Guys. We’re engaged. ENGAGED! It feels so surreal. As I type, I’m getting distracted by the ring (it’s so shiny!) that now hugs my the ring finger on my left hand. I can’t stop gazing at it. It’s distracting me as I type. Oh, and the stream of (joyous) tears pouring out — I’m not wearing waterproof mascara — it’s all so glorious.
OK, so here’s the short storybook version:
Alex booked us a get-away weekend in Chicago, where we took our very first trip together as a couple (exactly one year ago), which is a place that holds very happy and fond memories for us. He wanted to propose in Chicago, so he booked our flights and a suite at the Marriott on Michigan Ave.
That Saturday afternoon (January 23, 2016), we went to the Nature Museum in Lincoln Park. Once we got there, Alex decided not to check his winter coat, and then promptly led me into the butterfly conservatory. I thought it was a bit odd that he was still wearing his winter coat — it was SO hot inside that room!
And now, here’s what really went down:
A few months ago, I read this engagement story on A Cup of Jo (quick summary if you don’t feel like reading it: the couple has a very organic conversation about getting married, they go through the motions of their engagement together — openly. No surprises, no anxiety, nothing left in the dark).
After reading it, I thought to myself, ‘How perfect this is? This is how I’d like to get engaged.’ Because I knew it was coming, but the anxiety of when nearly killed me as the days ticked by. As the bride from this article said:
‘I love big proposal stories for sure, but a few of my friends will be the first to admit that they’re a little twisted up, they’re waiting, they feel at sea and out of control of the engagement decision. They hesitate to bring it up to their boyfriends, as if it’s a decision that he has to make, a trigger he has to pull. That can be an unsettling feeling. For us, it worked because we took ourselves through it every step of the way. I never felt like I was waiting for him to do anything. We decided together, and we moved through it together.’
I couldn’t have said it better, and it’s exactly how it felt for me and Alex because…
As if Alex had read the article himself (he didn’t), he brought it up, during a conversation over dinner two weeks ago. It was such an open and exhilarating talk. We planned the engagement together, I got to help my future husband plan our engagement weekend. Well, most of it — the Nature Museum and the butterfly room was a surprise!
By the time the next evening rolled around, the engagement ring (with it’s matching wedding band) was ordered, the hotel was booked, plane tickets were purchased. The ring would be ready in a mere few days, where it sat in Alex’s sock drawer for two weeks. Guys. There was an engagement ring tucked in Alex’s sock drawer for TWO WEEKS.
Oh, and we decided to keep this all a secret from everyone until he officially asked me to marry him.
I was dying. All I wanted to do was call my mother! My grandmother! My brothers! My cousins! Alex’s parents! Alex’s sister! All our friends! Ahh!
THE WEATHER COMPLICATIONS
Over the weekend, the entire East Coast got hit hard with Winter Storm Jonas, especially DC. The Tuesday before we left, the storm was predicted to practically shut down DC come Friday morning. Our Saturday morning flight would unquestionably get cancelled. We called American Airlines to switch our flights. They said, “Sure! For a change fee of $478.00 per person.” Um, no. We figured we would just cut our loses, and Alex had already moved on to plan B — a romantic snowed-in weekend at a Marriott, here in DC.
BUT then… come Wednesday afternoon, American Airlines emailed us, offering a flight change to Friday morning, complimentary. We jumped on it. We were in Chicago by lunch time. The weather all weekend was beautiful (by January in Chicago standards, 30s and no wind).
FRIDAY
Once we landed, we decided to kill time and eat + shop at Eataly (love!). After a quick change at the hotel, we went to iO Chicago to see an improv show and grab drinks.
SATURDAY
We joined friends downtown for a scrumptious Saturday morning brunch, and that was the extend of the itinerary I was aware of. Alex hailed a cab after brunch, and asked the driver to head to Lincoln Park. I was giddy with excitement.
THE PROPOSAL
Location: Nature Museum. As mentioned above, Alex kept his winter coat inside the butterfly conservatory. Sweet words, a gorgeous diamond ring, a million phone calls and texts, we’re engaged! We spent the afternoon walking around Lincoln Park, grabbed a celebratory beer, headed back to the hotel. We changed and went to dine at Spiaggia, where Alex had made us reservations for our engagement dinner (another wonderful surprise). Afterwards, we spent the evening atThe John Hancock Observatory Tower.
SUNDAY
We rejoined our friends at The Peninsula Hotel, where we had (another) celebratory meal, this time, with champagne! And then our Sunday afternoon flight was cancelled. Which we completely expected. But American Airlines said the best they could do was a 7:30pm flight on Tuesday. Tuesday?! Um no. Not wanting to be stuck in Chicago (though, I would have been OK with that…), we headed to the airport, and picked up a rental car.
We decided to drive home. Yes, from Chicago to DC. We had a blast road-triping, the ride really wasn’t that bad (11 hours). We split the drive between Sunday afternoon — Monday morning. What a memorable weekend!
I can’t say enough how much joy Alex adds to my life, how much humor he brings into our day to day lives, how I admire his logical and rational brain, how even-keeled and patient he is, how kind and sweet his heart is. How mature and responsible he is. How driven and passionate he is. Oh, and how crazy lucky I feel that this is my husband-to-be, and he chose me (ME!) to be his wife.
Let the wedding planning begin!