Bride-to-Be Blogger: Meet Jennifer


This newly engaged bride-to-be is just starting her planning process. Follow along as she does everything from set the date and find a venue to choosing the bridal party.

Anthony and I got engaged on February 28, exactly 2 years and 4 months after we began dating, and by my best estimate, about 6 years after we first met. I guess the third time really is the charm. We met twice over the years through a mutual friend, but each time it was in a group setting and we didn’t really get to know each other. In 2007, we were in a wedding together and following the nuptials, stayed in touch through MySpace. I made the first move and messaged him, probably before he was even home from brunch the next day.

Over the next few weeks, we talked a lot and went on a few dates. I took him to the Philadelphia Museum of Art on our second date to try to impress him. It turns out I don’t know much about art, but we had a great time and walked around South Street for a few hours afterwards.

He lived 2 hours away and quickly Saturdays became days of travel as we each took turns on the NJ Turnpike and NJ Transit trains to spend a few hours together. About 7 months later, he moved in with me in South Jersey. Now, I can’t even remember what it was like to only see him once a week and was looking forward to spending the rest of my life with him. It was just a matter of time.

Then, on the last day of February of this year, we woke up early. He wanted to go to South Street, I guess to relive that second date sort of, and I wanted a quiet day at home because I had just flown in from Chicago the night before. He was about to run out for coffee when I scooted over to his side of the bed, completely enthralled in an early group of episodes of Keeping up with the Kardashians (It’s a guilty pleasure.) Nervous that I would find the ring in his bedside table, he snuck back into the room and conveniently blocked my view of the television.

Anthony: “I’m gonna marry you.”
Me: “I know, one day.” Craning my neck around him to not miss any of the drama on the television.
Anthony: “Will you marry me?” He reaches for a little black box and fumbles with it.
Me: “Are you f—ing with me?”

I always imagined what I would say when Anthony popped the question. As a writer, I guess I couldn’t help but imagine an eloquent response, but this was all that came out. There I was, simple me in yoga pants and an old t-shirt, hair a mess from a night’s worth of sleep with a new shiny piece of jewelry and life to plan. So far, we’ve been given a lot of advice about planning a wedding. Of all of it, I think my favorite is to ignore everyone’s advice and plan the day we really want.

Many of the details are still to be sorted out, but we visited our first venue and are excited about seeing our other options. We are hoping for a Friday night in either March or April and are looking to have the ceremony and reception all at the same location. Next up: choosing our bridal party and finalizing the guest list — and staying calm and enjoying the process!

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