Posts Tagged ‘proposing’
Proposal Surprise at Sugar Tree Inn ~ Valerie & Andrew
I was mid-week into a new job and Andrew asked if I would like to have a night to ourselves and go out to dinner on Friday (July 23 2010). I was also gearing up for a week away from home at a music gathering in North Carolina. Things were so hectic and I welcomed getting wined and dined on a Friday night. I came home from work on Friday, threw a dress on and hopped into the car. We were off to the Sugar Tree Inn for dinner, or so I thought.
We have gone to bed & breakfasts in the past just for dinner, and I had so much else on my mind that I didn’t think a thing about it. We were a little early to our reservation so we sat on the porch of the Inn, watched the hummingbirds and looked out at the mountains. I could already tell it was going to be a relaxing evening, one that I needed with everything else going on. We enjoyed an incredibly romantic and intimate dinner at the Inn, and towards the end of the meal one of the owners of the Inn came to our table and said, “If you two want to go stroll around the grounds we have a cabin open that you can look at.” Was she reading my mind? That’s exactly what I wanted to do! I love looking and planning for future trips. This was perfect! We got up from the table and I leaned over and asked Andrew if we should pay for the bill now and then go walking. He told me not to worry about it and that we would pay it when we get back. Well, I just couldn’t wrap my head around walking out of a restaurant and not paying the bill. I pressed on in my worry wart fashion, eventually asking the Inn keeper herself if we needed to settle the bill. ”Oh, no honey, we can take care of that when you get back”. Well, what a nice, trusting woman.
We walked past one of the cabins & Andrew spotted a little path up into the woods. “Let’s go walk up here. I think this is the little lookout that I heard another table talking about”. We made our way, hand in hand up the path. Sure enough, there was a beautiful lookout through the trees where the sun was setting over the Blue Ridge Mountains. We stood together for a few minutes, Andrew behind me with his arms wrapped around. It was only then that I noticed something. Andrew’s heart was going a million miles per our. I could feel it pounding straight through me. I thought to myself, this can’t be from walking up this little hill. Then his right arm kept jiggling around in his pocket. The first time I brushed it off. And then it hit me. This is it. It’s coming! How could I have not seen this coming from a mile away? He pulled the ring around in front of me and asked me to marry him. I turned around, gasping and crying and watched him drop to a knee. I managed to finally say “yes” through all of my tears and astonishment. Then he told me that the cabin was ours for the night and I let out a scream. How did he pull all of this off without me knowing?!
Just seeing the ring brought so many emotions out. My Mamaw gave me her mother’s ring the last time I was able to see her alive. I had kept it safely with Andrew, waiting and wondering when he would slip it on my finger. It is a constant reminder of her love. I found out later that Andrew had made a trip to Christopher William Jewelers the week prior and had it set into a beautiful 18K white gold setting from Hearts on Fire. We spent a bit of time on the phone with family and friends before spending the rest of the night in complete excitement, ready to start the rest of our lives together. A trip to Christopher William Jewelers was made the next day to thank them for all of their help! It was a night that completely surprised me and one I will never forget.
Congratulations Valerie & Andrew! We are so happy for you two and wish you all the best in life.We couldn’t imagine a more perfect couple! Enjoy every moment…
Guys Guide to Picking the Perfect Engagement Ring
It could be one of the most memorable moments in your life. You pull an engagement ring out of your pocket and ask the love of your life to be your wife. You desperately want her to say yes and fall in love with her ring too, right? But how do you make sure that happens? Guys who successfully navigated this step in their relationship share some tips.
Use a Fake Ring
Mike Vietti, of Washington, D.C., wanted his fiancée’s engagement ring to be a complete surprise, but had no idea what she would like. So he decided to use a one for his proposal and take her shopping later.
“I thought it was brilliant,” said Emily Vietti. “I love surprises, but I couldn’t imagine wearing something for the rest of my life I didn’t love. It was the perfect solution.”
Consider Her Taste and Style
Make sure the ring fits her existing jewelry collection, said Kevin Saghy, of Chicago. “I realized all of my fiancé’s jewelry is very clean and simple, like one large pearl on a string or a clean trail of diamonds on a necklace, so I chose a three-stone engagement ring that looks simple but impressive. It has gone over really well.”
Get A Little Help from Her Friends
“My wife found a drawing of the kind of ring she would like and gave it to a friend to hold – under the condition that the friend would not tell her when she gave it to me,” said Andrew Brown, of Detroit. “She was totally surprised the day the exact ring she wanted was given to her.”
Shop Together 
Randy Holmes, of Atlanta, was overwhelmed by the number of options he faced when he started to shop for his fiancée’s ring, so he asked her to join him. “It was great to have Lauren involved,” he said. “It was romantic and took a lot of pressure off.”
Do Your Homework
Erik Mason, of Boston, did a “ton of research” on diamonds before he even set foot in a jewelry store. “I think most guys believe as long as they’re familiar with the 4Cs, they’re all set,” he said. “I was surprised to find that was only half the story you should be thinking about.”
