So a little back story… Tanner grew up in the small town of Chestertown on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and I went to school at Washington College also in Chestertown. So there were 4 years we could’ve met. We even had mutual friends/acquaintances and there are only like four bars in Chestertown. So most likely we were in the same place at some point or another. Anyway, two weeks after I graduated in 2012 and moved home (to the Western Shore), I started a summer internship at the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis. I was assigned to work with a research archivist who was from Chestertown on a project documenting early African Americans living in Londontown. This cute archivist and I really hit it off and a month later, we had our first date. It happened to be the night of the infamous derecho… and our date ended with us being stuck in the Navy Stadium parking lot where I had parked for work because there was no power and the electric gate didn’t work. We had to call the police to get us out! We spent the summer falling in love and two years later moved in together on a little rented farm where we now live with our two dogs, two cats, four chickens, and two horses (down the road).

The first week of May 2016, it rained a lot. But Tanner, who had talked to my parents and bought a ring over a month before, was getting really anxious and excited and couldn’t keep a secret much longer. That Wednesday (May 4) the rain finally stopped for a while. My sister texted me to see if I wanted to go to the azalea gardens at Brighton Dam with my parents (literally two minutes down the road from us). I was TOTALLY oblivious and suggested I bring my nice camera and tripod so we could take a family photo to give our mom for Mother’s Day. She, of course, thought that was a great idea. So I got home from feeding the horses and asked Tanner if he was interested in going. He agreed, but not very enthusiastically. So (luckily) I changed out of my barn clothes and we met my parents and sister there. We wandered around taking pictures and admiring the beautiful flowers. Tanner was quiet – I thought he was grumpy. Turns out… he was SUPER nervous because when my sister asked to take a picture of Tanner and I, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Who would’ve thought the most blah day of the work week would be so exciting? We celebrated with my parents, went out to dinner at our favorite local restaurant, called his family, visited my grandmother, and went home to have champagne 🙂 It was perfect.

My favorite part has been thinking of personal touches that are unique to Tanner and I. It’s so easy to get caught up in the Pinterest world and what’s currently a fad. So I’ve been trying to focus on what’s most important to us as a couple. I’ve also really enjoyed spending time with my mom and grandmother while working on planning.

If I were only to pick one, I’d say make time to go on dates with your husband-to-be and don’t talk about the wedding. As our wedding fast approaches, it’s been important for us to spend time together not talking about it. They don’t have to be fancy dates or expensive ones. Just go for a walk in a local park or get ice cream. Also (because I apparently can’t follow directions and just say one thing), don’t compare your wedding to other weddings. Focus on planning a wedding that fits you and your fiance. If you don’t want to do a bouquet toss because you find it gimmicky, don’t do it. If you want to cut the cake even though people might find it cliche, do it!

I can’t WAIT to marry Tanner and celebrate with all our close family and friends. But I am also very excited for our Quaker ceremony at the farm where I grew up. My parents were also married in the style of Friends and celebrated their wedding at our farm 33 years ago. I am so honored to continue the tradition in a place that has been in my family for seven generations, and to be able to share that tradition and begin a new family with Tanner. There aren’t words to express how excited/happy/giddy I am about that. I can’t wait to officially be his family.