I have been really bad about updating this thing recently! Mike and I have been very busy going from venue to venue trying to decide where to have our wedding and reception. After much searching, I think the decision has finally been made!
Our journey to find the perfect venue for our wedding is very similar to Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Some venues were too expensive, some were too far away (come on, I can't say none were "too cheap".... can you even use the word "cheap" when talking about a wedding?)... then we found one that was just right (no bears came home at the end to scare us away though).
We started at the Villa in Calverton (5 min from our apartment) and it was very nice. Granted, it's right next to 95 and you can hear the highway from the garden area outside, but other than that, the owner of the venue was very nice and the coordinator we met with was very personable and accommodating. We're not going to use the Villa (we found a much better price at another venue... which I will reveal shortly- stay tuned!) but I would definitely recommend it. They offered us a 4 course tasting for 6 people before signing any contracts, which is uncommon.
Mike and I also went to this golf resort called Heritage Hills in York, PA. We were told (mostly by the vendors in York) that it would cost us much less to have our wedding in PA than it would in MD. That peaked my curiousity, so I made an appointment at Heritage Hills to meet with their wedding coordinator. The resort was fine (kind of in the middle of nowhere) but when it came down to it, after all the taxes and fees it was just as expensive to have our wedding their than it would be to have it in Baltimore or DC. So... Heritage Hills was out.
It's a Del Gallo tradition to get married at Holy Rosary Church in Washington DC. Also known as "The Italian Church" many members of Mike's family have attended mass there and have been connected to the Church for many years. His father, aunt, and uncle were all married there so of course we were considering Holy Rosary for our ceremony site. Mike and I met with the event coordinator at Holy Rosary two weekends ago and the church is absolutely gorgeous. It was recently remodeled and the interior of the Church is trully breathtaking. Aside from the familial connection that Mike has to the church. it is a very beautiful place to get married. So, we have decided to have the ceremony at Holy Rosary.
Holy Rosary Church has an adjoining reception hall called Casa Italiana. Mike and I were considering using Casa Italiana for our reception, assuming it would be much cheaper to rent the hall and pay for catering separately- but that is not the case! We've talked to caterers and it actually would end up costing more to hire caterers to come in and serve a seated dinner than it would be to get an all inclusive package deal from a reception venue.
When I went to the Baltimore Bridal Show last month I met a woman named Heather Johnson from Pier 5 Hotel in Baltimore. I made an appointment with her to tour the venue and, in the craziness of wedding planning, forgot about it for several weeks. I was at work last week and a reminder popped up on my calendar (thanks google!) that I had a meeting a Pier 5. I think it was fate... Mike and I visited the venue on Saturday and it was perfect. They have valet parking (and also a lot right next door) and their ballroom overlooks the inner harbor. It is absolutely gorgeous. We thought it would be really expensive, but actually their pricing is quite reasonable. We get a great discount one of their suites for the night, as well as a complimentary suite during the course of the day to use for getting ready/relaxing. I loved the package they offered us, and once we saw the price of catering at Casa Italiana our minds were made up!
So... the plan is to have the ceremony at Holy Rosary Church, and the recepion at Pier 5 Hotel. We realize that the church is in DC, and Pier 5 is in Baltimore, but that seems to be the best plan for us overall. We're thinking about having the ceremony in the morning at say, 11, then have the ceremony begin at 5 or 6 that evening to give our guests time to go home and change and drive to the Baltimore area. Who knows- we may not even have the ceremony on the same day as the reception. That's the last piece we need to figure out.
Ah yes, and the date- I want to have the wedding and the reception on Labor Day of this year (Monday, September 7th). The date is availabel at Pier 5, but we'll need to talk to the priest at Holy Rosary to find out if he is available to marry us that day. I really want to iron out all of these details by the end of the week.
Then, onto my next adventure, which is to find the perfect wedding dress....
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Sooo many venues... so little time!
I have been engaged for over a week now and, aside from the scratch on my cheek and arm from the ring I still forget is there, things are starting to settle down a little. I think everyone we know has heard the news, so now I am focused on finding a wedding venue.
