Wedding 7.21.12

Soon after we got engaged Andrea's soccer season ended... so she was in full blown wedding planning mode! After visiting many locations, and calling way too many venue coordinators, it came to our attention, that everyone wants to have a fall wedding in Minnesota, not just us!! Most of the venues were already booked for the next fall (2012) and were taking reservations for 2013!! So, we decided a summer wedding would be just fine, only problem was, that meant we were going to be getting married 9 months from when we got engaged.  After much debate, we landed on a venue and date and it seemed like every night was spent doing something for the wedding!   From making the wine cork table numbers, to Andrea's mom cutting burlap table runners, to making the slide show, to invitations, to dresses, to what the guys should wear, to what sort of entertainment-- there was much to do to plan a wedding in 9 months!  here's a few pictures of the events leading up to the big day!

Andrea's Bachelorette Party on Lake Minnetonka June 23, 2012

Mitchell's Bachelor Party in Marshfield, WI June 30th
Group of guys took Mitch's Aunt and Uncle's RV for a road trip to Marshfield, WI
(who gets the "OLD SCHOOL" reference in the "Mitch-a-palooza" sign??)

The night before the wedding we had the wedding rehearsal and then dinner in Andrea's parents backyard!

They day was finally here! We woke up to rain, but it cleared up by the time the wedding came around.  The ceremony was beautiful and all we could have hoped for!

We had an amazing time dancing the night away with our closest friends and family

...next up Hitting Our Stride and spending the rest of our life together!!

Engagement 10.13.11

Since Andrea was working full time at Best Buy Corporate and also the assistant coach for the Orono Girls Varsity Soccer Team and Mitchell was working two jobs and a full time graduate student, it didn't allow much time to plan an elaborate engagement. Exacerbating this was the fact that Mitchell had the ring for over five weeks!

He finally couldn't wait any longer, and on the twelve of October Mitchell visited Andrea's parents to ask permission for her hand in marriage.  After receiving their blessing and a brainstorming session he returned home with the bow tie her father wore during her parents wedding to be used on their dog Altai to aid in the engagement.  

The following evening after Andrea's soccer game they returned home to a nice candle light dinner, wine and flowers.  After dinner Mitchell & Altai briefly disappeared into the other room.  Altai returned wearing the bow tie with a ring attached.  Andrea couldn't stop saying "Mitchell... what's going on" as he waited in the other room and let Altai deliver the ring to Andrea.  He finally came into the room, took the ring off the bow tie (after a few moments of fumbling to get the safety pin off because he was so nervous) and got down on one knee and proposed! Luckily he set up his camera in the kitchen and got it all on video, well, at least the voices!!

Here's a few Engagement Pictures taken at a few of our Favorite Places.  The outdoor pictures are taken at Cedar Lake where we spend lots of our time either cross country skiing in the winter, or canoeing in the summer.  The indoor pictures were taken at the Gutherie Theater, where we had our first date (pretty close to 3 years to the date!) They were even showing A Christmas Carol when we were there taking pictures!

How We Met 11.29.08

Andrea & Mitchell met the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 2008 at a bar called The Loop in Minneapolis.  The very first conversation began when Mitchell ordered a Miller Lite to the disdain of Andrea's taste, to which she replied, "Miller Lite who drinks that!?!"  After some lovely conversation and a  trip to the dance floor, Andrea reluctantly gave her number to Mitchell after only three attempts..
The first date took place the following Thursday evening. Andrea and Mitchell enjoyed a nice evening at the Guthrie Theater for a showing of "A Christmas Carol" and then drinks at several local establishments.  And the rest is history....

Andrea's Favorite Things About Mitch:

• He likes to cook AND do the dishes!
• Buys me flowers "just because"
• He enjoys drinking red wine with the girls
• He frequently acts like he's a 12 year old boy (this can be good and bad)
• Hey enjoys going to plays, orchestra performances, and listening to NPR and Jazz music (I like to joke he should have been born in the 1940s) 
• He can talk about anything with anyone
• That he can't just leave me a normal voicemail, he always has to do something weird, or sing something weird....
• His laugh and smile are contagious =)
• He loves to DANCE , especially at weddings, when he "tries" to break dance.  Check out this YouTube clip at the 49 second mark when my dad pushes Mitch into the "break dance circle" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXGlci-tsxA
• His passion for the outdoors
• His cute nose
• The way he always knows how to make me smile

Mitch's Favorite Things About Andrea:

• She is always up for new adventures
• She makes my life easier by planning things for me
• She spoils me to no end
• Phenomenal genetics
• Her friends and family are so cool
• She was up for getting a dog even though she never owned one, and now is obsessed with him
• She is spontaneous and sometimes crazy (but in a good way)
• She is a very strong-willed and determined individual
• She will often do things outside of her comfort zone knowing that the experience is worth it
• She is a special kind of sweet that makes every moment just a little better

Welcome to our blog!

We have created this blog to stay in touch with our family and friends by sharing all our crazy adventures while we work on Hitting Our Stride as a newly married couple as of July 21, 2012.