I have always been a hopeless romantic. From my days as a young girl dressing up in my mom’s wedding dress and pretending to walk down the aisle, to my teenage years of planning my perfect wedding on Pinterest and reading YA novels full of true love, I was sure I had the perfect idea of what love is. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve learned that all those romantic fantasies I had of a Prince Charming riding up on a white steed to whisk me off to a grand wedding (complete with a ballgown dress and horse-drawn carriage) may not be the most realistic thing to wish for. As a city girl, the expectation that a man on a white horse would come riding up to my doorstep is more than a little unlikely, not to mention that horses are expensive!

But while my expectations for events surrounding my love story have evolved over the years, my expectations for the love itself has not. Here are my thoughts as a 24-year-old, self-described hopeless romantic.

Prince Charming

As a young girl, I wanted a mix between Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty and Shane from Mulan. While only one of them may be a prince, they both hold high positions of power and respect in their relative countries. While it may not be the most realistic thing for me to wish for a man in such a high position to immediately fall in love at the mere sight of me and want to marry me right then and there, what IS realistic for me to want is someone who has some of the traits I admired about them as a child. It is 100 percent realistic of me to want someone who treats me well, who has a sense of humor, who is pursuing their passion in life, and who supports me in mine.

Some have said that Disney has ruined their expectations of men, but for me, Disney has only helped me find those things that truly matter, such as love conquering all in the end, and kindness being a great quality to both possess and practice.

The Grand Wedding

Weddings are expensive! From the flowers, to the dress, to the food, and a myriad of other details, a lot goes into not only planning, but paying for the big day. As I’ve gotten older, my views of what happens on the day of my nuptials has changed. I still want to beautiful gown, the flowers, the gorgeous wedding cake, and, of course, delicious food, but now I am starting to ask myself questions like: Do I really need a full bouquet of peonies on every single table at the reception? Or, Should my wedding dress really cost as much as a down payment on a car? The answer to both of these, for myself, is no.

I have learned in my short 24 years on earth that it’s not the big flowers or expensive dress that would make my wedding special. It’s the love my husband-to-be and myself share, our families and friends being there, and the promises we make.

Love

Love at first sight may not be a reality in my life, but love that lasts is. A love that is based on trust, respect, caring for the other person, open communication, and (for me) a solid foundation of faith in God is a great start to a love that can stand the test of time and whatever else life throws our way.

I am grateful to love love as much as I do, and for my more realistic (yet still romantic!) views on it since I’ve grown.

A Prince Charming on a daring white steed may make for a great last scene in a romantic movie, but as fun as I think that would be, riding off into the sunset is hardly what I fantasize about these days. Instead, I dream of a man who will cover my feet with a blanket when they’re cold, or who will remember the name of my favorite restaurant and surprise me with dinner there one night, someone who listens and honestly cares about my well-being, someone who supports me.

I am proud to be what the world may call a hopeless romantic. How about you?