Real Men Spill: 'How I Knew I Was in Love With Her'

Ladies aren’t the only ones who know how to be sweet.

Real Love - Need some love inspiration? Ladies aren’t the only ones who know how to be sweet. Read these stories from real men about the moment they knew they were head over heels in love. By Kenrya Rankin Naasel (Photo: Zave Smith/Corbis)

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Real Love - Need some love inspiration? Ladies aren’t the only ones who know how to be sweet. Read these stories from real men about the moment they knew they were head over heels in love. By Kenrya Rankin Naasel (Photo: Zave Smith/Corbis)

Does He Make You a Priority in His Life? - While it’s not always possible to be number one all the time, it is important that you are way up top of his list. If you find that you are coming in last and that he treats you like an afterthought, why do you think it will get better when you two get more serious? (Photo: Wavebreak Media Ltd./Corbis)

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Groundhog Day - There were many moments when I knew Ana was the one, but they all happened on the same bench, and each moment was identical to the first. The moon was always shining down on the water in front of us and the same people were running up and down the pier in their neon-colored sneakers. Each night we went there, I sat on her right, on the first bench in a line of five. Every time we would stop kissing, she would look up at me with her beautiful brown eyes and then look out into the water. I would look at her and think to myself that I could adore her, beyond all things, forever. And I plan to. —Justin, 22, New York City  (Photo: LWA/Dann Tardif/Blend Images/Corbis)

First Sight - I knew I loved Tiffany the first time I saw her. I was playing the keyboard at church, and I looked out and saw her in the congregation. God told me at that very moment that she was my wife. We were soon inseparable — I couldn't stand to be away from her. —Raymond, 25, Los Angeles (Photo: Tanya Constantine/Blend Images/Corbis)

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First Sight - I knew I loved Tiffany the first time I saw her. I was playing the keyboard at church, and I looked out and saw her in the congregation. God told me at that very moment that she was my wife. We were soon inseparable — I couldn't stand to be away from her. —Raymond, 25, Los Angeles (Photo: Tanya Constantine/Blend Images/Corbis)

Frequent Flyers - I fell in love with my wife in the middle of an airport. She lived in California and I lived in Illinois. A friend had connected us on Facebook, and after talking on the phone for months, we’d finally planned for her to fly to Chicago so we could meet face to face. When I saw her coming down the escalator at Midway, my heart was at complete peace that this woman was my wife. We are now happily married and just had our first baby! —Jamal, 25, Chicago (Photo: 2/Jim Arbogast/Ocean/Corbis)

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Frequent Flyers - I fell in love with my wife in the middle of an airport. She lived in California and I lived in Illinois. A friend had connected us on Facebook, and after talking on the phone for months, we’d finally planned for her to fly to Chicago so we could meet face to face. When I saw her coming down the escalator at Midway, my heart was at complete peace that this woman was my wife. We are now happily married and just had our first baby! —Jamal, 25, Chicago (Photo: 2/Jim Arbogast/Ocean/Corbis)

One-track Mind - It was one of the worse winter weather nights we’d seen in a long time, and I was on the phone with Shauntel. She said she was cold in her place. Worried about her, I asked if she wanted some company. She said yes. So I packed a bag and walked three miles through two feet of snow, then waited two hours for the weather-delayed train. Once I arrived at her stop, I couldn’t get a cab. So I walked another two miles, this time in more than three feet of the white stuff. It wasn’t the moment that I finally made it to her — cold and soaked to the skin — that I knew I loved her. It was the moment that I realized my mind had never once strayed from her from the second we hung up the phone, five hours before. —Isaiah, 29, Oxon Hill, MD  (Photo: Tom Grill/Blend Images/Corbis)

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One-track Mind - It was one of the worse winter weather nights we’d seen in a long time, and I was on the phone with Shauntel. She said she was cold in her place. Worried about her, I asked if she wanted some company. She said yes. So I packed a bag and walked three miles through two feet of snow, then waited two hours for the weather-delayed train. Once I arrived at her stop, I couldn’t get a cab. So I walked another two miles, this time in more than three feet of the white stuff. It wasn’t the moment that I finally made it to her — cold and soaked to the skin — that I knew I loved her. It was the moment that I realized my mind had never once strayed from her from the second we hung up the phone, five hours before. —Isaiah, 29, Oxon Hill, MD  (Photo: Tom Grill/Blend Images/Corbis)

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Daydreaming - The moment I realized Dayna was the love of my life was at her parents’ house for Thanksgiving. When I met her family, I realized that my future wife was a selfless, genuine, loyal and God-fearing woman from birth. Her actions came naturally, and she catered to my heart and wellbeing, and I wanted to do the same in return. I could see that she was a truly happy person, and I wanted to be a part of that equation. My daydreams included her, children and happily ever after. I saw myself wanting to be more of a man to be deserving of a future with her. I saw my queen. —Ryan, 29, New York City (Photo: 2/Lisa Peardon/Ocean/Corbis)