I was looking at venues online late last week and discovered that the Baltimore Bridal Show was on Saturday and Sunday at the convention center. How lucky I was to get engaged right at the beginning of wedding season (oh wait... every season is wedding season ... America is seriously obsessed with weddings but I'll save that for another blog). I end up going to the show on Sunday with my Aunt and my mother and the place was PACKED. For such a huge event, there were absolutely no signs directing you to it... ANYWHERE.
I don't know if you have been to the Baltimore convention center but it is a big, big place. We walk in and see several signs for Starbucks... an art show... the bathrooms... but no Bridal Show. Luckily, I saw another mother/daughter team heading up an escalator so we decided to follow them. We were in luck. The Bridal Show was in the ballroom of the convention center. I grabbed my complimentary tote bag (AND received a free one year subscription to Modern Bride!) and off we went.
OMG NEVER IN MY LIFE HAVE I BEEN CONGRATULATED SO MUCH. I didn't know how to take it. The Bridal Show was like a gypsy market of hotels and florists selling their wares. Instead of "hello" each booth operator said "who's the bride to be," I would smile, and get congratulated. After 30 minutes or so my bag became overrun by florist brochures, cake samples, and photographer price lists. I had photographers promising me a true photo journalistic portrayal 0f my wedding; men with two assistants who promised to stay hidden in the background as I went through my big day... for a mere price of $4000 (not including prints). I can't believe how expensive it is to get married!
After two hours of walking from booth to booth sampling cake and entering door prize drawings my bag was full. I now have more information than I know what to do with, but at least it's a start. My primary reason for going was to get information on reception venues. I've made appointments at several manors/hotels around the area and hopefully I'll have a place picked out (and a date!) in the next few weeks.
This is such a huge decision to make in so little time. I would love to get married outside by the water. I can't picture it any other way. I'd love to have a live band during the reception and violinists when I walk down the aisle... but these are likely all things I will have to cut out.
Does anyone have any venue suggestions? There's a cool place in Arlington called the Torpedo Factory that looks pretty cool- and a cute little manor in Baltimore called Gramercy Mansion... Celebrations By The Bay in Pasadena.. Pier 5 Hotel downtown... and hundreds upon hundreds more. I'll see as many as I can then make the big decision...after that, it's just down to the details right? Oh yeah...I guess there is still the dress... the bridal party...the invitations... the...aaahhhhhh.
I was looking at venues online late last week and discovered that the Baltimore Bridal Show was on Saturday and Sunday at the convention center. How lucky I was to get engaged right at the beginning of wedding season (oh wait... every season is wedding season ... America is seriously obsessed with weddings but I'll save that for another blog). I end up going to the show on Sunday with my Aunt and my mother and the place was PACKED. For such a huge event, there were absolutely no signs directing you to it... ANYWHERE.
I don't know if you have been to the Baltimore convention center but it is a big, big place. We walk in and see several signs for Starbucks... an art show... the bathrooms... but no Bridal Show. Luckily, I saw another mother/daughter team heading up an escalator so we decided to follow them. We were in luck. The Bridal Show was in the ballroom of the convention center. I grabbed my complimentary tote bag (AND received a free one year subscription to Modern Bride!) and off we went.
OMG NEVER IN MY LIFE HAVE I BEEN CONGRATULATED SO MUCH. I didn't know how to take it. The Bridal Show was like a gypsy market of hotels and florists selling their wares. Instead of "hello" each booth operator said "who's the bride to be," I would smile, and get congratulated. After 30 minutes or so my bag became overrun by florist brochures, cake samples, and photographer price lists. I had photographers promising me a true photo journalistic portrayal 0f my wedding; men with two assistants who promised to stay hidden in the background as I went through my big day... for a mere price of $4000 (not including prints). I can't believe how expensive it is to get married!
After two hours of walking from booth to booth sampling cake and entering door prize drawings my bag was full. I now have more information than I know what to do with, but at least it's a start. My primary reason for going was to get information on reception venues. I've made appointments at several manors/hotels around the area and hopefully I'll have a place picked out (and a date!) in the next few weeks.
This is such a huge decision to make in so little time. I would love to get married outside by the water. I can't picture it any other way. I'd love to have a live band during the reception and violinists when I walk down the aisle... but these are likely all things I will have to cut out.
