By: Preston Young
This past weekend, Rachel and I celebrated our engagement with family and friends at the clubhouse in my parents’ community on Candlewood Lake. After months of planning (and countless evenings spent stamping napkins and setting up photo stands), it was incredible to see everything come to life.
Rachel deserves all the credit in the world—her eye for detail and planning made the day not just a party, but an event. We spent all day Friday setting up, and by Saturday morning, the clubhouse was completely transformed. From the decorations to the little touches, she crushed it.
Right as the party was starting, the skies opened up and it poured. Guests either drove through it—crawling along at 10mph or arrived at the clubhouse just as the rain came down. For about 30 minutes it was a complete downpour, which put a damper on the mood at first, especially since we had planned to use some of the outdoor space. But the party itself was inside, and once everyone got settled, the rain didn’t matter at all.
By the afternoon, the party was in full swing. We had an amazing turnout—family, friends, neighbors, everyone came together to celebrate with us. Having family travel in from Ohio meant so much, and the energy in the room made it feel like one big reunion. Mason even made an appearance, sporting a bandana that read: “My parents are getting married.” He took his role very seriously.
We played games with our guests, laughed, and shared stories throughout the night. Saturday was everything we hoped for: food, music, fun, and plenty of memories we’ll carry forward into this next chapter. But what really made the weekend special was the help and support we had from so many people. From family and friends pitching in on setup Friday, to even more helping with the teardown on Sunday—it truly made things easier, and reminded us how lucky we are to be surrounded by such a great group of people.
Looking back, it’s hard to believe how much time and effort went into pulling it all together. Months of planning, late nights getting the little details just right, endless checklists—yet when it was all said and done, it was worth every bit of it. The weekend couldn’t have been better.
While we got engaged four months ago, our original plan was to wait until 2027 for the wedding. Since then, plans have shifted, and we’re now tying the knot in 2026—just nine months away. Hosting the party now turned out to be the perfect way to celebrate with everyone before we head into the big stretch of wedding planning.
We’re so thankful to everyone who came, celebrated, and helped make the engagement party a success. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to kick off this exciting chapter.