My best friend is getting married! She has dreamt of this day since we were both eight years old, playing pretend as bride and priest while we dressed my family dog, Rufus, up as the groom. All Maggie wanted was to start a family and marry the love of her life after college. Now, at the young age of 26, her dream is finally coming true! She burst through the apartment door and shoved her hand into my face screaming, “It happened! It really happened!” I looked at her in shock as tears well up in my eyes. She is absolutely glowing. Her and Nick have been together since their sophomore year of college after Nick asked to copy her biology homework. They have been inseparable ever since.

“Bee, will you please throw me an engagement party? You have known how I have wanted to celebrate getting engaged since we were kids, and I can’t think of anyone better to be my maid of honor!”

“Of course I will Maggie! I’m so happy for you and Nick. We will make this the best engagement party of this century!” I say sarcastically. I have never been a party planner but I’d do anything to make her happy.

After a few weeks of planning and making a bunch of phone calls I hope I never have to make again, the engagement party day has arrived. Maggie promised me to keep it a surprise so this will be her first time seeing all the details. I decided on the party being at this spot in the forest near our hometown that feels like you just stepped out of a fairytale. Tonight is Maggie’s fairytale! When you walk down the path to the picnic spot, there are soft glowing lanterns hanging from low branches of oak trees guiding your way. Along the ground, wildflowers run along the gravel path with fairy lights lining the edges. Once we come to the small clearing, there is a long table set for fifteen people. The center of the table has candles running all across with small purple and blue flower arrangements between them. At each persons location, there is thick pillow we will be sitting on to make us feel “One with nature” as Maggie would always say. Maggie and Nick wanted their celebration to be small and intimate with those closest to them. The table has all of their favorite foods from significant points in their life like a small platter of takeout from a local Chinese spot they went to on their first date. In the center of the table stood a small berry cake I made that has been Maggie’s favorite since we were eighteen and I got into baking.

I walk to the end of the table and pop a bottle of champagne that was also the same one the bride and groom popped on the day they confessed their love for one another. After pouring everyone’s glasses, I raise mine for a toast, “To Maggie and Nick, may your love always feel as if you are stepping into a fairytale. In this life, and every life after, may your love always thrive! Cheers!”