Crystal and Kelly "CHAPTER 1 - FIRST DATE"

Photography by Randy Bacon

If their first date was any indication, Kelly and Crystal should've known their relationship wouldn't always be easy.

Crystal: "He's just so pretty! I was like, 'he's got to be a jerk'".

Kelly:  "I took her to Ozark Empire Fair. It was bad.  It was a really bad, good first date.

Crystal: "Kelly didn't know that I get motion sick very easily, and he made me ride a ride.  I told him that I can't ride it, and he said 'yes, you can.' After that ride, I spent 40 minutes in the bathroom."

Kelly:  "I thought she left!  I sat outside the bathroom and eventually thought I got stood up. Then she came out and said that she had to go home, so I took her home...and got lost trying to find her house. It was a pretty memorable date."

Despite that rocky start, their romance progressed quickly.

Crystal:  "I only knew him two months, which was really unusual because I don't think either of us was looking for a serious relationship.  It was just really natural - after two months, I just knew.  We were engaged after only eight months, but it felt right.

Kelly: "Marriage feels even more right.  It's so great coming home from work and having someone there."

Crystal: "It's strange that way. I mean, I'm very independent and he's a loner-type person, so marriage has definitely changed us in that way.  We're so much happier being around each other."

After the wedding, Kelly and Crystal had to deal with some preconceived issues regarding their relationship.  Kelly had entered into marriage thinking everything was going to be perfect, similar to what he saw in the movies.