Mason spent almost five months learning about the 4Cs – color, cut, clarity and carat weight – and how that translated to his budget and girlfriend’s taste. He used online resources, visited retailers and flipped through fashion magazines to get a sense of what she liked. “I got a great learning experience and another connection to our marriage through a spectacular piece of symbolism I truly understand inside and out,” he said.
The Gemological Institute of America, the world’s foremost authority on gems and jewelry and the creator of the 4Cs, provides independent assessment of diamond quality in its grading reports. It is also a helpful resource to learn more about diamonds. Visit www.gia4cs.gia.edu or call (800) 421-7250.
Scott Schmeissing and Michelle Spiers– A Proposal Story
Scott and Michelle
Scott Schmeissing proposed to Michelle Spiers Wednesday, May 5, 2010 in the afternoon on Bird Island, NC after weeks of picking the perfect ring and planning the perfect day to symbolize their perfect love. Scott and Michelle had been planning a trip with her parents to Myrtle Beach, SC for some time and Scott knew what a special place Myrtle Beach has always been to Michelle. It is where her family has vacationed every year since before she was born. Things have changed over the years, but it is still her favorite place in the world to relax. Only God knew how special a role Myrtle Beach would play in her life and how it would be the location for one of her happiest memories.
The proposal…….. Scott had a surprise adventure planned Tuesday morning and kept it all a secret from Michelle, telling her only what clothes to wear. Scott rented bikes, they rode through the Vereen Gardens Park, and started their trip to the Silver Coast Winery. They toured the winery, enjoyed the wine tasting, and sat outside with a bottle of Viognier and some snacks while watching as the rain started to grow heavier and heavier. When they were done, they sat out front on the rocking chairs debating whether to wait out the rain, call the bike company to come pick them up, or just start riding back and get soaked. They chose the “ride back and get soaked” option. The 12 mile bike ride in the rain was something they will absolutely never forget.
Scott’s plans for later that evening were canceled due to the rain so they went back home. Their postponed adventure started at 11:00am on Wednesday when they drove to a marina and boarded The Enchantress, a 44 foot Caribbean sailing yacht.
They rode out to the ocean where they watched dolphins playing and Scott hoisted the main sail. After some cruising in the ocean, they set sail for Bird Island, a secluded beach in NC.
The captain let Scott and Michelle take the smaller boat onto the shore where they explored for a bit and then traveled to a secluded part of the island. Once they went around the corner to where the only eyes on them were those of the fish, birds, and God, Scott got down on one knee, said a beautiful speech, and asked Michelle to marry him. After Michelle said “YES” and “I love you” about a million times, they rode back to the sailboat and sat at the top deck while enjoying the ride back to the dock. When they arrived back to the condo, Michelle’s parents, Dreama and Steve, were waiting with bridal magazines and pink roses. Scott had gone home to Mount Sidney the prior Wednesday to pick up the ring from Christopher William Jewelers, and on the way back he stopped to talk with Michelle’s parents.
“How in-the-know should I go with the Proposal?”
When you get on bended knee, it’s optimum to have discussed the idea of marriage beforehand. It’s imperative you’re both on the same page regarding your long term vision for your lives as individuals and as a couple. Key life goals/preferences are also important to discuss, like where you want to live, what religion you want to raise your children with, your financial backgrounds and having kids, for instance.
If you’ve never had any practical discussions before The Moment, your hopeful bride-to-be may be taken off guard. She just might hesitate to say yes, if not even giving an “I’ll think about” disaster of a response. It’s best to get your ducks in a row and communicate with your significant other before popping the question. You can keep things more general and ambiguous, like you’re just throwing raw thoughts and dreams into the air, or you can get specific if that’s you and yours’ style. There is no right or wrong way to discuss your future lives together, it’s simply important to try and check expectations, find common ground, and resolve any future issues or disputes before they become huge problems. It will be helpful for both of you, establishing shared vision and easing mutual concerns or unknowns. You know her better than I do, so go with your gut and just try to space your questions and discussions far apart from The Proposal itself.
But Shouldn’t It Be A Surprise?
Don’t get me wrong. Just because I appear to approach marriage and The Proposal it requires from simply a pragmatic standpoint doesn’t mean I’m saying throw romance out the window. It’s ok if your girlfriend is expecting the “season” or “period” of the The Proposal, but not the day itself. Think outside the box and don’t give away too much. Find a way to surprise her and you’ll be proud of the story she’ll no doubt tell everyone in the coming weeks, months, and years.
What About Choosing The Ring?
I don’t know many brides that would want their lover to propose to them empty-handed. But I also know that many want to be an active part of which ring they will be wearing for the rest of their lives. So how do you keep The Proposal a surprise while pleasing your partner’s discriminating tastes and preferences? Plan ahead, keep it clean, and try to get specific, but not too specific. It’s ok to visit a few jewelry stores and casually discuss what’s appealing and what’s not with your girlfriend. You want to know her ring size, you want to know which shapes she prefers, where her expectations lie, and what makes her smile. Just don’t let this gathering process drag on too long and try to space your research far enough apart from your purchase and subsequently your Proposal. Remember, plan early, execute smoothly, and surprise your future wife with an engagement to remember.
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