When Cody suggested spending a day drinking beer in the Finger Lakes last month, I wasn’t going to say no. This summer has been slower than most—for obvious, coronavirus-related reasons—and the thought of spending a beautiful summer day at picnic tables with beautiful views sounded great.
We started at Climbing Bines, which Cody and I have visited before, where I opted for the Honey Apricot on draft. There were plenty of open, socially distant tables under umbrellas and sun sails, perfect for enjoying what was turning out to be a perfect late-summer day. When everyone agreed on walking through the bines before getting another drink, I happily followed.
Shannon and Patrick posed for a cute picture in the bines and suggested Cody and I do the same. It was truly a picture-perfect backdrop, so I obviously agreed. I should have realized when Patrick, Shannon and Morgan were all taking pictures that this was not just any cute picture.
As I tried to walk away, Cody got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Honestly, if the conversation wasn’t on video, I wouldn’t be sure I said yes. I was so overwhelmed by the absolutely perfect setting, the thought of spending forever with my favorite person, and the stunning ring he was holding in front of me.
After some deep breaths and laughs and more pictures, we were ready to grab that second drink we were after pre-engagement. During our second drinks, Cody shared all the details of planning the day in my favorite place, we called and texted our parents, and we enjoyed our second round (with way less stressful than the first round for everyone in on Cody’s plan—everyone but me).
We got takeout from Top of the Lake and headed to Abandon Brewing Company for even better views than Climbing Bines, which I didn’t think was possible. I had never been here before and was instantly in love with its view, its beer, and its welcoming, unpretentious atmosphere. Shannon put together the cutest “She said yes” basket, complete with champagne and the best farmers’ market cookies. We toasted to forever, drank sours and IPAs, and talked to a few more family members while looking over Keuka Lake.
Last but not least was Other Half Brewing Finger Lakes. I was so excited to try something a little different from what we find at other breweries in Western New York and the Finger Lakes. The bright pink sour slushie did not disappoint. Enjoying one last drink as the sun started to set was the perfect end to an absolutely unforgettable day.
On the way home, we filled in a few more family members and really let the day sink in.