Does anyone have any venue suggestions? There's a cool place in Arlington called the Torpedo Factory that looks pretty cool- and a cute little manor in Baltimore called Gramercy Mansion... Celebrations By The Bay in Pasadena.. Pier 5 Hotel downtown... and hundreds upon hundreds more. I'll see as many as I can then make the big decision...after that, it's just down to the details right? Oh yeah...I guess there is still the dress... the bridal party...the invitations... the...aaahhhhhh.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Time to spill the beans!
Now that I am officially engaged it is time to tell the world! We had a lunch plan with our friend James on Sunday afternoon and, James being a dude and all, he did not notice the ring on my finger the whole time we were at the restaurant (despite my constant tapping of the wood, scratching me head, etc.). His roommate (and good friend of mine) Jill, however, noticed as soon as I took my hand out of my coat pocket. She was the first person I officially told. I wanted to tell our families in person (which did not happen but I'll get to that in a moment or too) but I felt more and more guilty as each new person found out and my mom was still at home, living her life unaware of my engagement. We went to a superbowl party at our friend Steve's place and we got everyone together and I showed them the ring.
For some reason I expected... I don't know... the ceiling to fall or someone to faint or that piano playing duo from family guy to barge in, do a ragtime piece... and leave. But, reality set in I guess when all we got were some smiles and approving nods. I guess that's what you get when you've been together for 2 plus years. It's not like people didn't expect it. But still, being the sentimental girl I am I wanted at least one tear on each cheek.
I think my friend Tom noticed my concern and proceeded to run over, pick Mike and me up, and jump up and down yelling a playful "yippeeeee." I then grimaced and writhed in pain, quite sore from my session with Cher the previous morning, but still laughed, glad someone went a little over the top.
I called my best friend Rebecca earlier that day (no answer- I can only imagine the busy life of a new mom lol) and felt a little pang in my stomach when she called back just after the kickoff. I picked up and ran into Steve's bedroom. I didn't have to tell her- she just knew. I no sooner said hello than she yelled "are you getting married??!?" and I confirmed her suspicions. Phew, this was more like it. I needed a little giddiness from someone at that point. Rebecca just got married last year and, being the maid of honor I was very fairly involved in the planning of her wedding, and glad to have a seasoned veteran at hand to help me plan.
I've always joked that when I got engaged I was not going to let my bridesmaids (or anyone for that matter) help plan my wedding... I love to plan way too much and I am admittingly too much of a control freak when it comes to this sort of thing to let anyone interfere... however, now that I'm actually engaged I find that I am open to, and thankful for, the smallest suggestion.)
As I said earlier, I could not bear the thought that 7 people now knew and my mother did not. We had tentative plans on Wednesday but who knows how many more people would find out in the interim and I refused to let her be on the bottom of that list.
Monday morning, 7am. I had two options: skip work and drive to Metropolitan Cat Hospital (the vet office she manages) in Owings Mills, or... bite the bullet and call her. I chose the latter. 7:35 am and I'm driving to work. My palms are sweaty, my heart is racing. I dial her number and .... no answer. ARGH! Come on mom, you could at least answer your phone when I have the biggest news of my life to tell you... the new Bon Iver single comes on XMU (if you do not know who I am referring to... ergo anyone who is not Jill Kelly... check out Bon Iver's new song Blood Bank it's amazing... I think I'm going to start an Indie music blog right after the one about how I hate the IRS...) Perfect melancholy tune to settle my adrenaline. 7:41: mom calls back.
Ohmygosh this is it... I know I may sound ridiculous but I have seriously imagined this moment since I was 13 years old and it was about to come and go. I only get to tell my mommy I'm getting married one time, and this was it... this was it. Here's how it went:
Mom: "Hey baby."
Me: "Hi Mommy."
Mom: "What's up?" (she sounds on edge- I never call her this early unless something is wrong)
Me""Where are you right now? Are you still at home?" (I admittingly stutter a bit here.. I stutter when I'm nervous or stressed)
Mom: "Yes. Michael is getting ready for school. You caught me in the bathroom I'm drying my hair." (who answers or even hears the phone while drying their hair?... my mom! That's who... for once taking her phone with her everywhere she goes has paid off!)
Me: "What time do you usually leave for work?" (I'm stalling now...come on Stace just TELL HER ALREADY.. it's like I wanted just a few more moments before I let this out, just to remember the call, imagine where she was, what she was doing... just how I am)
Mom: "About 8..."
