(Published August 2004)

Our Story (written by Birmingham News Reporter Kathy Seale)

Kathy and Bill married at the governor's mansion in Montgomery and held the reception in the mansion's dining room. They honeymooned in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.

In the beginning: they met last February after Kathy, a children's lobbyist, caught Bill's eye as she left the Alabama State House.

"I didn't see him, but he saw me," she says. "The following week, as I exited past the receptionist, she called me over, handed me a business card and said, 'this gentleman would like to meet you.' I asked who he was and she said, 'He's very nice, a perfect gentleman and very nice looking, too!'

I gave her one of my business cards and asked that she give it to him, saying if he wants to call me, he can.'

He did.

"We talked 45 minutes and scheduled lunch the following Monday," she says.

During that lunch: Our first date, which we both admitted was an  'I'm checking you out over a good, safe, no commitment lunch,' was at Felix's in Montgomery," Kathy says. "Nearly three hours and 15 glasses of water later, we both knew this relationship had potential."

Later that day: They attended a dinner party hosted by a mutual friend.

"I would have to think hard to tell you who else was at the dinner party because I was so intrigued by (Bill)," Kathy says. "We almost out-stayed our welcome and were the last ones to leave the party."

Even later that day: "As he walked me to my car, he leaned down to kiss me good night. I think it was intended to be a quick peck, just an 'I had a nice evening and I would like to see you again' kiss, but that kiss, and those to follow, lasted a good 30 minutes!…I'm telling you when it's right, it's right."

Will you?  Bill proposed during a tour of Mont Saint Michel, an abbey atop a mountain on an islet in northern France.

"The bus let us out at the bottom of the village and we had quite a hike to the top," Kathy says. "Bill kept telling me to hurry, and I couldn't understand why it was so critical to get to the top right at noon. After thousands of steps, we arrived at the top and entered an old, gorgeous chapel. They were in the middle of noon mass.

"The mass ended and Bill went up to talk to one of the priests, asking me to stay there on the pew. He then motioned me to come to the front. He told me he had called ahead and arranged for the priest to bless our relationship."

After the blessing, Bill pulled out a piece of paper and began to read.

"He explained how, although his life was very fulfilling and he had everything he needed, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me," she says. " I was in shock as he pulled out a ring (that he'd bought in Paris the day before) and placed it on my finger."

Oops: Kathy slipped as she descended the stairway in the governor's mansion toward her groom. "Thank goodness my son, who gave me away, held on tightly to me and I recovered and didn't fall. You could hear the entire room gasp and then let out a sigh of relief."

Pedigree: Kathy's parents are Joann and Cecil Strange of Yukon, Okla., and the late Harley Hale of Alva, Okla. Bill's parents are Dorothy Johnson of Birmingham and the late Billie Joe Johnson.

Happily ever after: Kathy, 46, is the executive director of the Children First Foundation. Bill, 45, is a former Birmingham City Councilman and currently assistant director for the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. They live in Prattville.

Kathy Seale