The Lucky Lady: Crystal Steadman, 28, Public Relations Executive
Her Leading Man: Winston Thompson, Jr., 32, Healthcare Executive
The Big Day: July 26, 2015
How did you meet your man?
Winston and I met as children while growing up in our church, Bethlehem Missionary Church in Queens. We’ve been friends forever.
Were you looking for love at the time?
When Winston and I “officially” started dating, I had just returned to New York from college. We soon started hanging out after work and seriously enjoyed each other’s company. He became the best part of my day, because he always had a surprise waiting for me. Everyone around us thought that we were in a relationship, but we were just happy and enjoying life. The transition from friendship to a couplehood was so natural that we didn’t realize it was happening. We just fell in love and it took us both by surprise.
Was it love at first sight?
Winston was my first crush and it’s been that way for as long as I can remember. There was something about his laugh and his energy that attracted me early on, but our age difference, travels for school and other relationships kept us apart for a while. I had a feeling that we would eventually have our time to be together and we did.
Most romantic date ever?
Our most memorable date was my prom. Yes, Winston was my prom date back in 2003, and he made me feel like such a queen. I will never forget it!
How did he pop the question?
On Thursday, December 5th, Winston met me in the city for my annual office holiday party. At the end of the holiday party, we grabbed our coats, jumped in our town car and began recapping the night’s events. Mid-conversation, he told me that “He loved me more than anything,” and I responded with, “I love you more than that!” We laughed, and then he said “I could spend every moment just like this, with you in my arms”—and I sarcastically said “there’s nothing stopping you, prove it!”
Little did I know that my cynical response opened the door for him to ask me the question of a lifetime. He then asked me to close my eyes, and once I did he got on one knee in the car, took the ring out of his pocket and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. When I realized what was actually happening, I screamed, yelled, cried, and after about thirty minutes of emotional explosions, I said “yes!”