Me: "Ok, I need to tell you something, and I was going to wait until I saw you but I just can't... Mommy, I'm getting married- Mike proposed." (intense pause that seems to last 10 minutes but must have been only a moment)
Mom: "WHAT!?! That's great!" (okay, actually, she made this gleeful cackling noise that I cannot create with my limited literary prowess... perhaps Don Delillo or Alice Sebold could capture it well but not I... but it can only be described as a cackle.. very short and completely necessary in this situation... it's her way of laughing, crying, jumping up and down, and screaming all at the same time). I honestly cannot remember the exact rest of the conversation. We talked about how he proposed (see previous blog post) and, of course... if we had set a date yet (to all of you who plan to ask, the answer is no, not yet, but I'll let you know as soon as I do ;-) ).
I overlooked one very, very important element in my conversation with my mother... I forgot to request that she not call everyone in her phonebook, starting with the A's, the moment we hung up the phone. Oh boy did I forget... each moment that passed was another person congratulating the mother of the bride to be.
I did not think about this until I get to the office, start checking email, and at 9am get a call from my Aunt. Then I realized: oh no, mom has started the waterfall of phone calls to immediate family that will end in a splash of hurt phonecalls to me from close relatives who expected to be told personally. I reassure my Aunt that it just happened and I had just told my mother a few moments ago (it was, of course, only 9am...)I then called my mom back, got the list of relatives that now knew (and who I then owed a phone call) and asked her to please contain herself for just the afternoon (I knew how excited she was and admittingly kind of love that about her... she'll tell everyone she knows for the next 6 months- it's her way of spreading joy. Malcolm Gladwell would call her a connector, someone that links us with the world (read Tipping Point, if you haven't). I think I'm one too. I get that from her. That's why I wanted to start the waterfall!
I then proceed to tell my boss, my coworkers, then my friends. The moment I walk through the door Mike has his good friend Mary on the phone from Seattle telling me congratulations and how did it happen and do you have a date yet. I wish I could be greeted by congrats every time I come home!
So, I think we've told everyone at this point- Mike told his mom earlier today and called his sisters (dude, I'm going to have sisters now- YESSSSSSSS.... and I could not ask for more amazing ones. Lisa, Megs, Natalie, Janina- I love you guys so much already!). I actually wanted to DRIVE up to Athens, GA where Nat and Janina live with Mike's stepmom, Polly (you can drive 8 hours each way on endorphins and adrenaline, trust me).
I think Polly wins for sincerest, most touching congratulations. She made me tear up. Thanks so much to everyone for the kind words.
Wow, and this is only day two....
Let it begin.
For some reason I expected... I don't know... the ceiling to fall or someone to faint or that piano playing duo from family guy to barge in, do a ragtime piece... and leave. But, reality set in I guess when all we got were some smiles and approving nods. I guess that's what you get when you've been together for 2 plus years. It's not like people didn't expect it. But still, being the sentimental girl I am I wanted at least one tear on each cheek.
I think my friend Tom noticed my concern and proceeded to run over, pick Mike and me up, and jump up and down yelling a playful "yippeeeee." I then grimaced and writhed in pain, quite sore from my session with Cher the previous morning, but still laughed, glad someone went a little over the top.
I called my best friend Rebecca earlier that day (no answer- I can only imagine the busy life of a new mom lol) and felt a little pang in my stomach when she called back just after the kickoff. I picked up and ran into Steve's bedroom. I didn't have to tell her- she just knew. I no sooner said hello than she yelled "are you getting married??!?" and I confirmed her suspicions. Phew, this was more like it. I needed a little giddiness from someone at that point. Rebecca just got married last year and, being the maid of honor I was very fairly involved in the planning of her wedding, and glad to have a seasoned veteran at hand to help me plan.
I've always joked that when I got engaged I was not going to let my bridesmaids (or anyone for that matter) help plan my wedding... I love to plan way too much and I am admittingly too much of a control freak when it comes to this sort of thing to let anyone interfere... however, now that I'm actually engaged I find that I am open to, and thankful for, the smallest suggestion.)
As I said earlier, I could not bear the thought that 7 people now knew and my mother did not. We had tentative plans on Wednesday but who knows how many more people would find out in the interim and I refused to let her be on the bottom of that list.
