I have been looking forward to this little mini weekend vacation ever since Ryan proposed the idea of it a few weeks ago…you see, I am not a “surprises” type of girl..it’s not that I hate surprises, I just LOVE the anticipation of looking forward to something…I like the IDEA of surprises and think it’s really cute when people get special surprises, like when grooms plan a surprise honeymoon for their brides, but that would just be torture to me. I love getting to look forward to exciting experiences like a vacation…I think it’s also because I’m such a planner…

So anyway, all this to say that I normally would have done hardcore research on places that Ryan was considering for our trip, but I guess because I’ve been so busy I didn’t even look the place up…so when we rolled up to Keswick Hall I was so SURPRISED at how absolutely amazing it was!…I didn’t expect it to be so fancy or beautiful and I couldn’t stop telling Ryan how excited I was to be there! I literally felt like we were in Tuscany. It is such a gorgeous place and I am already dying to go back. So this is just an example of something being even better than I anticipated! Ryan did a really good job planning the trip…Now of course, I’m also dying to shoot a wedding there…a girl can dream right?

We got there Friday afternoon and explored the grounds for a bit before getting ready to head to a Valentines Day dinner in downtown Charlottesville. After dinner we got back to the hotel and ordered a french press and just sat in the library and talked for a few hours…It’s so fun getting to grow closer and learn more about your husband even after your married! The next day it was rainy, but we sat and drank coffee in the beautiful lobby for a while, and then explored the grounds a little bit more before heading out to tour some wineries. I didn’t want to leave though…it is such a romantic and pretty place! I’m already hinting at maybe going back for our anniversary because I think it would be even prettier in the summer…

Before leaving Charlottesville we got to have dinner with my sister and her boyfriend in the downtown mall! She goes to JMU and I dont get to see her that often so it was such a treat to get to spend time together! This was just one of those weekends that I didn’t want to ever end….I mostly took iPhone pictures which you may have seen if you follow me on instagram, but here are a few shots from our trip that I took with my actual camera!

I love drinking coffee out of fine china…It makes me feel so classy…

but I also got some to go because one cup of coffee is never enough…

The little library! So pretty…

I love this guy…

Happy Monday! I hope your week is off to a great start!!