A note to our family and friends:

Due to COVID-19, we have decided to postpone our June 11th, 2021 wedding. Although this brings us great sadness, the health and safety of our loved ones is our main priority. We cannot wait to celebrate our love with all of you when it is safe to do so. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We are looking forward to our special day with you on October 10th, 2021.

Love always,

The Future Farrands

How We Met:

Flashback to March 18th, 2016. It was a Friday and I was sitting at my desk at work scrolling through my Bumble dating app waiting for the kids to arrive for program. I had no plans that night and was going to Boston for the weekend, so I figured "might as well send the same message to about 15 bumble matches and see what happens". I did just that. I frequently checked the app within the hour and no one responded. Except for one. Justin, 26, lives in West Hartford, 10 miles away. "Hey Andrea! Happy Friday! Want to come over tonight for a beer on my porch?" I was a little hesitant at first since that question just screamed a criminal minds episode, but I suggested a public place for a meet and greet and he agreed. We planned to meet for drinks in West Hartford at Plan B that evening. Fast forward to 8:00pm that night, I was greeted by this handsome, "tall" (he made me write that) stranger who greeted me with, "Is it Andrea or Andrea?" (an-dree-uh vs. on-dre-uh) I took note that I really liked that he asked me this question because I do not like when people assume it's the latter of the two pronunciations. He also told me Plan B had a 20 minute wait so Park Tavern next door would be the spot for our first date. I thought nothing of this then, but looking back this totally makes sense because Justin struggles with not being occupied at all times. That night, we shared a mozzarella appetizer, which of course I didn't finish, and had a glass of wine, which again, I didn't finish. But, the conversation was easy, I belly laughed (which is always a good sign), and I genuinely felt like I knew him for years. Fast really forward to three and a half years later and we are now planning our October 2020 Wedding!

The Proposal:

Justin and I had been talking about him 'popping the question' for quite some time now, but me being the HBIC and high maintenance to boot, it needed to be Pinterest Perfect. I gave Justin specific guidelines of how (see Pinterest engagement board) when (on an odd number Saturday in the summer), and where (somewhere on a beach) to propose. At this point, I'm surprised Justin just didn't call it quits, but needless to say, he stuck around. It was a beautiful and sunny day on June 15th, 2019 and I was super excited because two of my best friends were traveling down for a weekend visit from Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Another one of my best friends was joining us for a 'girls day'. They suggested we get our nails done because they had "upcoming graduation parties" and what not. This was clue 1. I never get my nails done, in fact, I'm a habitual nail biter. I was on to them. Next came clue 2. They suggested that we "all wear dresses". I never wear dresses and I don't like when groups of girls actually all match one another. They all know these two facts about me so something fishy was definitely going on. I told them that I was 90% sure Justin was going to propose today and something along the lines of, "I'm on to you b****es".

We travel to the nail salon and decide on making our next stop The Blue Oar in Haddam, CT. I had never been there before, but the girls told me it overlooks the Connecticut River. Perfect. Justin will be posted up on the dock, down on one knee, asking for my hand in marriage. I was super excited and nervous all at the same time! I told them my theory and they quickly shot me down with a "you're going to be super disappointed; it's not happening today". I decided to ignore them and let the plans roll. We show up at The Blue Oar (really cute spot by the way-check it out!) and I'm hardcore seeking out Justin in his best dressed proposal outfit. He's nowhere to be found. After some snacks and wine and no Justin, the girls suggest we head to West Hartford Center for some dinner. Another perfect suggestion from my girls. I thought, "That's where he's going to do it! Justin told me on LaSalle Street in West Hartford Center he loved me for the first time". I'm pretty sure the girls were getting sick of my theories at this point, but they continued to entertain me and say, "Not today".

We travel all the way to West Hartford Center and eat at one of my favorite restaurants, Barcelona. If I wasn't going to get the proposal today, I was for sure going to get the restaurant of my choice. After enjoying some more wine and plenty of tapas, I started getting eager to leave as I was convinced Justin was posted up outside Bricco on LaSalle ready to pop the question. Again, the girls told me, "it's not happening today, Andrea!" We walked out of the restaurant and with a glimmer of hope, I peeked around the corner of LaSalle and Farmington Ave, and no Justin outside of Bricco's. I had raised my White Flag and surrendered (cue Dido's #1 hit). I said to the girls, "alright, I give up. It's not happening today and that's okay!" They were silent for the remainder of the car ride home...

We arrive at my apartment, doggie bags in tow, and I go to open the main door to our complex. At the bottom of the stairs was a note with two pictures of myself and my main squeeze, Ava Farrands (our beloved black lab/golden retriever mix for those of you who don't know). I read the note aloud and started to Kim K cry really loud. I turned to my best friends and said, "HE'S DOING THIS NOW?!?!!" Luckily, they caught that part on video. I walk up the two flights of stairs and more pictures of myself and Ava line the bannister to our apartment. I am greeted by Ava at the top of the stairs, frantically whining because 1.) Mom's home 2.) no one is paying attention to her, and 3.) she has this big fluffy white bow on her. She is seriously the cutest. My second and final note from Ava's perception read something like, "Dad has a question to ask you, come inside and close the door behind you". I'm a hot mess at this point and open the apartment door, not thinking to bring Ava inside with me, so the poor girl hung back with my girlfriends. The apartment was lined with beautiful tea tree lights, rose petals, and hanging lights from the ceiling with pictures of myself and Justin throughout the years all while a playlist of our favorite and most meaningful love songs played from a speaker. In tears, I walked into the living room and find Justin in his best proposal outfit ever (suit and tie!). He asked me, "Is it Andrea or Andrea" like he did on our first date, and he finally popped the question. Of course I said yes!

After the proposal, we invited the girls (including Ava) to come in to the apartment and they greeted us with lots of hugs and tears. They took some photos of the new Farrands Fam and we oohed and ahhed over the ring! Justin suggested that I go tell our best neighbor friends, Kelsey and Casey, across the hall. I knocked on the door and to my surprise, some more of my best friends greeted me with a full on party! I was overwhelmed with happiness seeing all of their faces. I couldn't wait to celebrate such a wonderful moment with some of the greatest people in my life.

We are now ready to share and celebrate our marriage with you on October 10th, 2021 at The Ethel Walker School followed by our reception at The Simsbury Inn. We look forward to our special day with you!

Love,

The Future Farrands

Travel

The Simsbury Inn