Monday morning, 7am. I had two options: skip work and drive to Metropolitan Cat Hospital (the vet office she manages) in Owings Mills, or... bite the bullet and call her. I chose the latter. 7:35 am and I'm driving to work. My palms are sweaty, my heart is racing. I dial her number and .... no answer. ARGH! Come on mom, you could at least answer your phone when I have the biggest news of my life to tell you... the new Bon Iver single comes on XMU (if you do not know who I am referring to... ergo anyone who is not Jill Kelly... check out Bon Iver's new song Blood Bank it's amazing... I think I'm going to start an Indie music blog right after the one about how I hate the IRS...) Perfect melancholy tune to settle my adrenaline. 7:41: mom calls back.
Ohmygosh this is it... I know I may sound ridiculous but I have seriously imagined this moment since I was 13 years old and it was about to come and go. I only get to tell my mommy I'm getting married one time, and this was it... this was it. Here's how it went:
Mom: "Hey baby."
Me: "Hi Mommy."
Mom: "What's up?" (she sounds on edge- I never call her this early unless something is wrong)
Me""Where are you right now? Are you still at home?" (I admittingly stutter a bit here.. I stutter when I'm nervous or stressed)
Mom: "Yes. Michael is getting ready for school. You caught me in the bathroom I'm drying my hair." (who answers or even hears the phone while drying their hair?... my mom! That's who... for once taking her phone with her everywhere she goes has paid off!)
Me: "What time do you usually leave for work?" (I'm stalling now...come on Stace just TELL HER ALREADY.. it's like I wanted just a few more moments before I let this out, just to remember the call, imagine where she was, what she was doing... just how I am)
Mom: "About 8..."
Me: "Ok, I need to tell you something, and I was going to wait until I saw you but I just can't... Mommy, I'm getting married- Mike proposed." (intense pause that seems to last 10 minutes but must have been only a moment)
Mom: "WHAT!?! That's great!" (okay, actually, she made this gleeful cackling noise that I cannot create with my limited literary prowess... perhaps Don Delillo or Alice Sebold could capture it well but not I... but it can only be described as a cackle.. very short and completely necessary in this situation... it's her way of laughing, crying, jumping up and down, and screaming all at the same time). I honestly cannot remember the exact rest of the conversation. We talked about how he proposed (see previous blog post) and, of course... if we had set a date yet (to all of you who plan to ask, the answer is no, not yet, but I'll let you know as soon as I do ;-) ).
I overlooked one very, very important element in my conversation with my mother... I forgot to request that she not call everyone in her phonebook, starting with the A's, the moment we hung up the phone. Oh boy did I forget... each moment that passed was another person congratulating the mother of the bride to be.
I did not think about this until I get to the office, start checking email, and at 9am get a call from my Aunt. Then I realized: oh no, mom has started the waterfall of phone calls to immediate family that will end in a splash of hurt phonecalls to me from close relatives who expected to be told personally. I reassure my Aunt that it just happened and I had just told my mother a few moments ago (it was, of course, only 9am...)I then called my mom back, got the list of relatives that now knew (and who I then owed a phone call) and asked her to please contain herself for just the afternoon (I knew how excited she was and admittingly kind of love that about her... she'll tell everyone she knows for the next 6 months- it's her way of spreading joy. Malcolm Gladwell would call her a connector, someone that links us with the world (read Tipping Point, if you haven't). I think I'm one too. I get that from her. That's why I wanted to start the waterfall!
I then proceed to tell my boss, my coworkers, then my friends. The moment I walk through the door Mike has his good friend Mary on the phone from Seattle telling me congratulations and how did it happen and do you have a date yet. I wish I could be greeted by congrats every time I come home!
So, I think we've told everyone at this point- Mike told his mom earlier today and called his sisters (dude, I'm going to have sisters now- YESSSSSSSS.... and I could not ask for more amazing ones. Lisa, Megs, Natalie, Janina- I love you guys so much already!). I actually wanted to DRIVE up to Athens, GA where Nat and Janina live with Mike's stepmom, Polly (you can drive 8 hours each way on endorphins and adrenaline, trust me).
I think Polly wins for sincerest, most touching congratulations. She made me tear up. Thanks so much to everyone for the kind words.
