The Engagement Edit: Q&A with Mindy of A Mix of Min
Mindy, a fashionable New Englander based in Boston, is currently planning her wedding to her high school sweetheart and we can’t wait to learn more about her big day!
Photo: A. Fogarty Photography
We are so excited to welcome Mindy Thompson of A Mix of Min to our Engagement Edit series! Mindy, a fashionable New Englander based in Boston, MA, is currently planning her wedding to her high school sweetheart and we can’t wait to learn more about her big day!
Name: Mindy Thompson
Blog: A Mix of Min
Location: Boston, MA
Wedding Date: September 9, 2017
WW: Welcome, Mindy! We are so excited to have you join our Engagement Edit series. What has been the most exciting part about wedding planning thus far?
MT: Thank you for having me! I’m so excited to be a part of the Engagement Edit series! Wedding planning has been so exciting in so many aspects that I can't pick just one—I have to pick two! One of my favorite moments so far was finding my wedding dress. My dad lives four hours away and is my best friend, so to have him visit for the weekend and help me find the perfect wedding dress with a few of my bridesmaids is a day I'll never forget.
Another exciting aspect has honestly been the planning process in general with my fiancé, Sergio, by my side. Every little detail and decision with him thus far has been so FUN. He's truly my better half and if wedding planning has any correlation to mapping out our future, I know it'll be a fun ride.
WW: We are suckers for love, and love that you’re engaged to your high school sweetheart, Sergio. Can you tell us about your #justsaidyes moment?
MT: Sergio is my high school sweetheart and we dated all through college long distance—him in Boston and me in Portland, Maine. We hadn't been back to Portland in quite some time, so he planned a mini summer vacation back to reminisce on our favorite spots while also exploring an area we’ve never been before—Peak’s Island. So for August, he booked a hotel in the Old Port which is a beautiful, coast-lined area of Portland full of adorable little boutiques, cobblestone roads, lobster rolls galore, the world's best donuts and so many spots we love.
Right when we arrived to the Old Port, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the sun was shining. After grabbing a coffee, we hopped on the ferry for a relaxing thirty minutes boat ride off the coast of Maine to Peak’s Island. We couldn’t have asked for a more gorgeous day for what Sergio had planned! I had absolutely no clue that the ride back, my high school sweetheart would be my fiancé!
After filling up our bellies and refueling with lunch on the island, Sergio suggested we rent some bicycles to ride alongside the coastline all the way to the top of Peak’s. The views were absolutely breathtaking. On our left were pretty rocks, the Portland coast line and the huge blue ocean full of little sailboats. To our right were adorable, quaint coast cottages with cute little flower boxes on each balcony.
Photo: A. Fogarty Photography
Once we reached the top of the island we decided to take a break and enjoy the stunning view on a secluded area of rocks. I was looking to my left side, fiddling to put my phone into my purse. Right then, Sergio grabbed my hand. I looked towards my right side, only to see him dropped down on one knee with a little black velvet box in his hand!
I was in total shock and for once in my life—speechless haha! Sergio had everything he wanted to say laid out so eloquently and beautifully that I couldn’t help, but just cry and really take in the moment. Little did I know, he recorded the entire thing so I can listen to him ask me to marry him over and over!
WW: You did something a bit unique in regards to sharing the big news with family and friends - can you tell us about that?
MT: Yes! After Sergio popped the question, we kept our engagement a little secret between ourselves and our parents for a couple days. We unplugged and spent the time celebrating between the two of us on our vacation.
We waited to tell our closest friends and family members in-person, on the phone and via video chat once we we returned home to Boston. Sharing such a personal moment with each person individually was so special and we'll remember every single one for the rest of our lives!
WW: As you are based in Boston but getting married in Maine, do you have any tips for couples who are planning their wedding remotely?
MT: This is such a great question! My advice for planning a wedding remotely is to use your time wisely. Make sure you write off certain vendors via online search and reviews before scheduling a time to visit. We actually narrowed down our reception location down to ONE before any on-site visits just by analyzing the prices, availability, aesthetic, and available packages.
Another way to utilize your time wisely is to plan your vendor appointments in chunks, to avoid wasting money, time and gas. We have an upcoming visit with our caterer, cake bakery and reception coordinator all on the same day to knock off many things in one day!
Photo: A. Fogarty Photography
WW: Do you recommend any specific tools on WeddingWire that you have found helpful during the wedding planning process?
MT: Leading off of the last question, the vendor reviews on WeddingWire have been vital to our wedding planning process. In addition to having a hub of vendors to look through, the endorsements are gold for finding the perfect florist, photographer or DJ that fits any bride and groom’s individual style.
WW: In addition to your blog, you have a full-time job—what is your advice for other busy brides-to-be?
MT: In addition to my blog and planning a wedding, I'm also a Marketing Manager. With that—there are so many things to juggle!
For other busy brides, organization is key. Sergio is a CPA, so he is an excel spreadsheet fanatic and created a master wedding list spreadsheet with all wedding details from a detailed budget, vendor contacts and much more. This has allowed us to be not only transparent with family members, but also organized.
Another tip is to alleviate any potential stress by planning your schedule out. We avoided any wedding planning the entire month of December since this is my blog’s busy season and a hectic time during my marketing job. We planned extra in the months leading up to December and doing so made it so that we didn’t feel stressed during an already busy month and also didn’t feel behind come January.
WW: You have described yourself as a girly-girl - can you share any details on your wedding theme or color palette?
MT: I'm surprised to say that this girly-girl doesn't have a touch of pink in her theme! But there are so many other details that are elegant, feminine and whimsical - think champagne beading, romantic greenery and gold touches.
WW: Finally - we know you love donuts (as do we!!) will you be incorporating them into your big day?
MT: Ahh—donuts are hands down my favorite food which isn't ideal for the Bridal Life, haha! Sergio and I share a love for a local Portland donut bakery that makes their scrumptious donuts out of Maine State Potatoes. You better believe they’ll be making an appearance in a fun way.
