Real Love Stories to Make Your Heart Melt

Love is unpredictable in that it can strike suddenly or take its time to grow and bloom. It can happen anywhere, at anytime, to anyone.

To celebrate one of the calendar’s most love-filled days, these three Brighton-area couples decided to share their tales of how and when Cupid shot his arrow into their lives.

Not your typical high school sweethearts

Laurie and Gary Umlauf met in high school when they were both 15 years old. They began dating during their senior year when they went to prom together — but this isn't your average high school sweetheart tale.

After dating for about two years while in college, the couple broke up.

"Junior year, he broke up with me and broke my heart big time!" Laurie said. "I eventually moved to Chicago, he stayed in East Lansing — we both dated other people and kept in touch every couple years through our parents, friends, etc. Neither of us married."

While visiting her brother in East Lansing in the fall of 1990, Laurie went to see Gary, a musician, perform at a local bar. They chatted that night and began a long-distance relationship. When Gary proposed that Christmas, Laurie turned him down.

"I said, 'Not yet,' and returned the ring," she said.

However, by July 1991, she accepted, and the couple was married Nov. 2, 1991 — a mere 19 years after they met.

The Umlaufs have been happily married for more than 20 years and have three children together.

Golden years newlyweds

Dave and Chris Somerville are newlyweds who met at the Brighton Senior Center three years ago. They married on April 8, 2011.

"I chased her until she caught me," Dave said.

Both Dave and Chris had been married previously. Chris said she was divorced, while Dave was legally separated, waiting for his divorce to be finalized.

"We started seeing each other at Senior Center functions or just meeting for coffee," she said. "It was just casual, because Dave was not divorced yet."

Dave proposed at dinner at the Brighton House. After Chris accepted, he called the jewelry store to make sure it was still open, and they went together to pick out a ring.

They were married in Howell's Historic Wedding Chapel with just immediate family attending. Dave and Chris said they spent the night at Soaring Eagle Casino for their honeymoon, where Chris won $3,000.

"It's about as good as it gets," she said.

Chris said Dave is romantic because he brings her roses on the 8th of every month.

"If this is any better, I'd be in heaven," Dave said. "I love this lady, and we just have great times together."

The couple was crowned king and queen of the Brighton Senior Center and rode in style in downtown Brighton's 2011 Independence Day parade.

The best of friends

Sherrie Rice first set eyes on her future husband, Chris, in sixth grade when a friend pointed him out.

"She said, 'You see that tall, skinny kid over there? That's Chris Rice, he's a weirdo, stay away from him," Sherrie said. "We met up again in high school, we were both in band, and we were friends.

One year, the band director said students had to do a solo and ensemble in order to earn an A in the class. Sherrie said she had done it many times, but Chris had not, so they teamed up.

"We did a clarinet duet, and we did very poorly," Sherrie said.

Chris blames their failed performance on the piano player.

"I think we used our practice sessions to kind of get to know each other more than we concentrated on music," Sherrie said.

The couple started dating, and when Sherrie went to college in Kentucky, Chris followed a year later.

After they graduated, they married in 1983. The couple has two children, ages 25 and 22.

Chris' advice to couples on how to stay together as long as he and Sherrie have is to be sure of your compatibility.

"Make sure that you're friends more than anything else," Chris said.

Sherrie added that always being honest is key in any relationship.

"I read once in a book that it's a great luxury to have one person on Earth to whom you never tell even the slightest white lie. I read that when I was in college, and it stuck with me. I believe it's true, and to be completely honest and trust each other because you see it's a safe environment. I can be myself in front of Chris, and I never have to worry. And he can be himself in front of me because I'm always going to love him no matter what."