The Sweetest Weekend

Friday I had to work but I was still floating on air so I didn't mind going in. It was so fun to tell people at the office and flash my left hand. After work, T.J. and I took the train up to my parents house. Both mom and dad greeted us at the station and there were hugs and congratulations exchanged.

We drove back to the house with mom and I riding in the back seat together. We were just giddy the whole way. Pulling into the garage, sister ran out to greet us. There was of course more jumping up and down at this point. She and I have basically been waiting for this day since we were just little girls playing dress-up and taking turns putting one of mom's old slips on our head like a veil and pretending to be a bride.

Inside were were greeted by another champagne celebration and more surprises! Seriously, it's been like my birthday and Christmas all rolled into one these past couple days. The sweet bag from my sister contained more wedding magazines and the pink package from my parents had THE BEST Erin Condren wedding planner with mine and T.J.'s name on the cover, plus tons of stickers and cool tabs and colorful markers which are basically love languages of mine.
Dad said the first of many toasts that would make me feel weepy that weekend and then we sat down to a late dinner where we enjoyed Chicken Divan which happens to be the first dish my mom ever cooked for my dad and then we indulged in those pretty pale pink vanilla almond cupcakes that my sister made.

The next morning sister and I, who got to have a sleepover all weekend, woke up and immediately started looking at my Pinterest wedding boards which I am now officially allowed to shamelessly pin to. We then headed downstairs for breakfast and then spent the rest of the lazy morning and afternoon finally enjoying some warm weather out on the patio and staring at my ring in the bright sunshine and forcing the boys to dye Easter eggs. We've been doing it for 20+ years and we're not about to stop now.
All day my parents were talking about the secret plans they had made for us that evening. They told us to be ready to go at 5:45 sharp but they wouldn't tell T.J. or I where we were going or what we would be doing. So we all started getting ready (p.s I love getting ready with my sister) and then at 5:45 we headed out the door and saw a black sedan waiting in the driveway!
I was pretty sure we were heading into NYC, and I knew dinner was involved but even once we were in the car they wouldn't spill the beans. Instead we answered trivia about the restaurant- which actually confused me even more. When we couldn't guess, they finally divulged where we were headed, One If By Land, Two If By Sea. It was once Aaron Burr's carriage house, which we learned during the trivia challenge, and it is such a romantic restaurant. Clustered chandeliers, brick walls, arched windows, uneven hard wood floors, tons of candlelight. Evidently it's also haunted, possibly by Aaron Burr himself, but regardless, it was beautiful!
Luckily I love champagne, because we started the evening off with a glass and my dad shared the sweetest words that he wrote down for me to save-advice, encouragement and well wishes that I will definitely treasure.
We then proceeded to have a long, indulgent, three course meal. Everything was delicious and I highly recommend the beef wellington which is their specialty.  We all got dessert but we were also treated to a special tray of salted chocolate caramel nibs and what I can only describe as homemade passion fruit marshmallows.
It's hard to explain really, but this was such a special dinner. My parents went above and beyond to mark this occasion, to recognize T.J. and I, and it was so wonderful to be with my family and my new fiance around the same table celebrating us. It was simply a great night! So great, in fact, that I fell asleep in the car on the way home.
Easter Sunday came with it's sunshine and it's empty tomb and beautiful promises. This is the first real holiday T.J. and I have spent together and it made the day even more special. Church was followed by the yummy and comforting lunch of baked ham and deviled eggs of course. And then for a special after lunch treat I tried on my mom's wedding dress. I felt a little bit like I was playing dress-up again but it was really special to put on that dress that I've memorized from the pictures in my parent's wedding album, studied hundreds of times before.

Sadly I had to change back into real clothes and then drop off my sister, her boyfriend, and my fiance at the airport before heading to the train station which was the only downside to a perfect weekend!

(P.S. I borrowed some of these pictures from my mom's blog. She's been posting all about the weekend on her blog as well!)

Comments

  1. what a great weekend you had! Loved that you tried on your Mom's wedding dress.

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  2. Thank you for sharing your special weekend, and allowing us to share the experience through your words!! Excellent blog!!

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  3. What a sweet, special weekend! I'm so happy for you! :)

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  4. Sounds like a great weekend! How wonderful to celebrate with your family! (Do we get to see a picture of the ring???) :)

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  5. Wonderful. I can feel the warmth of you happiness all the way down here in Australia.And just think this is only the engagement...greater things are still to come

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  6. Congratulations!! I am so thrilled for you :)

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