Our Engagement Story

his coming Tuesday will mark 3 years since Jake asked me to marry him. The only day that has topped such a magical day was our wedding day and I will remember them both for as long as I live! At that point, we had been together just over 4 years. We had talked about marriage as our logical next step and all there was left to do was for one of us to pop the question! I had thought about what it would be like for Jake to get down on one knee and propose, I knew it would be so special but the real proposal blew any idea I had about what it would be like out of the water!

The story starts as any good romantic story starts, on our dreamy three week trip to Europe! It was Jake’s first time to Europe and my second so we decided to visit countries that we completely new to us! We had started the trip in Spain and then explored the South of France and the French Riviera before heading to the west to stay with one of my close college friends in Bordeaux. The tail end of our trip landed us in the city of lights, one of the most romantic places in the world (in my opinion), Paris. It was a pinch-me moment as I had wanted to visit Paris since I watched Mary-Kate and Ashley in Passport to Paris at the ripe old age of 12, which by the way I maintain is one of their best straight to video (yes I said video) movies!

The weather on the day of the proposal could not have been more perfect! Clear blue skies and the temperature wasn’t supposed to be too hot later in the day. Going off of advice from our hotel (shout out to Hôtel Le Six) we set out early to get to the site I had been most excited to visit before it opened.

When you see the Eiffel Tower in pictures, they really can’t do it justice. It is seriously one of the most beautiful places and I almost couldn’t believe we were there! We rode the elevator to the very top to take in the best 360 degree view of Paris! Then after exploring the other levels and having lunch at the restaurant we decided to go take in the view at the park at the base of the tower.

Once down there, Jake asked me to pose in front of the tower for a photo. There were a ton of people around so I started getting a little embarrassed that it was taking him so long to set up his camera and didn’t understand why he was rifling around in his bag so much as he already had his lense on the camera! The aim was for him to set a timer and then run to be in the photo. After a few attempts, Jake went and kneeled down to look at the camera to “look at the shots we just got.” I wandered over to look at the camera and when I looked up he was on his knee with a ring in his hand…I was shocked! Suddenly everyone in the park was gone and it was just the two of us, frozen in the most perfect moment for a split second. I was so overcome with emotion and all I could do was cry and hug him and say yes over and over again. The picture below is actually a shot we took after the proposal but the excitement on my face was still very real!

It’s been 3 years, and I still get so emotional looking at photos from that trip. Jake made my dreams come true that day in more ways than one, and the truth is, I would have said yes to him anywhere and on any day. He’s my partner, my best friend, my travel buddy (when we’re allowed), and the love of my life. I feel lucky every day that we found each other. This post is in honor of him and the life we are building together.