How about two personal posts in one week? Can we handle it? It’s been nearly two months since we got engaged, and I’m excited to start sharing our wedding journey here on the blog. I’m not yet certain how I’ll share updates as we move forward—whether I’ll post here or elsewhere—but for now I plan to post roughly once a month with updates and questions for anyone who’s already walked down the aisle. This will be a fairly wordy post, so brace yourselves. I’ll be honest about the joys and challenges of being engaged and planning a wedding. But first, the proposal story.
First, a little background on us. Jeff and I officially “met” our senior year of high school—small-town life means everyone knows everyone. We were both voted best dressed, and that kicked everything off. About six months into our relationship it was time for college: I went to LA and Jeff went to DC. We did the long-distance thing for a year, then I transferred to DC when my first school wasn’t the right fit. After another long-distance stretch while Jeff studied abroad in London, we graduated and moved to LA together. We’ve now been together for six and a half years, so yes—about time to get engaged!
I’d been dropping hints to Jeff that I’d always dreamed of a balloon-filled engagement. I usually get weird looks when I mention this, but my favorite movie is Patch Adams. There’s a scene where Patch fills a room with balloons, and that image stuck with me. Lucky for me, Jeff took the hint—and he recruited Jihan of Geronimo Balloons to help him make the proposal happen, unbeknownst to me. I was 100% convinced he would never propose, and I made that clear. Waiting between ring shopping and actually getting the ring is tougher than anyone tells you—especially for impatient people like me.
I should note I am nearly impossible to surprise—I always figure things out, usually without trying. I love surprises, but rarely get to experience them. The day of the proposal my best friend Lauren and her fiancé Mike were in town. The four of us had lunch at Trails in Griffith Park, and Jeff “took the long way” out of the park. I was confused but didn’t suspect anything. As we drove back down the hills I spotted a glorious Geronimo Balloons display in the park and exclaimed, “Oh look! It’s Geronimo!” Then Jeff pulled the car over and parked.
Everyone got out of the car except me—I was frozen. At that point I knew and was in total shock. Jeff finally got me out and walked me under a canopy of balloons and then… I honestly don’t remember much. I was a sobbing, overwhelmed mess. All I remember is him getting down on one knee with the most beautiful ring and me saying yes. I’m sure what he said was meaningful, but I needed a transcript afterwards because I was so emotional!
Afterwards I realized the proposal had been witnessed by Lauren and Mike, and that Mary was there to photograph it, my sister-in-law Eileen was hiding in the trees, and Jihan and her team were watching from a distance. The next few minutes were filled with crying, hugging and thanking everyone for pulling off what was probably the first real surprise of my life. It felt like a dream come true—and of course I was now officially engaged to the love of my life.
I didn’t waste any time diving into wedding planning. Jeff always said he was afraid to propose because of the wrath of wedding-planning me, and I admit I’ve been obsessed—reading magazines for years and even working in the wedding industry in DC. Within 24 hours I had reached out to my dream team and, happily, they were all in. Here’s what we’ve done so far, how planning is going, and a few questions for those of you already married.
The Basics
We knew we wanted a Palm Springs wedding. We both love the area and vibe, and thought it would make a good destination for guests traveling from the East Coast and Midwest. I always imagined a summer wedding, but summer in Palm Springs could mean 115-degree heat, so we chose fall instead. Our guest list will be around 150+. And one big note: our wedding will not be a full DIY affair. I will DIY a few personal touches, of course, but after working in the industry I deeply value hiring professionals. I want the wedding week to be relaxed and stress-free, so I’m letting the pros handle the heavy lifting.
I do think DIY weddings are wonderful for the right couples and can save money when done well—this just isn’t the right fit for us.
What We’ve Done
– Hired a wedding planner. We’ve admired the work of Bash, Please for a long time for weddings that feel unique yet timeless. We don’t want a trendy wedding, so we’re thrilled to work with Melissa and her team.
– Booked a photographer. We’ve wanted film photography for years—the light and feel speak to us. I’ve admired Katie Stoops’s work since my industry days in DC and reached out as soon as we got engaged. She was available and we’re so excited.
– Secured a floral designer. Flowers are my top priority for decor. I used to work with Holly Heider Chapple Flowers and Holly has been asking when she could finally do my wedding flowers. She’s on board and I couldn’t be happier.
– Brought Jihan of Geronimo Balloons on board. After her role in the proposal, it was natural to have Geronimo play a part in the wedding design as well.
– Chose a date—twice. Coordinating dates with a list of must-have vendors proved tricky. Our first date conflicted with Palm Springs Gay Pride weekend, which made hotel blocks difficult for our guests, so we settled on a different date.
– Booked a venue. We wanted an entirely outdoor wedding, not a hotel, with distinct ceremony, cocktail and reception spaces. We found a private estate called La Chureya and knew immediately it was the one.
What We Still Need to Do
– Secure hotel buyouts and room blocks to ensure affordable lodging for our guests—challenging in Palm Springs, but essential for our out-of-town attendees.
– Finalize catering. We want something non-traditional and Californian—fresh and light, possibly with Mexican influences. Jeff will lead this since food is his passion.
– Find a DJ. We want the wedding to be a huge dance party.
– Design and order Save the Dates. Stationery sets expectations and I love paper—letterpress, gold, watercolor—so this will be a tough but fun decision.
– Develop a cohesive design plan. I know the floral style I love and want some gold elements, but I need our planner to help pull my vision together into something unified.
How We’re Feeling
We won’t lie—we’ve joked about eloping many times. Figuring out a guest list is unexpectedly fraught with politics, but most of that is behind us now. The date change was stressful but we are signed and relieved. Jeff is excited about food and I’m excited about design, and it’s been great that we’ve been on the same page with decisions so far. He’s more involved than he initially expected to be, which I love.
Help! Questions for the Married Folks
Honeymoon suggestions, please! We’re looking for a resort with an amazing pool where I can relax without feeling the need to move, water sports (Jeff wants a jet ski), a spa, and a walkable town with an authentic feel. We’re not set on leaving immediately after the wedding, though that would be ideal. We’ve considered the Greek Isles and Portugal, but want a place where we can truly relax rather than rush to tour everything. We’ve also thought about more exotic spots, though we’ll avoid extremely remote locations due to my medical history. Any unique, relaxing suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Phew—this was a long post, but I wanted to get you all caught up. I’m excited to share more of the planning process and a few wedding DIYs along the way.
All photos by Mary Costa Photography