philadelphia christmas market

We spent last Sunday in Philadelphia, hitting up our favorite place IKEA and walking around the city a little. It was a bit chilly so we didn't want to walk around too much, but I love this city and the food.

As we walked around IKEA, I realized how awesome of a husband he really is to me. I was looking for a glass box we had seen at the beginning of the 'tour' but could not find it in the Marketplace. He walked all the way back through the entire store to see where he could get the box. The display was the last box in the store and he had to fill out paperwork to get it. He's seriously the best.


We stopped at LOVE park near the City Hall. I love seeing the hall. It reminds me of my early days of college when we used to go dancing in Philly and drive by this on our way home, hanging out of windows screaming and singing at each other. We walked around the Christmas market looking at all the little shops, trying not to freeze. We bought him the cutest and warmest mittens (it was cold).


Sipped some hot chocolate.
Ate some appetizers aka pretzels.
I appreciate his enthusiasm to everything we do together. He is like a kid who sees new things that I some times take for granted because I have seen it so many times. He sees it from a whole new light and I love it. It makes me appreciate it all more.


Plus, we got see some awesome German sausages being cooked. Not that I eat it but it was still pretty awesome to see it! It was amazing to spend a whole week together after we got married. We got married and spent two weeks apart so it was like a mini honeymoon as he said (there will be a real one).

the elopement

On a chilly November day, I walked out of the car to meet my future husband. He was late, of course, but it wouldn't be him if he was on time and in place. I walked across the grass and tapped him on the shoulder, he turned around to see me for the first time in my dress and faux fur. He said the fur shocked him because he didn't realize I would be wearing one. Well, duh it was surprise.

We hugged, we kissed, and we got ready for the ceremony.
It was simple and intimate. We gathered with our friends, said our vows, I cried the entire time I said them. I cried when we got there and I cried when he said his. I thought it would have been him to get emotional, I'm not the emotional one normally (crazy, maybe, but not the lovey dovey one). But in that moment, I knew all of the ups and downs we had gone through in the last 18 months was worth it. It didn't matter anymore and all I could focus on was, this is who I plan on spending my life with and sharing in all of the wonderful moments that life has to offer us.




And then we kissed. We were married, husband and wife in this crazy world together.
It was cold, so cold without that faux fur on but it was worth it to get that ring on his finger properly. I couldn't have been happier in that moment.




We took a few photos around town. The town that brought us together, the Company that brought me to this town to meet him. I left New Jersey almost three years ago in a very different place than I am now. I have grown up so much in the last five years and it amazes me to think that a week ago, I got married to a man who puts up with my independently stubborn nature.

He is so amazingly kind and caring (sometimes too much if that's possible). He works his butt on to finish school, work full time, and take care of the dog. He builds me all of my crazy Pinterest ideas at the drop of a hat and he rarely ever tells me no. He cares for me so unconditionally it amazes me. I love the moments he plays with my hair until I fall asleep and carries me to bed when I fall asleep on the couch before him. It's one thing I miss living apart from each other.




As I put together our photo book from the engagement and the elopement, I came across an email I sent to myself almost five years ago. It had a quote that helped me get through a tough time in my life when I had split up with my then boyfriend. After reading it, it made sense then but means so much more now:

I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.

It was a long road to you but I could not be happier that I waited for you to come into my life. I have been through so many bad moments so I could appreciate every waking moment with you. All of them that make us stronger together. We have a whole lifetime for adventures. I am so happy to be your wife.


November 11, 2017 ❤

engagement photos

Sneak peek of our engagement photos.
Rachel Liz Photography is amazing and I cannot wait for her to shoot our wedding. It was so much fun and she did such an amazing job capturing us.