Our Engagement Story

The weekend of November 3rd, 2011 was a big one indeed. We got engaged, decided I was moving from my hometown in Tulsa all the way to Maryland, and bought our first house together. Keeping in line with how I like to do things- as soon as possible.

We were visiting Frederick, Maryland on a house hunting trip after Darren had been promoted to a position there. He knew I wasn't going to move without a promise of forever and I knew he was running out of time to pop the question. It had to happen that weekend. And even with that anticipation, he still surprised me!

Fooling me into thinking we needed to pop into the office before dinner, I got all done up and started researching local restaurants. A text came from Darren telling me to come downstairs, so I grabbed my things I walked out the front door of the hotel to find a limousine and a man named Jimmy. "You must be the lovely Lauren," he said and I got in the car. Still no Darren. Where could he be?

We drove through beautiful neighborhoods and then came to a stop in front of Baker Park in downtown Frederick. There, standing under a gazebo, was Darren. I walked up to him and he promptly got down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. I said yes, of course and the tears started flowing.

But the night just got better. We shared some champagne as the limo drove us all over Frederick's quaint downtown where we would soon be moving and we admire all the gorgeous old colonials. Then we headed to dinner at The Silver Maple, built 1790 and patronized by George Washington. Darren knows I love old things. This place was perfect! The dinning room had gorgeous murals of the surrounding landscape and the food was divine! Darren's cider-brined porterhouse pork chop was perfectly cooked and had just the right amount of sweetness. We will be going back to celebrate other milestones in the future.

So, since then it has been a whirlwind of packing, planning and organizing everything for my move and also for the wedding. The date is set for April 20th, 2013! Yes, I realize it's a bit early but it's easier to do everything now while I'm here.

Lot's more to come!