Trip to Charlottesville

sarahwilk24
May 7, 2022
3 min read

Updated: Jul 17

A Shrieking Good Wedding

355 pieces | LEGO: 31157

Assembled by Sarah Wilkinson, January 2025

Interaction Rating: 4 / 5 (interaction with the set is encouraged, but use extra care)

May 7, 2022

On a chilly May day, Sarah and Hunter departed from Richmond for Charlottesville to attend the wedding of Sarah's high school friend, Jenna Dickerson (now Jenna Gentry). They got to town early and browsed the shops at the Downtown Mall (a pedestrian-only outdoor mall). They visited one of Sarah's favorite bookstores, New Dominion Bookshop. They barely made it to Jenna's wedding on time (they both got significantly worse at staying on a timetable when they started dating, often getting lost in their time together—something that hasn't improved much, despite their relationship no longer being so new). The wedding was in a rustic, beautifully decorated barn on a farm. While Jenna and Joe exchanged vows, peacocks shrieked outside. Sarah and Hunter had to stifle their laughs while making knowing eye contact at each other (is that really what peacocks sound like?!). Throughout the ceremony, Sarah kept catching Hunter looking at her instead of the couple getting married, and he didn't try to hide it.

When the venue was cleared so a dancefloor could be created in the middle of the barn, Sarah was nervous to get up and dance, even as Hunter extended his hand. She hadn't danced in public in years and was admittedly nervous that Hunter's dancing would be a little embarrassing (or a lot embarrassing...). As someone who is always sober because she can't drink alcohol, it can take a while to get up the courage. Finally, she accepted Hunter's hand, and he led her onto the dance floor. Neither was very good at dancing, but they were enthusiastic and totally absorbed in each other, letting all worries go. They danced with the bride for a bit, but mostly, they kept to their little side of the dancefloor and noticed little else. Jenna later told Sarah that during the reception, her mom had pulled her aside and asked who "the cute couple over there" was. She was talking about Sarah and Hunter.

The Chicks Behind the Wire

118 pieces | Unbranded: YL002

Assembled by Sarah Wilkinson, January 2025

Interaction Rating: 4 / 5 (interaction with the set is encouraged, but use extra care)

May 8, 2022

The Airbnb they stayed in may have formerly been a plantation, something they didn't realize when they booked it. The house had been converted into an Airbnb with numerous private bedrooms and bathrooms, each behind locked doors, as well as communal kitchen and living spaces scattered throughout the home. They hardly spent any time in the Airbnb itself, though Sarah does recall fondly watching Hunter shave the morning after the wedding, something she hadn't seen him do since they weren't yet living together. This was their first weekend away together (aside from their trip to the lake house, which was their first time spending the night together, period), and the intimacy of seeing each other's routines was still new and sweet. They were sure to spend some time scratching goat chins and antagonizing the chickens on the farm before they left for town.

Hiking in the Shenandoah Mountains

149 pieces | Unbranded: MOC3039

Assembled by Mike Alfare, June 2025

Interaction Rating: 4 / 5 (interaction with the set is encouraged, but use extra care)

May 8, 2022

They drove over to the Skyline Drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was misty and cold, but they managed to hike four miles together. Sarah didn't have a proper coat, so she wrapped herself in a Scooby Doo blanket, which prompted comments from every single person they passed on the trail. Hunter's Converse sneakers were soaked before they had even reached the halfway point of the hike. Sarah walked in front and every so often, would turn around without warning and kiss Hunter before continuing. Because they'd just attended a wedding, they discussed some profound topics on the hike, including what marriage meant to each of them and how they'd need to live their lives to feel proud of themselves at 80 years old. Once back to the car, they drove over to the camp store and browsed before heading back down the Skyline Drive and on home to Richmond.