17464029:2013_Brides(8)
1/29/2013
2:17 PM
Page 8
{Matt & Julie Traylor} Kennesaw residents | Married 10.11.12
Matt + Julie =
t
hough Matt Traylor and Julie Stone went to high school together, they never spoke until graduation practice. Sitting next to each other, they began to talk and make jokes to pass the time. Something clicked. “It was amazing; we immediately became friends,” said Julie. A strong friendship blossomed over the summer of 1999, with the promise to keep in touch after going their separate ways to college that fall. After graduating from Clemson, Matt moved to Tampa for a few years, but the two did remain in contact through the occasional email and instant message. And then in 2005, Julie received a phone call.
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Cobb Life Brides 2013
“I was concerned because my mother never calls me at work,” said Julie. “She told me that Matt was trying to get in touch with me and didn’t have my number, and I should call him back.” Julie’s mom was urgently relaying the message because she sensed something special. “I could hear her smiling over the phone,” said Julie, who at the time was recovering from a previous breakup. “I was really focused on work and wasn’t going out having fun. She knew how much I liked Matt as a friend. She always really liked him and was happy that he came back into my life.” Matt had moved back to Cobb, and wanted to catch up. He asked Julie to dinner.
“We drove from Marietta to Canton, down to downtown Atlanta and back to Marietta, talking non-stop,” said Julie. “When he dropped me off at eight in the morning, we both knew something special was about to begin.” The couple dated for six years before Matt popped the question. “I knew I wanted to propose pretty early in the relationship,” said Matt. “But money was tight, so getting a nice ring was a challenge. It was a matter of being able to get Julie what I felt like she deserved.” On the way home from a trip together in November of 2011, Matt took a different route as they neared Marietta. “I was confused as to why he missed the exit, and he said he just wanted to go a