Ditching the Plan in a Special Way
I’m living proof that things don’t always work out the way you plan them. And as a serial planner and list maker, I can tell you that the let down can be devastating. Like when you plan a girls weekend in Cancun and instead of partying the night away at the hottest club on the strip you end up with swollen lips and an upset stomach because you forgot your SPF lip balm and accidentally drank tap water. Or when you score a birthday reservation for dinner at one of New York’s best restaurants only to have your party of 12 turn to a party of 3 (and 2 of those people are you and your boyfriend). Or when you browse Anthropologie’s website prior to going to the store and make a list of your favorite dresses only to go to the store and have none of them come up past your hips and big behind.
Consider weddings. Most of us women have them planned in our heads by the time we hit puberty. I was one of them. And once our relationships hit a certain length we imagine all the different ways our boyfriends will propose and practice all the ways we will react. I was one of those too.
So you can imagine that it took me a bit to soak in the fact that not only would I not be having the wedding I always dreamed of but that I would be doing the proposing. Almost 29 years of planning went out the window the day I decided I would propose to my then boyfriend on a plane bound for Maui. Somewhere over the Pacific I popped the question. After he said yes I then hit him with surprise #2 – I had arranged for us to get married two days later on a secluded beach at sunset in the company of an officiant, photographer and musician.
My wedding day was a truly magical day – pancakes for me and a waffle for him for breakfast followed by cocktails and fresh fruit by the pool. We got all dolled up (took a little longer for me because it was my wedding day after all) and then took a short ride to a nearby secluded beach. We exchanged vows, shared in a first dance and enjoyed the rest of our evening as husband and wife. There were flowers, pretty shoes, a seafood dinner and an awesome cake. Most important of all though, there was me and him. After 8 years together, I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life with someone else. And thank the heavens that I ditched the plan and took the leap faith.
There’s no cake here to celebrate our first year of marriage. That’s because the way to my man’s heart is through chocolate chip cookies 
Happy anniversary babe – hope the next 50+ years are even better than the last
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Diana Carolina — August 16, 2010 @ 3:15 pm
I love that picture of the two of you kissing at sunset. You looked fabulous. Happy anniversary!
Tammy — August 16, 2010 @ 3:17 pm
How romantic…. Congratulations!
Yahaira — August 16, 2010 @ 3:30 pm
I love the new site look and the blog about the wedding. Congrats on your 1st year prima. Miss you!
Katrina — August 16, 2010 @ 3:32 pm
Great post! Happy Anniversary! Sometimes ditching is good!
Amy Blogs Chow — August 16, 2010 @ 3:43 pm
Happy anniversary, Eliana! You say the wedding plan didn’t go as you envisioned, but it certainly looked like a dream come true xo
food librarian — August 16, 2010 @ 3:44 pm
Happppppy Anniversary! I can’t believe it has been one year already. I remember loving the original post. Many happy returns to both of you. And I love the new look! – mary
Kathy - Panini Happy — August 16, 2010 @ 3:54 pm
What a beautiful story! And a beautiful blog design to go with it. Happy Anniversary!
carrie @ gingerlemongirl.com — August 16, 2010 @ 4:02 pm
what a lovely story! Reminds me a lot of my wedding! We also had a very unplanned beach wedding… and we sort of just “agreed” that we should get married as opposed to having anyone pop the question…
Life is funny sometimes… but I’m loving every minute of it!
Carol — August 16, 2010 @ 4:10 pm
What a dollbaby you married! Beautiful photo. Congratulations on one very happy year!
Paula — August 16, 2010 @ 5:06 pm
What a lovely story. You both looked deliriously wonderful and your bouquet and was gorgeous. Happy 1st anniversary ♫ to you.
Becki D — August 16, 2010 @ 5:18 pm
What a special wedding story! Happy anniversary!
Hungry Sofia — August 16, 2010 @ 5:45 pm
You guys have one of the all time best wedding stories! Congratulations to you both!
nikki — August 16, 2010 @ 7:55 pm
how fantastic!!!! happy anniversary!
Juliana — August 16, 2010 @ 9:05 pm
Happy Anniversary…lovely pictures
Kerstin — August 16, 2010 @ 11:36 pm
Aww, sounds like you had the perfect wedding and your pictures are gorgeous – happy anniversary!!
