...why we kept it under wraps on social media for 7+ months is less about us and a bigger question about social media as a whole.

Yup! We adultin’ and doin’ the thang. If you’ve been following this blog from day one, YOU were actually the first ones to publicly find out that Pete and I are, in fact, engaged! So, thanks for reading!

The truth is, Pete and I got engaged this past April. Wha wha wha!? Yup. We had been dating for 7 years, had talked about marriage a handful of times in the past, and had decided it wasn’t for us… until we realized, after all, that it was — but under our own terms. I don’t want a ring (and if you’re curious why, leave a comment and I’ll write a post about it). A traditional white-dress wedding just didn’t resonate. There was no outrageous proposal. And it was perfect — for us. (NOTE: I 100% recognize that I’m unusual and most definitely don’t depreciate tradition, romance, or public outpourings of love. It just wasn’t for me!)

Now, why we kept it under wraps on social media for 7+ months is less about us and a bigger question about social media as a whole. And I’m actually really excited to have a discussion with you guys about it because I think it’s super important in this day and age. We didn’t publicly announce it immediately, because in some ways we wanted to keep it sacred. It’s been enjoyable to talk to friends and family and let them know the old fashioned way — in person and in conversations. We’re at a perplexing point in time where validation comes in the forms of likes and shares. And I’ll be the first one to admit that I completely get wrapped up in this mentality. I’m in the eye of the storm and it feels inescapable at times. But Pete and I becoming engaged — THIS was for us (and our families, of course). It wasn’t for the likes, the thumbs up from our second cousins we never hear from or the pseudo friends who never call. It wasn’t to gain approval and assure that we’re right for each other. We made a choice together. That’s what matters. The more we’re consumed by and measure validation by likes, retweets, and follows, the more we become detached by the very reason something was significant to us. (Side note: I’m in the predicament that those very likes, retweets, and follows have become what measures my career, though. It’s strange. I never set out to be a YouTuber. It just sort of happened. I guess I’m still unpacking that.)

So, why come out publicly now? Well, because I guess it finally felt right. We gave the initial engagement-excitement time to breathe and we let it sink in. We wake up smiling knowing that we chose this path for ourselves. And that’s what matters.

P.S. If you’ve ever been discouraged by the lack of “interaction” a post on social media gets. Take a moment to breathe. Reset. And recognize how utterly ridiculous that thought is. Never before in the history of man, did we as regular people have had to deal with the unusual stress of something not getting enough love on a digital platform. Since we’re all in one way or another stuck in the fray of social media, it’s important to remember that seeking validation in numbers is destructive. If a moment captured on social media was important to you, nothing should take that experience away from you. Look, it’s easier said than done. And I am constantly reminding myself, too. Just know you’re not alone. ❤