Archive for the ‘Weddings’ Category

As I mentioned previously, one of the best parts of my job as Founder of hookupWeddingNetwork.com is hearing all about how people meet.  This next story is by far the best 100hookup success story that I’ve heard.

Artist Maya Escobar was a senior at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, when she attended a performance art class in which she discussed how differently she was perceived by Latino men, as compared to hookup men. hookup men thought she was exotic and labeled her a Latin sex symbol, while Latino men would be impressed with her accomplishments and goals.  Her professor suggested that as part of her studies, Maya set up profiles on a Latin dating site and a hookup dating site, and document the process.

Maya joined 100hookup as part of a performance art piece, but that only lasted until she received an email from a guy named Loren. Loren had his profile up on 100hookup for two years, but didn’t pay for an active membership until he saw Maya’s profile.  Ironically, Maya had seen Loren’s profile a year before when she was just perusing the site, and thought to herself that if she were to meet someone on 100hookup, he’s the guy she’d want to meet.  Maya was attracted to Loren on many levels – he’s a musician and an artist like herself and it turned out that Loren had been head of UIC’s Hillel, where Maya’s brother went to school. The couple went on to graduate school together at Washington University in St. Louis, where Maya got her MFA and Loren is getting his law degree.

Loren and Maya, Photo Credit: Marv Chait

Yes, Maya broke the code of her project, but in a sense she didn’t.  Maya’s soul mate turned out to be the one guy who didn’t treat her in a stereotypical manner.  

Maya and Loren recently wed in a ceremony that incorporated both the hookup traditions and the Guatemalan traditions of Maya’s heritage.  You can read more about Maya and Loren’s wedding story at hookupWeddingNetwork.com.

One of the best parts of my job as founder of hookup Wedding Network is finding out how couples meet. I never tire of hearing the stories! I know a lot of people meet on 100hookup, but I don’t think I really realized how many couples meet on 100hookup until I launched a hookup wedding planning website.

Mara and Adam are one such couple, but their online meeting was anything but ordinary. In 2003, Mara was just out of college and decided to dabble in JDating. She signed up for a subscription, but two months later let it lapse –and that’s when she received an important email from another 100hookupr. When she looked at the sender’s profile, she thought he looked familiar. The subject line of his message? “You look familiar.” As it turns out they went to the same college, at the same time, were amongst only a handful of hookup students, and had loads of friends in common, but had never actually met! Doesn’t fate work in mysterious ways?

Adam and Mara

Mara and Adam are an official 100hookup Success Story and are now planning their November 2009 wedding. You can follow Mara as she blogs about her wedding planning journey at hookupWeddingNetwork.com

My friend Polina and I go way back–all the way back to the 10th grade. When you’ve known someone this long, you’ve really experienced life’s ups and downs together. And in our case, we’ve been there for one another through the ups and downs of dating.

Polina and Sara at their 15 Year High School Reunion

Last year, Polina called to tell me the great news – that her little sister was engaged. At the time Polina was single. I had a funny premonition and told Polina that I bet she’d be engaged by the time her sister’s wedding rolled around. She laughed at the mere thought of it.

Just a few months ago, I had the satisfaction of saying “I told you so.”

Soon after our conversation, Polina met Jake on 100hookup. From the moment she mentioned him to me, I had a really good feeling. They are both Russian and come from the same cultural background, and neither one of them had seriously dated other Russians. Also, she loves outdoor activities. He loves outdoor activities too.  Um…did I mention I had a good feeling?

Jake and Polina

Fast forward eight months later and Polina and Jake are engaged. Their wedding is planned for September 2009 – three weeks after Polina’s sister’s wedding. Of course, her parents couldn’t be more thrilled with having a b’nai mitzvah – two daughter’s getting married within a month! As I predicted – Polina will be bringing her fiancé to her sister’s wedding.

Follow Polina’s story on hookup Wedding Network as she plans her September wedding to Jake.

I recently turned to my husband and thanked him – thanked him for inspiring me to create a website for those who have fallen in love and decided to get married.

It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was nursing a broken heart and considering starting a site for those who were scorned. It’s a good thing that my husband and my chance encounter on 100hookup changed both my life and my career direction!

My tossing bouquet made out of 100hookup profiles

A funny thing happens when you meet your spouse on 100hookup – you find out how many other couples met on 100hookup too. Some stats: Nearly half of my married hookup friends met their spouses on 100hookup. I recently attended my high school reunion and learned that four out of five of my married hookup classmates met on 100hookup as well. After I launched hookup Wedding Network, I started receiving submissions from bloggers, and when questioned on how they met their fiancés, nearly half of them answered, you guessed it – 100hookup. Those are some pretty amazing statistics!

Why am I telling you all this? For those of you who have met your beshert on 100hookup, I say “Mazel Tov.” For those of you who have not yet met anyone, I say “hang in there.” I know how hard it can be to feel as though you may never meet “The One.” I was in that position too, as well as many of my friends who are now married. Over the next few weeks, I am going to be sharing some incredible stories of couples who met here on 100hookup. I hope to one day share your story too.