On Thursday, September 17, I made the journey from Worcester, MA, to Leesburg, VA, for a wedding. I woke up bright and early, grabbed my tightly packed carry-on suitcase, and Ubered from Holy Cross to T.F. Green International Airport in Providence, RI, to embark on my first solo travel experience. The Uber ride was only 45 minutes, so I had plenty of time before my flight. I sailed through TSA PreCheck for the first time, which was a game changer, and then headed to my gate. Before boarding, I grabbed a quick breakfast at Dunkin’ Donuts and completed some schoolwork while waiting for my short, hour-and-a-half flight.
The flight was very smooth, with no turbulence. I even made friends with my seatmate. Despite the short flight, the flight attendant offered a variety of snacks and beverages. When I arrived at Dulles International Airport, I called an Uber to deliver me to my hotel, where I met the rest of my family, who had driven from New Jersey.
Thursday afternoon was filled with a fun day of shopping. Whenever I am in Leesburg, VA, I make sure to stop at the Leesburg Premium Outlets. Steve Madden, Kate Spade, Pottery Barn, Gap, Coach, Tory Burch, and many more are just a few of the stores that offer incredible deals. I purchased a few transitional fall pieces, including a new pair of barrel jeans and two sweaters. After our day of shopping, my family and I enjoyed a nice dinner at a local restaurant before heading to bed to get some rest and prepare for the big day.
Friday morning, my sister and I woke up early and grabbed Starbucks before putting on our eye patches, steaming our dresses, and getting a quick blowout. Around 2:30 p.m., we took a shuttle bus from our hotel to the venue with the other guests. The wedding ceremony took place outside, on a beautiful estate, before we headed inside to a rustic barn to enjoy the reception.The wedding was small and intimate, featuring excellent cuisine, a few heartfelt speeches, lots of dancing, and a plethora of desserts.
It was great to see familiar faces as well as meet some new ones. The groom is a family friend, as our mothers were college roommates. Although we live in two different states, our families have always been very close. We continue to gather together for vacations and holidays. It was bittersweet to see the same person I used to play with as a child now ready to begin a new chapter of his life. It was especially exciting to be a part of such a special day and celebrate with our families. So, cheers to the McNicholls for a lifetime of health and happiness!