Man Crush Monday | Chris & Nina Kennedy

Nina’s everyday #ManCrush is her husband, Chris Kennedy.

Tell us the story of how you met...

Well we told people we met at PF Changs in line for the bathroom and he caught me as I tripped and fell. We really met on Match.com. 

What was the first date like?

We met up at City Grill - it was Wednesday, February 3rd.  I got there first and as I was waiting for him to walk in, I suddenly panicked that I couldn't remember how tall he said he was in his Match profile… I wore heels. When he got there we hugged - it was fine (phew!). The place was packed and SO loud, and by some miracle we got two seats at the bar. We decided to order some appetizers and I made him choose. Naturally he chose two of the hardest things ever to eat on a date - lettuce wraps and I can't remember the other… but I just remember barely eating anything. I was totally nervous and luckily he's got the gift of the gab because he kept the conversation going the whole time. We decided to get a nightcap across the street which was the complete opposite atmosphere and super quiet. At this point the gift of my gab was in full effect and we talked and talked for another two hours. I just remember thinking that I didn't want the night to end.

What makes him crush worthy?

He's just one of the most genuinely good people I have ever known. He's generous, caring, passionate, smart and handsome, and much like on our first date, I just never want the night to end when I'm with him.  

When did you know you wanted to spend the rest of your life with this man?

I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him when we were sitting at his favorite restaurant, The Pour House, watching a ‘Cuse game with a bunch of his friends. For some reason I got this overwhelming feeling of just being safe and exactly where I'm supposed to be. 

Tell us about the proposal…

The day started much like any other. I went to work but was taking a half-day to situate something with my car. I had also made plans to get my nails done with my BFF - she was supposed to meet me at my old house that we were in the process of selling. As I was sitting at work in the morning, I decided that I wanted to meet at the new house before our nail appointment instead (obviously not realizing that all the meanwhile, Chris is at the new house executing his elaborate proposal). She quickly texted me back and super bluntly said NO and that she would just meet me at the nail place. In a total panic she called Chris to let him know what was up and he immediately called me to tell me that our entire neighborhood was being sprayed by the Orkin man for mosquitoes, and that we were to stay away for several hours. As annoyed as I was that I couldn't go home, I was super pumped about the Orkin man because I hate getting bit by mosquitoes! Anyways, my friend and I got our nails done, everything was great… I ran to Wegmans afterwards to get some taco stuff to make for dinner and as I pulled into the driveway, I decided to call my dad to catch up. I sat in the driveway for probably 20 minutes, not even realizing what Chris was going through inside waiting for me to open the door. Finally I walked up to the door - it was locked which was weird, and it had one sunflower in the handle. Also weird, but not totally unlike him… I just thought he was being cute. He got to the door and unlocked it, and as soon as I saw him I knew something was up. He was super nervous AND he had a sport coat on. He tried to say some things to me, all of which I cannot remember - and then he took my hand and walked me to our living room, which he had decked out in 150 sunflowers, each in their own individual vases. His plan had been to propose to me in an actual sunflower field, however it had rained so much that year that the crop had completely died and the sunflowers never grew. The rest of the moment was a blur - he got down on one knee, proposed to me in Farsi (which my dad had taught him beforehand) and I don't even remember if I actually said yes, but it was one of the best days of my life (even though the Orkin man didn't actually come).