Joanne — August 17, 2010 @ 7:34 am
Aww so cute! You have guts girl! I don’t know if I could have proposed on a plane AND already had the whole wedding ceremony set up. What would you have done if he had said no?!?!?
Amy (Sing For Your Supper) — August 17, 2010 @ 10:51 am
What a beautiful story!!! Happy Anniversary!!!!
spike — August 17, 2010 @ 1:25 pm
love the story of your wedding! congrats on your anniversary
ingrid — August 17, 2010 @ 1:44 pm
Aw! Happy Anniversary! Thanks for sharing your photos. You guys make an incredibly good looking & in love couple.
~ingrid
Btw, I love your “new” look!
Linda — August 17, 2010 @ 2:11 pm
Happy 1st Anniversary! I remember your wedding post, and absolutely was in love the story.
Shandy — August 17, 2010 @ 2:51 pm
I love your wedding story; so sweet and what a leap of faith. Happy anniversary to the both of you.
Naomi — August 17, 2010 @ 2:51 pm
Congrats on your one year anniversary! What a awesome leap of faith story-very inspiring. Great photos of you two!
FYI-Your new blog look is fab!
Elizabeth — August 17, 2010 @ 5:04 pm
Most happiest of anniversaries wishes! But I’m sure it really was! Beautiful photos and congratulations again!
Julie — August 17, 2010 @ 9:36 pm
Happy Anniversary! Beautiful photos. My husband and I were married on the beach, too.
Islandia — August 18, 2010 @ 10:37 am
omgosh! Has it been a year already?!? I can’t believe sometimes how time passes! Congrats to you both – love to see more personal posts from you time to time
Also, hadn’t stopped by in awhile so not sure when you changed the layout but I am so very loving all the changes! The logo especially stands out to me.
And anytime you guys want to do a photo shoot, I’m open!
Nadia — August 18, 2010 @ 11:46 am
Thanks for your comment on my blog! Also, Happy Anniversary to you and you husband, gorgeous photos! You were a stunning bride!
Can’t wait to check out your archives, everything looks fantastic!
Jackie Hale — August 19, 2010 @ 8:14 am
Congratulations! I’ve been following your blog for some time and have the utmost respect for you, as a food connoisseur but as a strong latina woman.
I’ve been with my husband since I was 13, he was my childhood sweetheart and now he is my partner for life. We have two little girls, ages 7 & 4 and we are truly blessed. Wishing you and your husband an eternity of love, laughter and good blessings.
-Jackie
Marisa — August 19, 2010 @ 11:17 am
Aaah such a romantic story!!! Happy anniversary and here’s to the next 60!
The Coconut Diaries — August 21, 2010 @ 7:22 pm
Oh, my that sounds amazing. I wish I’d read this before I had my monstrosity of a fiasco of a day.
Barbara — August 22, 2010 @ 3:33 pm
Congratulations, Eliana, on your anniversary. You’re right, you know in your heart when it’s time to make that leap of faith. May you have many more in good health and happiness!
Jessica — August 24, 2010 @ 2:28 pm
Oh my gosh, congratulations and happy anniversary! You two are a completely gorgeous couple! I think your wedding sounds 110% perfect (I told my mom I wanted to elope and she started crying). The flowers are just gorgeous and you look so very happy.
I loved this post about plans — it’s so insightful. The Anthro bit made me giggle — we’ve all been there!
Summer — August 28, 2010 @ 10:56 pm
I’m a little behind, but happy anniversary! My anniversary is also in August (the 19th). Love the wedding pictures! You look beautiful – thanks for sharing!!!
The Duo Dishes — August 31, 2010 @ 1:34 am
Awww, that’s so sweet!
steph (whisk/spoon) — September 8, 2010 @ 1:50 pm
i think that’s really cool (i’m a fellow eloper, myself)! happy anniversary!
The Trove: Barney Bishop « pendulum — September 23, 2010 @ 10:16 am
[...] Of his lovely bride, Barney says “I had never seen her look more beautiful!” Read Eliana’s account on her fantastic blog, A Chica Bakes. [...]
Yvette Marquez — October 7, 2010 @ 3:27 am
WOW! I just found your blog — LOVE it! I will definitely be trying some of your Latin inspired sweet treats!
Yvette Marquez — October 7, 2010 @ 3:27 am
I’m sorry! Forgot to mention — LOVE your wedding pictures. Beach wedding are the BEST!