"It was the furthest thing from love at first sight. We worked at the same company for more than a year without ever talking. But fate took over one night when there was an open seat next to me at happy hour. We talked for more than an hour before we noticed that we had matching Winnie-the-Pooh watches -- a rare find among professionals in Washington, DC! That was when I knew we were destined to be together." -- Patrick Riccards, 28, Alexandria, VA

"I met my wife just before I turned 30. Ten minutes into our initial conversation, she asked if I'd seen the latest Rogaine commercial. The question was more than a little impolite, since I had lost most of my hair in my early 20s. I quickly concluded that she had either no clue or remarkable pluck. The latter turned out to be the case. I asked her out, and 10 months later we were married." -- Rob DeRocker, 42, Brooklyn, NY

"I was at a wedding, and this beautiful brunette was sitting across the aisle from me with a young girl in her lap. I assumed she was the woman's daughter. At the time, I was single and not looking for a serious relationship, especially with someone who had a child. But I couldn't take my eyes off her. There was something about the way she held the little girl in her arms and the silly way they interacted that captivated me. After the ceremony I lost her in the crowd. By midnight I was about to give up my search when an older woman asked if I had a date. Nervously, I replied no. She asked if she could introduce me to her niece, Mary, who turned out to be my mystery woman -- the girl sitting in her lap was her cousin! Mary ended up becoming my wife." -- Steve Rosa, 37, Rumford, RI

"I was intimidated by my wife when we started dating because she was older than me and already out of school. One night she cooked a romantic dinner and then surprised me with this aftershave I used to wear in London that I hadn't been able to find in the States. She went out of her way for me. It had to be love. I guess it didn't hurt that I accidentally caught a glimpse of her postshower, dripping wet and in a green silk robe!" -- Keith Stephens, 34, Dallas, TX

"I knew Hope and I would be together forever when I turned on ESPN's SportsCenter for the first time -- and she didn't ask me to change the channel!" -- Jason Brown, 29, Troy, MI

"Andrea and I were introduced by mutual friends at a midnight breakfast during college. I was immediately struck by her beauty, intelligence, and charm. But an entire month went by before I had the opportunity to see her again. I went to the pub where she worked. When she gave me a free cheeseburger and fries, that sealed it. We were married two years later." -- David DeFusco, 37, Cheshire, CT

"Three years ago, to my surprise and dismay, I was abruptly fired from my job. It couldn't have come at a worse time: I had just bought a home and was worried about paying the mortgage. When I told my girlfriend, she told me not to worry and that 'we' would get through this together. It was at that moment that I knew I would never find anyone better. She could have left, knowing it would be hard for me to get another job, but she stayed, and I knew we had what it takes to make a marriage work." -- Chris Watts, 28, Windsor, CT

"The first time my girlfriend went on vacation without me, I couldn't get her off my mind the entire time she was gone -- I missed her so much. The moment she walked in the door, I dropped down on one knee and asked her if she would be my wife." -- Brian Shultes, 40, Palmetto, FL

"I met Deborah at a college party. Just after I introduced myself, she informed me that a guy there was refusing to leave her alone. When this guy reappeared later, I casually told him I was her fiance; he was embarrassed and left us alone. Deborah was both grateful and amused, and she introduced me as her fiance for the rest of the night. We started dating, and although we didn't become officially engaged until two years later, we considered ourselves engaged from the night we met!" -- David O'Brien, 29, St. Louis, MO

"Bobbi and I didn't have the standard courtship; we met through an online dating site. We emailed back and forth virtually every day for a month before we met. She was easygoing, warm and honest. When we finally met, it was like meeting a long-lost friend and someone I'd dreamed about at the same time. But it was those first conversations and the fact that her open, accepting demeanor and her outrageous sense of humor could shine through over email that made it obvious she must be the one." -- Mark Bowland, 31, Sacramento, CA

"Susan and I had an eight-year long-distance relationship. We only got to see each other about once every six weeks, and the relationship was turning sour because of the distance. One weekend, we went to the beach with some friends, and I guess I spent more time with my friends than with her. On the ride back we fought about it. We arrived at my house, she packed, and I took her to the airport. After she boarded the plane, I realized how much I missed her; I had to have her in my life." -- Brad Barber, 45, Mebane, NC

"My greatest passion is surfing. One day I offered to take my girlfriend to a beginners' spot to help her learn. When we got to the beach, I was itching to taste the 10-foot waves. She immediately recognized my desire and said, 'How about if you go out and surf with your friends while I prepare a picnic on the beach?' I marveled at her generosity and knew right then that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her." -- Dan Jenkin, 33, Santa Cruz, CA

"Lisa and I met 20 years ago at a high school party. Although I fell in love with her at first sight, at the time I wasn't sure why. All I knew is that there was something different about her. Now that we've been married for more than 13 years, I know what it was that attracted me to her: It's the way she looks at life. She has the ability to make everything fun in her own goofy way." -- Phil Lehr, 36, Bergenfield, NJ

"Shortly after coming off a nasty divorce, I was set up with Annette on a blind date. We went to a club with a group of friends. I was disappointed when she ended up dancing with a friend of mine all night. But when the club was getting ready to close, I suggested we go out for one last drink -- and the rest is history. She came home with me, and three days later we were living together. We've been happily married for 10 years." -- Tom Phillips, 50, New York, NY

"I had been dating my girlfriend for six weeks when we decided to take a day trip to Atlantic City. It was summertime, and what should have been a two-hour trip turned into five hours because of terrible traffic. Oddly enough, I wasn't annoyed at all. The conversation was so stimulating, and she laughed at all my bad jokes! She was the girl for me." -- Stephen Blumberg, 28, Great Neck, NY