We’re getting married! After a crazy, unprecedented year for us and for the world, I’m SO stoked to say that Drew and I are getting married. While I wasn’t the little girl that fantasized about her dream proposal or wedding day, I’ve always dreamt of finding forever love, making a home and starting a family. I knew I’d found that kind of love almost immediately after Drew and I had our first date, and now it’s *official*! Sealed with a gorgeous diamond ring.
Drew asked me to marry him on our favorite beach outside my parent’s house in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Being “bloggers”, he had a built in excuse to get me photo ready for an early morning beach photoshoot wearing a white dress. While I thought we were shooting content for a brand, Drew had been planning the best day ever. He did GOOD.
We’d been with my family in Florida for a week, and just like most other mornings, we got up and ready to take photos at the beach before the crowds came. Full disclosure, my hair hadn’t been washed in a few days, so I threw on a hat and came downstairs. “You can’t wear that hat”, Drew said bluntly. This coming from my laid back boyfriend, I should’ve known something was up! But I didn’t, and reluctantly took off the hat when Drew explained that the brand didn’t want me to wear one in the photos.
Once on the beach, we filmed the story slides based on the “creative brief” from the brand (which I would later find out was totally made up! LOL). He seriously made me re-do multiple takes to make sure we got everything the brand wanted on film. WHAT A SNEAK! When I thought we had wrapped, I turned to head back to the boardwalk. That’s when Drew grabbed my hand.
It took me a second to realize what was happening, when Drew started tearing up (the cutest thing I’ve ever seen) and said “I’ve planned everything about this day except what I was going to say in this moment”…
I was totally in shock and blacked out during his speech! He says I just kept asking “what?! what?!” until I said YES! After a few minutes, when I finally stopped shaking from nerves and shock, Drew pointed to the sand dunes where he had a photographer waiting! I told y’all…he did good and thought of everything.
We snapped a few more photos with the photographer and headed back home. I figured my mom would have some food and decorations waiting, but I was in for a surprise (again!). When I opened the front door, not only was my family standing among tons of balloons, flowers and pastries BUT…so was Drew’s family! He had flown in his parents and brother to be there with us, too.
Because COVID prevented anyone else from gathering with us safely, Drew had my cousin and best friend put together a video of congratulations from everyone we love. I hadn’t cried yet that day (probably due to shock), but when I watched the video, the tears starting flowing. I’d never felt so overwhelmed (in a good way).
My mamma’s neighborhood friends had helped her do the floral arrangements, lent her their nice dishes for a pretty food display and even stored like, 100 balloons in their homes. It truly took a village and so much planning on Drew’s part to put this all together.
The days that followed have since blurred together like some sort of crazy, amazing dream. Around the time I was coming down off of a three-day-engagement-high, my mom called me toward the front door to help with groceries. Except when I reached the front door, my BEST FRIEND in the world was standing there.
Hayley is a NICU nurse in Chicago with crazy work hours, so I hadn’t even thought about her being able to come to our engagement. But again, Drew did so good and Hayley made it happen with her crazy schedule!!! It was so fun to have my girl there to chat all things wedding planning and reminisce on how our lives have changed over our 10+ years of friendship.
I’ve never experienced as much LOVE as I did from Drew, our families and our friends during this time. It was better than anything I could’ve ever dreamed up myself. And the best part is, it all means I get to be married to Drew someday soon.
Thank YOU all for your sweet messages and comments. You’re truly my friends even if we’ve only met through the internet. Stay tuned for allllll the details on wedding planning! I’d be lying if I said I haven’t bookmarked 1,000 bridal things already. Like most things, I’ll be bringing you chickadees along with me every step of the way.
