was a deep connection. How clever of my friend to have known this! We have since married and have been for 15 years. He is my true soulmate. Sadly, my dear friend who introduced us has been taken by Breast Cancer, but every day I look to heaven and thank her for her persistence in getting us together. It seems that sometimes our family and friends know us better then we know ourselves and can be the best matchmakers.” A photo posted by The Way We Met (@thewaywemet) on Jul 27, 2015 at 11:16am PDT