Wow, and this is only day two....
Let it begin.
Mike popped the question! Here's how it happened:
All my life I have imagined what my proposal would be like. I pictured an afternoon cruise on the Chesapeake, or maybe a late night dinner at a posh restaurant on U street. Knowing Mike, I (half jokingly) thought I'd find a ring in my gym bag... or my cereal. Needless to say, I've kept my eyes open over the past few months.
Then, early last Sunday morning (1/25) Mike and I were laying in bed talking. He rolls over, looks me and asks if I would marry him in a tone I think few people have heard but me. There are so many special things you discover about someone when you're in love and you have been together for a long time. He said he knew it was not how I had imagined it (he knows how sentimental I am) but he wanted to ask me- of course I said yes :-) He promised to get a ring and propose again more formally. So I waited...
For an entire week I was engaged and could not tell anyone! If you know me you know I am TERRIBLE with secrets and extremely impatient- what a horrible combination when I have the best news of my life but have decided not to tell anyone until there's a ring on my finger. As you could imagine, I was pretty on edge all of last week. I didn't want to nag Mike about getting the ring or proposing again... I mean, I didn't want to ruin it by trying to plan it myself (I wish for just one moment I could relax and let things happen on their own!) but I noticed that Baltimore's restaurant week was conveniently scheduled for the upcoming week and I hinted (not very subtly) at Mike about various romantic restaurants we could go to for cheap.
I went to dinner with my mom on Sunday night and it was all I could do to not tell her I was engaged. I had imagined telling my mother I was getting married almost as much as I had imagined getting engaged growing up. It is a very special moment to me and somehow I was able to get through the meal with small talk and constantly stuffing my face with old bay chips and fries (great way to start my wedding diet...). Come on Mike do it already...
Ok, so I cracked- I told Lacie. I had to tell someone and she is in Tokyo right now learning Japanese and pretending to like fish (love u girl ;-) ). I felt slightly better (I could at least get through a few more days). Then, I cracked again and told my trainer Cher on Saturday morning in the middle of a set of crunches (all sorts of crazy endorphins rushing through my veins). If you have not met Cher she is the most awesome trainer ever, and an awesome person to boot (I'm going to be in her upcoming You Tube promo video- watch out Hollywood here I come :-) ). She helped me lost 30 pounds and a ton of body fat since May, (better get married soon while I'm thin lol!). She was super happy for me and cried a little as she told me to do 15 more push up/leg raises.
Saturday afternoon- Mike and I visit his family so his mom can take a look at my taxes (I owe the IRS a bunch of money but that is another story for a different blog called THE GOVERNMENT SCREWS PEOPLE WHO MAKE A DECENT LIVING). I've gotten good at keeping my mouth shut by now so I was just able to not tell them (though had we stayed longer I think it would have slipped). Then something unprecedented happened that assured me tonight was the night..... can you guess what it was?
Yes, Mike got a haircut. After 10 months of me nagging, begging, pleading.... almost chasing him around with scissors and clippers.... we go to the hair cuttery and he gets an adorable new do. I could see his face again and his deep blue eyes that caught my attention from across the room the first night we met. It was great. I still tell him he's so cute about every 10 minutes. I think it annoys him :-)
Saturday night comes around- turns out Mike has a special dinner planned (all that hinting paid off!). Surprisingly, we don't go to Baltimore , but take the metro to DC instead. He takes me to Bananas, a great Cuban restaurant in Capital Hill that we both ADORE. I'm a little more than nervous, so what better way to calm your nerves than good old...tequila. I promptly order one of their amazing house margaritas. I down that in about 3 gulps and order a mojito. You can see where this is going... I'm so nervous I spend the whole time looking around the restaurant for our waiter in case I needed another drink. The meal was delicious and the evening was pleasant enough... but no proposal.
We get home and I pop open my lap top to check facebook/email (more than a little tipsy at this point). Mike goes in the other room for a moment (I assumed to change), comes back, and asks me to put my laptop down for a second. He then gets down on one knee, hands me a ring, and asks me to marry him. I say a very happy (and only slightly slurred) yes.
So that's my story. Mike and I got engaged in our living room at 11:30 pm on Saturday night. He gave me the ring his father gave his mom when they got engaged. I like the fact that it has sentimental value.
