The Proposal
Pre-proposal - Asking the parents; how they spilled the beans
Bride's Story
Ever the gentleman, Shaw asked my parents for their blessing before asking me to marry him. In jest, I'd warned him that no one in my family could hold water. He learned this the hard way. My family was so excited about Shaw's proposal that they gave it up!
In a casual conversation with my mom, she told me that Shaw had stopped by her home. When I asked what the occasion was, she tried to cover with a story about him visiting with a birthday gift for her. I almost bought it, when she gave up and told me that he'd asked for my hand.
But, I can't just point the finger at mom. A group of family members alerted me when Shaw and I joined my father, stepmother, and the rest of the family for the 4th of July. As soon as Shaw and I arrived at the park, aunts, cousins, and friends hugged and congratulated me. Confused, I asked Shaw what was going on. Maybe it was the heat, but I believed him when he said he had no idea.
Groom's Story
Knowing proper etiquette dictates that I request my beloved's hand in marriage, I made preparations to do so. I made arrangements to ask Mom first, using her birthday as an excuse to stop by. Thought it would fly, overestimated Mom's ability to keep quiet...
Next, I went to see Dad and Stepmom. I think they thought I might be giving them less fantastic news, because both seemed quite apprehensive when I scheduled our meeting. I knew they'd have trouble keeping the secret, but I couldn't find a way around asking well in advance, so I just hoped for the best and went for it. Had to feign ignorance when family members on all sides gave cryptic congratulations on July 4th; it was a very awkward holiday for me.
With blessings from the parents secured, proposal plans were begun...
Ring Shopping - Three rings?
Bride's Story
Shaw has shown how truly patient love is. We first looked at engagement rings the summer of 2004. At that time I selected the Scott Kay Crown Setting. A few years later, after seeing the ring in a full page ad, I deselected the ring on account of my being an individual. In 2006, I shopped online and I selected the traditional Tiffany Setting. After we went into the store for a fitting, I confessed that I didn't like the ring. A man of patience, Shaw told me to look until I found a ring I truly loved. Finally, I selected a platinum solitaire by Jeff Cooper. I especially love the flat edge and arch setting.
Groom's Story
On a whim during a shopping trip one summer, I suggested we stop into a jewelry store and look at rings. This was years before any solid plans for engagement were hatched, so it all seemed innocent and she thought nothing of it. She picked out a nice ring style, and I made a mental note of it.
Years later when the idea of engagement was more plausible, we started looking at rings again, and unsurprisingly, Brandee had changed her mind. She'd seen the original choice in many full page magazine ads since our first shopping trip, and ever the individual, didn't want to have a ring that "everybody and their momma" would also have. The search began again, and this time landed on the Tiffany & Co. solitaire setting. Thinking her decision was final, I went to Tiffany with my best man, and purchased the ring. She wasn't expecting a proposal for another 6 to 9 months at least, so I figured I had plenty of time to plan the perfect proposal.
On a whim, I suggested she and I return to Tiffany to get her finger measured. While there, she tried on the Tiffany solitaire to discover that she in fact, did not like that ring either. Dismayed, I made plans to return the ring I'd purchased a few weeks earlier, with only a few days left to return it and get a full refund. Thankful for the decision to have her stop by the store, the search began again, Brandee completely unaware of my actions...
I decided that rather than just searching the web for styles she might like, we'd look together in person, so she could try the rings on and make an educated decision. We ended our search at Solomon Brothers, where she found a lovely ring with a trellis setting that she loved. Third time's the charm...
The Big Question
Bride's Story
Shaw proposed on August 5th, our semi-anniversary. It was also the 2nd day of job fair interviews for me, as well as the day of my dad and stepmom's community-wide yard sale. Thinking Shaw was just being a supportive boyfriend, I didn't suspect anything when he called and sent me text messages throughout the day. I finished up my interviews and went to the yard sale before heading home tired and sweaty.
Shaw and I had plans to see his sister, Carrie, in the Miss Cobb pageant that evening, so I wasn't surprised to see him at my apartment. I was surprised, however, to find him inside and on one knee inside a heart made of dozens of small hearts and rose petals.
My initial reaction was to run out of the door, which closed behind me. In disbelief, I stood outside before Shaw opened the door and asked that I come in. Once inside, I saw two champagne flutes with a strawberry on the side of each glass, and heard Ella Fitzgerald singing At Last. Shaw held my hand and got down on one knee. I used my free hand to smooth my hair and clothes, which were worse for wear after the long day out.
Shaw said something very sweet and meaningful and I eventually calmed down enough to say, "yes." It was a very romantic scene. He had an entire proposal soundtrack of our favorite love songs playing as we toasted our engagement with strawberry mimosas. But his thoughtfulness didn't stop there. Next to our drinks, there was a heart-shaped box filled with hearts similar to those forming the heart on the floor. On each of the hearts, Shaw had written one of the reasons he loved me or a significant event in our relationship. We enjoyed a delicious meal he had prepared and headed to Cobb.
To add to our exciting day, one of the contestants sang At Last during the competition.
Groom's Story
Got the ring, the parent's blessings, and Brandee's apartment all to myself for most of the day while she was at a law school job fair. Made a playlist of special songs from our relationship, and got that playing. Cut out dozens of pink and red hearts, wrote reasons why I love Brandee on them, and mixed them with red rose petals and formed a large heart on the floor in the living room, just inside her front door. Took some of those hearts, stuck them in a heart-shaped box with "smitten" and its definition on the top and set the box on the counter beside two strawberry sorbet mimosas that I made. Put four red roses (it was our 4.5 year anniversary) in a vase and added it to the items on the counter. With everything ready, I called Brandee to see when she'd be coming back...
Brandee had stopped by her parent's house after the job fair to check out their garage sale. It was hot outside, and she'd changed from her business suit to more casual clothes, and when I talked to her, she seemed in good spirits about the fair, and was looking forward to our plans that evening to see my sister in the Miss Cobb County Pageant. I told her I had lunch ready for her and she said she was on her way.
I waited patiently for her to get home, and when she did, I greeted her on one knee from within that heart of hearts and rose petals, with a ring box in my hands. As soon as she saw me, in shock, she backed back out of the apartment door, and the door closed on its own, leaving me alone in the apartment. I went outside after her and convinced her back inside, where I asked for her hand in marriage. After gathering herself and drying the tears, she said "yes, of course," and we danced to Etta James' "At Last."