Drew and I met on a blind date in December 2009. We met for sushi and closed the place down! It was no surprise then that we were both interested in seeing each other again. For our second date, we ended up visiting a Meals on Wheels client of mine in the hospital and then went to dinner afterwards. That's when I knew that Drew was different from anyone I've ever dated.
We spent the next year getting to know each other better and it wasn't long before we realized that what we had was very special. A little more than a year after we met, on December 18, 2010, Drew surprised me with an engagement proposal! We had made plans with my mom and brother to go to the Cleopatra exhibit in Philadelphia. On the way there, we coincidentally found out that Drew's brother and wife were at the Philadelphia Art Museum. So, he decided that we should stop by and see them! Little did I know, he had a big surprise planned. As we climbed the steps of the Art Museum and we took turns taking pictures of each other doing the 'Rocky' pose, I found Drew and I at the top of the stairs, looking down at our own personal paparazzi. At this point, I still had no idea what was about to happen but thought it was funny how our family was standing in front of us and side by side taking our picture doing the 'Rocky' pose. Figuring that they were done taking our picture, I started to walk away until Drew called my name to get my attention. As I turned around, he went down on one knee and asked me to marry him! Of course, I said YES! While we were dating, Drew and I had many great times and memories in Philadelphia. I'm not an easy person to surprise, so by making plans for us in Phildelphia, Drew figured it was his best bet! There's actually a video of the proposal on YouTube.
It was important for us to bring a little bit of my culture into our wedding. We added Middle Eastern hor'dourves and desserts to our menu. Our favors were a set of Middle Eastern tea cups and our guests will probably never forget our surprise bellydancer performance!
Thoughts about wedding planing to share with other brides would be that everyone has their opinions but at the end of the day, do what makes you and your husband-to-be happy! Remember that the two most important opinions are yours and his! You may not be able to stay within a budget so try to decide and prioritize what is most important to you. Some things that you'll spend a fortune on, or that you'll spend a lot of time debtaing about, will never even be noticed the day of your wedding. Lastly, and most importantly, be sure to stop and take it all in. Don't miss out on one of the happiest days of your life.
Photography: mk Photography / Brides Dress: Private Label By G / Brides Shoes: Enzo Angiolini / Bridesmaids Dresses: Bill Levkoff / Bridesmaids Jewelry: Charter Club / Flower Girls Dress: Jordan / Stationary: ESpecial Day / Venue: Hotel du Pont