Forget TGIF, how about TGWHAV?!?

While I am also totally TGIF today, I also want to proclaim "Thank God We Have A Venue!"

Even as the concept of actually being engaged was still settling in, people were quick to drill me, "So have you set a date?!?"

Side note: There was the one person at work who asked, "Is this your first?"  A little confused and thinking surely there is no way someone is THAT rude, I replied, "Cup of coffee?" "No, is this your first wedding?"
Yes, on top of my actual JOB sometimes making me want to scream, tear my hair out and cry simultaneously, I also work with people who seemingly have little regard for social skills.

Getting back to the point here, I would always try to respond politely "No, no date yet.  Still just enjoying being newly engaged." And while I may have appeared calm, inside I was already getting my freak-out on.  MVP and I had decided we very much wanted to get married in Philadelphia.  But that also meant doing a bunch of research online and then orchestrate several drives up to Philly to do on site visits.

So. Many. Visits.

Over the course of two weekends I think we saw a total of 15 or 16 places.  And while I was already starting to feel the stress...one place running into the next...can't remember which end is up....at that same *exact* time, Pennsylvania legalized same-sex marriage.
Immediately -- YAY MARRIAGE EQUALITY!
Followed shortly with -- Holy sh*t now there is a GINORMOUS pool of couples looking to get hitched in Philly.

After many, MANY back and forth phone calls, a few tears on my part, weighing pros/cons (i.e. there is not a big enough discount that will get me to book my wedding on Sept. 11) we nabbed a date (two months sooner than I thought we would be getting married) at what was our top venue choice.

MVP and I are VERY excited to be getting hitched at The Down Town Club in Philadelphia on March 13, 2015. And yes, I am aware I am getting married on Friday the 13th.  Given the choice between that and Sept. 11th you can see how easy my decision was, yes?

But it seems there is not all that much time to enjoy the sense of peace that came with getting that squared away.  Now we are in the throes of tackling the next set of To Dos -- band/dj, photographer, videographer.  This whole idea of wedding planning seems a LOT less stressful when I watch it on TLC.  I am lucky in that MVP is a HUGE help (calling vendors, helping with research) so I am actually in pretty good shape.  

At least, that is what I keep telling myself.......

Deviled Megs said "Yes!"

Ok, it was really weird to even type that blog title.  But about two months ago, during a trip to LBI, MVP asked me to marry him.  And, as the blog title has already given it away, I said yes.

I knew that the proposal was coming.  I had wanted MVP to use a diamond that had belonged to my Gram, so I would occasionally check the ring box in my drawer to see if the ring was still in there.  So when it was gone, well I'm no Nancy Drew, but I figured it would be soon-ish.

Scene - LBI for Easter weekend, getting ready for our usual  drive on the island.  Deviled Megs is in the house getting ready to leave, MVP is on the front porch with Coach and Pop-Pop.  MVP comes back in the house and comes to find Deviled Megs.
MVP: Can you hear them out there on the porch?"
Deviled Megs: Nope.
MVP: They're talking so loudly.

MVP exits.

Deviled Megs' inner monologue: I bet he was out there asking permission to marry me.

We did our usual LBI drive -- first to the southern point of the island, and then up to Barnegat Lighthouse at the northern point.  But this time, our usual drive ended with a proposal.

Yes, this is the first photo of me on the blog - eeks! Don't tell MVP, I didn't ask him if it was ok to post it. 

As we were walking back to the car, I was admiring my sparkly new ring and then was fidgeting with my nails.

MVP: You're upset I didn't wait until you had a manicure, aren't you?

Deviled Megs: Um.....kinda?

MVP: Ok, we can stop and get you one on the drive home.

I mean as if I didn't already know he was a keeper, that sealed the deal for me right there!  So technically, the very first person I told that I had just gotten engaged was Kim of Kim's Nails in Surf City, NJ.  

True Story.  

It's been a crazy and exciting time since then -- sharing the good news with friends and family, taking drives to look at wedding venues, spending too much time on Pinterest.  MVP recently asked me why I hadn't blogged in a long time.  I gave my usual responses - so busy, work is stressing me out, no time, etc.  But he then reminded me that I do love this weird little corner of the interwebs I have all to myself.  I have missed it. The other wonderful thing about this blog is that it's let me capture some of the most important things in my life these past few years.  Meeting MVP.  L moving away.  MVP Moving in.  Becoming an Aunt.  Buying a couch. The world's worst temp assistant.

And guys....never forget that I told you that Adele was about to become EVERYTHING.  So called that.  

Will this be a wedding blog now?  Who knows.  It would be hard not to write about it since it is a pretty big thing in my life right now.  But I don't see me being a "Hey you guys, help me pick out the font for my cocktail napkins" kind of gal.  So if I can promise not to write about every. Single. Wedding. Detail. I hope you will all come back and join me here from time to time.  

Because everyone always asks to see the ring.