2021 is here!

To all of our guests: Although we were holding out hope that we would be able to hold our wedding with all of you as planned this year, we are realizing that this is neither wise nor fair.  There are still so many uncertainties surrounding the spread of COVID-19 as well as state restrictions, and the risk of having a large social gathering with people from multiple states is not one we wish to take.  Instead, we will be having a small ceremony with immediate family and the members of our wedding party. While we are saddened that we won't be able to celebrate with all of you this year, we are excited to announce our rescheduled reception here in Maine next summer on July 17, 2021.  We hope that all of you will be able to attend!  A "Change the Date" will be mailed out along with a small request we have to help bring some joy to this situation.   Thank you all so much for your patience and support as we navigate this challenging time.  If you have any questions, please feel free to send us an email (tomandsarah1819@gmail.com).  We will also be updating our wedding website as we figure out more details. Thinking of all of you, Sarah & Tom

In April 2017, both Tom and Sarah could be found swiping left and right on the dating app called Bumble. The premise of the app is that the girl must initiate conversation first. Sarah saw from Tom’s bio that he was also a teacher, so she decided to reach out with the ever creative, “Hey another teacher!” Luckily it worked on Tom and the two started chatting regularly. A few weeks later, Tom asked Sarah if she could get together in person. Unfortunately, it was the night before she was running a half marathon. Not wanting to disappoint, she said yes first and then said no later. As luck would have it, the following week Sarah found herself with two tickets to a Sea Dogs game (against the Reading Phillies even!) but no one to go with her. She asked Tom if he wanted to go and he said yes! Tom wasn't so sure when he asked Sarah if she wanted a beer and she said she didn't drink beer, but they still enjoyed the game and a stop at Salvage BBQ afterwards. Fast forward three years and Tom and Sarah have successfully made it through a Philadelphia Eagles vs New England Patriots super bowl (what. a. game.), Sarah’s Lisfranc broken foot the week before a cruise to Bermuda, and much more!

To preface these stories, you should know that our engagement story is not a conventional one. There is no engagement ring; instead, we decided to go on a trip out west to Vancouver and Seattle. Though we both knew that we would be officially engaged when we touched down back at Logan Airport, we didn’t know how or when the other person would ask. Somehow, we both pulled off two successful surprises!

It was July 25th, exactly a year after Sarah’s fateful fall off of the hoverboard that left her with a severe Lisfranc injury. Sarah and Tom were visiting the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park just north of Vancouver. Tom, not being as balanced or as comfortable with heights as Sarah, walked over the sparsely populated bridge with wobbly legs and that “heebie-jeebie” feeling he gets on such occasions. Sarah was more of a natural on the bridge. Tom had a feeling that this could be the time and place that Sarah would pop the big question, given that it was her “injuryversary” and all, but once they got across the bridge with no such question, Tom’s nerves settled as they continued the journey through the enormous trees and stabler bridges. After exploring various sights and walkways, they found themselves at a raptor showing, which featured a fierce hawk and regal owl. Following the informative session and a quick bathroom break for Tom, they both decided to head back over the main bridge and finish up at the park. Now, the bridge was bustling with people, and the journey back was much more wobbly and shaky than the first. At the halfway point, Sarah turned back to Tom and said, “hey, look what I found while you were in the bathroom!” as she presented Tom with a ticket from the Portland Sea Dogs game they had attended together as a first date. After looking at the ticket for a moment, Tom said, “oh, no way, that’s funny!” (or something like that). Sarah had hoped he would turn it over, but he did no such thing. Not knowing what to do, Sarah just looked at Tom anxiously before he asked, “Is there more?” Sarah awkwardly nodded yes, and with that, Tom turned the ticket over. So, in the middle of this big, wobbly, and heavily populated bridge, Tom read the words, “Tom, will you marry me? - Sarah ♡.” After a brief moment that felt much more stretched out than it actually was, he gave a doubtless “yes!” to Sarah, and they snapped a picture on the bridge.

Now July 30th and in Seattle, Sarah and Tom prepped for the last big activity of the trip, which was a seven-mile hike on the daunting Mt. Rainier. In the days leading up to the hike, Sarah and Tom could see the mountain from pretty much anywhere in Seattle, as they got very lucky with the weather on the trip. From the Space Needle to the beach, and even on the deck of the AirBnB, Mt. Rainier was a constant, always visible on the skyline. Now, since this was the last big journey of the vacation, Sarah had a strong inkling that Tom would ask his important question on the mountain. But, like Tom in Capilano Park, she had no idea how or when it would happen. In order to take Sarah by surprise, Tom had concocted a plan, which was brilliant in his mind. At some point on the hike, he would let Sarah go ahead and then fake slip on the rocks and fall. While on the ground, he would pretend to be hurt until Sarah helped him up, and then the time would be right for the surprise. However, every time Tom thought he had a nice spot to execute his plan, there were always other hikers around, and Tom didn’t want a stranger rushing over to help out with the fake injury. As they climbed and saw many marmots, two of whom were fighting on the trail, chipmunks, and even a majestic mountain goat, they could see the famous “Inspiration Point” up ahead, the peak of their selected trail. While ascending the trail, they could see this point up ahead, consistently containing at least four people looking out on the gorgeous views the point provides.

At long last, Sarah and Tom approached the point, and somehow there were no people there at that moment. Because Tom thought Sarah would be expecting the question at the point, Tom decided to take advantage of the unstable, albeit flat, ground. Right after letting Sarah take the lead, Tom fell dramatically, making as much noise as possible to get Sarah’s attention. However, Sarah was far too focused on getting to the viewpoint to take the hint, and she marched on without a pause. Seeing Sarah continue on, Tom yelled “Sarah! I fell!” After she made her way back, and Tom faked an ankle injury, he asked for her hand for support getting up. On one knee to “test out that ankle” and holding Sarah’s hand for support, Tom looked up at Sarah and smiled. Seeing this, Sarah shouted “oh my god!” and threw down her hiking poles. All that was left to do was ask the question, and Sarah answered immediately with a “yes!” just as Tom had days before.