Ahh, the “way we met” stories. Many couples love to tell the story of their fall into love, whether it was a slow burn, a sudden flash of connection, or being totally uninterested in the other person at first. Luckily, many people eat those stories up, and are suckers for love — so one Instagram account has started collecting these sweet snapshots of adoration!
Brooklyn Sherman is the creator the @TheWayWeMet account, and gets hundreds of submissions daily. For her, showcasing the unique and awesome ways that couples meet in person is a way to remind people that meeting the love of your life in person is still totally possible — even in the age of online dating.
“People email me and tell me that they had given up on love until they started following my account,” Sherman says , “and honestly hearing that, and knowing I’m making a positive difference in people’s lives is all I need to hear for all of this to be worth it.”
These glimpses of love will inspire you to believe in the power of connection out in the real world, at any age. Scroll through some of our favorites below!
The perfect match after you think you could never love again
“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 @thewaywemet on Jul 27, 2015 at 11:16am PDT
Meeting for the first time at a wedding shoot
Love At First Sight And Growing Up Together
Staying Together Through A Cancer Diagnosis
“Gabe and I met our freshman year of high school. As soon as I saw him at the ripe age of 14, I knew he was “my person.” So I did what any 14 year old girl would do; I went up to him, pushed him up against the locker, kissed him, said bye and then ran away. I was so scared to talk to him, that I dodged him for the next three months. Eventually, we started talking again and a couple months later, he asked me out. Gabe and I have now been together for almost 6 years. Earlier this year, Gabe and I’s world was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with stage three brain cancer. As a result, we had to move out of our apartment, stay in multiple hospitals, and move to a diffrent city for Gabe’s radiation and chemo. Gabe stays so positive through the tough times and just his smile makes my heart stop. He surprised me once again on April 4th, 2015, when in his hospital gown and all, asked me if I would marry him. Of course I said yes. We will continue to be together through sickness and in health no matter what. I know we can handle anything that is thrown our way.” A photo posted by @thewaywemet on
Jul 18, 2015 at 2:31pm PDT
The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me
Striking Up A Conversation With A Neighbor
2nd Grade Teacher Marries the 6th Grade Teacher
“In 1999, I thought I married the love of my life. Turns out he started cheating on me about a month after our wedding. After three years of trying to make it work, I decided I needed a big change. I took a leave of absence from my teaching job and moved across the country, from New Jersey to California. It was three weeks before my 30th birthday and there I was; divorced, with no job, no friends, and navigating a new state. I was staying with my cousin and her husband. I finally got an interview for a teaching position at a small Catholic school. When I was offered the job, the principal warned me that for the last 10 years, every person that taught in this classroom had either gotten married or pregnant. In fact, the reason why they were hiring me was because the previous second grade teacher married the third grade teacher. I laughed. Shortly after that conversation, I was introduced to the attractive 6th grade teacher and within 10 months we were engaged. Five months after that, we were married. We’ve now been married for 13 years and have three beautiful children.” A photo posted by @thewaywemet on
Aug 2, 2015 at 12:17pm PDT
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The Psychic Who Told Me I Was Going To Fall In Love
“Early in 2013, I went to a psychic and the woman told me I was going to fall in love, and when I met that person, I would know immediately. She mentioned he was artistic, as was I, but we wouldn’t share the same medium. She also said he would appreciate my quirkiness. On Memorial Day of 2013, I moved into Chris’ building for my art residency. He was the RA on my floor and immediately noticed me in my eclectic purple jeans. I noticed him too. When I first walked into my room, I realized I didn’t have a bed and the ceiling above my shower was peeling. Chris came to my rescue, bringing me a brand new mattress and after enough pestering, repaired my ceiling. A few days later, Chris took the plunge and left a handwritten note on my door. We went on our first date a week later and the rest is history!” A photo posted by @thewaywemet on
Jun 17, 2015 at 8:02pm PDT
I Didn’t Want To Look Like I Was Trying Too Hard
My First, My Only, And My Last Love
Taking Emailing A Coworker To The Next Level
Waiting For A Guy With Confidence — And Being Surprised!
How did you meet your significant other? Let us know in the comments! <3