“Despite the distance, we are closer and have built a marriage better than my wildest dreams.”

Meet Megan. Remember when I mentioned in Sam Williams’s post that I would be introducing her best friend Megan later on in the series? Well, now is later! Megan is married to Tyler. Between Sam, Megan, and Tyler, they are the complete wedding planning package. Sam does [fabulous] hair and designs/plans, Megan does [flawless] makeup (I’ve seen her in action and can attest to the beauty of her craft!), and Tyler is a photographer. Well, he is a Marine now, but plans to continue with his photography business after parting ways with the Marine Corps.

Megan and Tyler have a new-age fairy tale story! They met randomly on Instagram while Tyler was stationed near Megan’s brother. Tyler asked if she planned on coming to see her brother any time soon because he wanted to meet her. Megan bluffed…and said she was totally coming to see her brother soon! Over the seven months they dated, they were geographically together for three weekends before Tyler proposed, and they were married exactly a year later.

As many military spouses have mentioned, communication is huge in any relationship, but especially in a military relationship when there is a lot of time apart. They learned this in the first year of their marriage when they were going through their first PCS and both trying to start their careers, as well as their first deployment. Learning each other’s communication styles is so important…Caleb and I have learned that throughout our marriage, PCSs, and deployments as well!

Megan is currently earning her Associates Degree in Business at Coastal Carolina Community College and working with Silver Ceiling Beauty as a makeup artist. Once Tyler gets out of the Marine Corps (which is a really big, scary step for many Marines), she will be starting her own business in Florida, while Tyler begins his endeavors with a local photographer and mentor. She is also a fur mom to two freaking adorable Chinese Crested puppies…for whatever reason, I feel like all dogs are always puppies, but especially the ones that stay small all their lives! As if Chinese Cresteds (even as a prior English teacher, I’m not sure how to make that one plural…) don’t already have enough personality, their names are Chauncey and Titus, and Chauncey’s tongue is NEVER in his mouth!

Sam and Megan lived together during their husband’s deployments and shared many nights of ice cream, wine, and Netflix accompanied by the occasional cry sesh. Some of the things that people said to her while Tyler was gone were, “It’s like he’s on a business trip,” “Cheer up, time will fly by,” and “He will be home before you know it.” Please put all three of these phrases into the “Don’t Say to a Military Spouse with a Deployed Husband” category. Even with the best of intentions, they come off as more hurtful than helpful…because he is not on a business trip, times does not fly by, and “before I knew it” was the day after he left… I offer a few suggestions to say instead: “What type of wine do you prefer, white or red?” “Can I make you dinner?” “My husband/boyfriend/significant other is free this weekend to mow your lawn.” All of the above will always be greatly appreciated by any military spouse with a deployed other half.

Keep Megan and Tyler in mind if you or a friend is getting married in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, area…they will be great resources in the wedding industry!