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Daydreaming - The moment I realized Dayna was the love of my life was at her parents’ house for Thanksgiving. When I met her family, I realized that my future wife was a selfless, genuine, loyal and God-fearing woman from birth. Her actions came naturally, and she catered to my heart and wellbeing, and I wanted to do the same in return. I could see that she was a truly happy person, and I wanted to be a part of that equation. My daydreams included her, children and happily ever after. I saw myself wanting to be more of a man to be deserving of a future with her. I saw my queen. —Ryan, 29, New York City (Photo: 2/Lisa Peardon/Ocean/Corbis)

Take Care - Before we were officially a couple, I was in the hospital for about a week around Valentine’s Day. Even though I wasn't in the best of health, Ashley drove from Philadelphia to Baltimore to spend the weekend with me. It was in that hospital bed that realized that all we really needed to make each other happy was our presence. I had denied it before that weekend, but after that, I knew I was in love. —Kenny, 30, Baltimore (Photo: Artiga Photo/Corbis)

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Take Care - Before we were officially a couple, I was in the hospital for about a week around Valentine’s Day. Even though I wasn't in the best of health, Ashley drove from Philadelphia to Baltimore to spend the weekend with me. It was in that hospital bed that realized that all we really needed to make each other happy was our presence. I had denied it before that weekend, but after that, I knew I was in love. —Kenny, 30, Baltimore (Photo: Artiga Photo/Corbis)

Moment of Clarity - Believe it or not, the moment I realized I loved Farran was on date number two. It was July 2, 2007. We had known each other for more than two years, but had only become close over the past two weeks. But that day, everything just clicked. It just felt right. It was the epitome of vulnerability: I knew it was love because I cared more about protecting her than protecting myself from her. —Olu, 35, Washington, D.C.  (Photo: Randy Faris/Corbis)

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Moment of Clarity - Believe it or not, the moment I realized I loved Farran was on date number two. It was July 2, 2007. We had known each other for more than two years, but had only become close over the past two weeks. But that day, everything just clicked. It just felt right. It was the epitome of vulnerability: I knew it was love because I cared more about protecting her than protecting myself from her. —Olu, 35, Washington, D.C.  (Photo: Randy Faris/Corbis)

Party Animals - Artiea and I both attended a back-to-school party in undergrad, but we didn’t see one another the entire time. It wasn’t until we were outside after the party that we locked eyes. She told her friend she liked my smile so I walked up to her and said, “I like your smile too.” She said, “I bet you say that to all the girls,” and I laughed and said, “Actually I don’t.” That was literally the end of our conversation and a week later we met up again at another party. I intentionally showed up two hours late — only to find her waiting for me outside the entire time. That’s when I realized I loved this beautiful Black woman. —Nathan, 36, New York City (Photo: Laura Doss/Corbis)

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Party Animals - Artiea and I both attended a back-to-school party in undergrad, but we didn’t see one another the entire time. It wasn’t until we were outside after the party that we locked eyes. She told her friend she liked my smile so I walked up to her and said, “I like your smile too.” She said, “I bet you say that to all the girls,” and I laughed and said, “Actually I don’t.” That was literally the end of our conversation and a week later we met up again at another party. I intentionally showed up two hours late — only to find her waiting for me outside the entire time. That’s when I realized I loved this beautiful Black woman. —Nathan, 36, New York City (Photo: Laura Doss/Corbis)

Ride or Die - When LaNora and I started dating, I was a young, broke college kid living in a garage-turned-studio. But she didn’t care about what I didn’t have. She was into me for who I was and who I was destined to become. One day, my car was in the shop and she offered to lend me hers. That was the moment I knew she was for me. I didn't have to act or hide any aspect of who I was with her, and that freedom is what allowed us to connect mind, body and soul. I knew I could be vulnerable about her, and that vulnerability grew into vines of love that wrapped around us to create a world that only we have the key to. —Alex, 36, New York City (Photo: Chris Crisman/Corbis)

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Ride or Die - When LaNora and I started dating, I was a young, broke college kid living in a garage-turned-studio. But she didn’t care about what I didn’t have. She was into me for who I was and who I was destined to become. One day, my car was in the shop and she offered to lend me hers. That was the moment I knew she was for me. I didn't have to act or hide any aspect of who I was with her, and that freedom is what allowed us to connect mind, body and soul. I knew I could be vulnerable about her, and that vulnerability grew into vines of love that wrapped around us to create a world that only we have the key to. —Alex, 36, New York City (Photo: Chris Crisman/Corbis)