Taylor surprised Alex with a full first-date DAY—which included the zoo, a nice dinner, and a movie. He had her at hello and they clicked instantly. The conversations couldn't have been any easier, and they didn't have to work to make their time together enjoyable. He showed Alex how a perfect first date is supposed to go!

Taylor planned a few dates the week leading up to his proposal, we think he was trying to throw Alex off her game! The date she was most looking forward to was the zoo, and almost a year since their first date, Alex had a hunch he might propose. Saturday, May 6th, they planned a date doing one of their favorite activities, a paint night at Pinot Palette. Their painting that night was a Bob Ross‑themed Happy Trees scene perfect for their third time painting at this particular venue, their favorite! At the end of the night when the instructor gave them time to add anything special, Taylor said to Alex, "I'm going to paint a mountain goat, but I don't want you to look at it until I'm done." Alex said ok and proceeded to adjust her painting to her liking. When Taylor was finished he turned it towards Alex and got down on one knee—the painting said, "Alex will you marry me?" This was the happiest day of their lives and the surprise was pulled off without a hitch. With the help of friends, everything was caught on video, for which the happy couple are forever grateful!

With both Alex and Taylor being in school for the majority of their engagement, they knew all the big wedding decisions needed to be made ASAP. For their venue, they were looking for a place that instilled comfort and relaxation and didn't want anything too fancy. They looked at a few places but nothing was the perfect fit. They were about to give up when they learned of a new barn venue in the area. As they pulled into the driveway they instantly fell in love...after all, first impressions are everything. Cedar Ridge Farm is a beautiful, rustic barn-style venue that allowed them to design and plan their special day exactly how they wanted. Co-owners, Travis and Bria, are amazing to work with and quick to respond to texts, emails, etc. Alex and Taylor are looking forward to seeing how their special day will unfold!

Comfort foods are their favorite types of foods. The couple's ideal menu would have looked a lot like this: tater tots, pizza, Chick Fil-A nuggets, and macaroni & cheese. The idea was also tossed around to set up both a taco bar as well as a pasta bar. Figuring out an appropriate menu was probably one of the most challenging parts of this journey. The caterer we decided to go with is The Festive Board, a little shop in York, Pennsylvania. While the shop itself may be small, their food is amazing! The owner, Ed, made picking a menu fun and easy. The final menu is a buffet-style dinner service featuring plenty of options for everyone to choose from! You’ll have to wait until the big day to find out what delicious foods they decided on, but we promise you won’t be disappointed!

2018 is here, which means Alex and Taylor's wedding is just a few months away! Time has definitely flown by and while most of the details are ironed out, a few are soon-to-come. Please stay tuned for updates including shower details, registry, and others! With love, support, and help from their families, Alex and Taylor look forward to seeing everyone on the big day!