I know our Fathers are looking down at us, smiling. I know my Daddy still watches over me, and I feel a happiness around me that I like to think is partially his, too.
Now, time to spill the beans....
Then, early last Sunday morning (1/25) Mike and I were laying in bed talking. He rolls over, looks me and asks if I would marry him in a tone I think few people have heard but me. There are so many special things you discover about someone when you're in love and you have been together for a long time. He said he knew it was not how I had imagined it (he knows how sentimental I am) but he wanted to ask me- of course I said yes :-) He promised to get a ring and propose again more formally. So I waited...
For an entire week I was engaged and could not tell anyone! If you know me you know I am TERRIBLE with secrets and extremely impatient- what a horrible combination when I have the best news of my life but have decided not to tell anyone until there's a ring on my finger. As you could imagine, I was pretty on edge all of last week. I didn't want to nag Mike about getting the ring or proposing again... I mean, I didn't want to ruin it by trying to plan it myself (I wish for just one moment I could relax and let things happen on their own!) but I noticed that Baltimore's restaurant week was conveniently scheduled for the upcoming week and I hinted (not very subtly) at Mike about various romantic restaurants we could go to for cheap.
I went to dinner with my mom on Sunday night and it was all I could do to not tell her I was engaged. I had imagined telling my mother I was getting married almost as much as I had imagined getting engaged growing up. It is a very special moment to me and somehow I was able to get through the meal with small talk and constantly stuffing my face with old bay chips and fries (great way to start my wedding diet...). Come on Mike do it already...
Ok, so I cracked- I told Lacie. I had to tell someone and she is in Tokyo right now learning Japanese and pretending to like fish (love u girl ;-) ). I felt slightly better (I could at least get through a few more days). Then, I cracked again and told my trainer Cher on Saturday morning in the middle of a set of crunches (all sorts of crazy endorphins rushing through my veins). If you have not met Cher she is the most awesome trainer ever, and an awesome person to boot (I'm going to be in her upcoming You Tube promo video- watch out Hollywood here I come :-) ). She helped me lost 30 pounds and a ton of body fat since May, (better get married soon while I'm thin lol!). She was super happy for me and cried a little as she told me to do 15 more push up/leg raises.
Saturday afternoon- Mike and I visit his family so his mom can take a look at my taxes (I owe the IRS a bunch of money but that is another story for a different blog called THE GOVERNMENT SCREWS PEOPLE WHO MAKE A DECENT LIVING). I've gotten good at keeping my mouth shut by now so I was just able to not tell them (though had we stayed longer I think it would have slipped). Then something unprecedented happened that assured me tonight was the night..... can you guess what it was?
Yes, Mike got a haircut. After 10 months of me nagging, begging, pleading.... almost chasing him around with scissors and clippers.... we go to the hair cuttery and he gets an adorable new do. I could see his face again and his deep blue eyes that caught my attention from across the room the first night we met. It was great. I still tell him he's so cute about every 10 minutes. I think it annoys him :-)
Saturday night comes around- turns out Mike has a special dinner planned (all that hinting paid off!). Surprisingly, we don't go to Baltimore , but take the metro to DC instead. He takes me to Bananas, a great Cuban restaurant in Capital Hill that we both ADORE. I'm a little more than nervous, so what better way to calm your nerves than good old...tequila. I promptly order one of their amazing house margaritas. I down that in about 3 gulps and order a mojito. You can see where this is going... I'm so nervous I spend the whole time looking around the restaurant for our waiter in case I needed another drink. The meal was delicious and the evening was pleasant enough... but no proposal.
We get home and I pop open my lap top to check facebook/email (more than a little tipsy at this point). Mike goes in the other room for a moment (I assumed to change), comes back, and asks me to put my laptop down for a second. He then gets down on one knee, hands me a ring, and asks me to marry him. I say a very happy (and only slightly slurred) yes.
So that's my story. Mike and I got engaged in our living room at 11:30 pm on Saturday night. He gave me the ring his father gave his mom when they got engaged. I like the fact that it has sentimental value.
I know our Fathers are looking down at us, smiling. I know my Daddy still watches over me, and I feel a happiness around me that I like to think is partially his, too.
Now, time to spill the beans....
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