Regina & Stephen Swirsky
October 22, 2017
Story By RACHEL KNIGHT
Photos by EDOO PHOTOGRAPHY
D
oes love inspire art, or does art
inspire love? For Regina and Stephen
Swirsky, the answer is a resounding
“yes,” to both questions. Art was the
arrow Cupid sent to start the Swirsky’s
love story, and it continues to play a role
in their lives as a married couple today.
Regina and Stephen met at Texas A&M
University in a studio class. Both were
visualization majors. According to Regina,
Stephen had the reputation of having a
good eye for detail. They first spoke when
she asked for his advice on a project;
however, it wasn’t until after Stephen
graduated that he asked Regina to go out
with him.
By February of 2017 the couple’s
romance was in full bloom. It had become
a Valentine’s Day tradition for the two
to visit an art museum; so, to belatedly
celebrate the day, they took a trip to
downtown Houston to visit the Cullen
Sculpture Garden.
“It was at the end of the day, and we
had stopped in a little sculpture garden,”
Regina says. “He pulled out a little
scrapbook he had made of our memories
12
INSITE February 2018
‘My main hope for
the day was just
to reflect the joy
of the Lord and
celebrate the
covenant we made
to one another’
– Regina Swirsky
together. In the back was a cutout section
where he had put the ring, and it was
really sweet.”
Without hesitation, Regina said, “Yes!”
and the next chapter in the Swirsky love
story began to unfold.
“I kind of had a feeling that it was
coming that weekend,” Regina says. “I don’t
know why, but for whatever reason it just
felt like it was going to happen. Still, I was
really surprised to see the ring in the back
of the book. Suddenly it all became real.”
Before heading down the aisle,
the couple decided to partake in an
engagement-counseling program through
their church, Antioch Community Church.
Regina says this is something she highly
recommends all couples do before their
big day.
“It was so helpful to discuss topics like
communication, finance, and expectations
for our marriage before we said ‘I do,’”
Regina says. “I know those are lessons
we’ll come back to again and again in the
years to come. Our mentor couple ended
up becoming our great friends, which we
will forever be grateful for.”