Bling Bling Linkup & Engagement Story

In an effort to blog more in 2012, I could not pass up this opportunity. C Mae is having a Bling Bling Linkup and since we just celebrated our engagement-versary, I am all in! We've been searching for wedding bands and I can't wait to browse through all of the gorgeous engagement rings and bands and get some ideas.

Our engagement story

Jeff and I were engaged on December 26, 2009. I swore I knew it was coming and since Jeff is such a Christmas-lover, I was sure that it would happen by the Christmas tree. I was wrong. Christmas came and went with no sign of a ring. It was Christmas night and we were opening our gifts with his family. I was already over the potential engagement because I figured if it were going to happen, it would have been done already and privately. Jeff handed me my Christmas card and said it was the last one. Inside were tickets to see Blue Man Group for the following night. I was SO excited because every year we go to a Broadway show but I have been dying to see Blue Man. I really put any hopes of a proposal behind me because he had already spoiled me at Christmas.

The next night, we went out to dinner at a local Italian restaurant. At dinner, we talked about how much our lives have changed and that all of our friends were starting to get married and how strange it all felt. We started talking about our own wedding dreams and I said I wanted an October wedding and he said he wanted April. When I told him how many bridesmaids I was thinking of, he nearly fell out of his chair. He seemed relieved that we were not engaged and wouldn't have to worry about any of that yet.

After dinner we went to the show and had such a blast. I would go back again and again. Thinking back now, he was adamant about me sitting on his right side but I didn't think much of it then. When the show finished, Jeff asked if I wanted to take a walk in the Boston Common. Since I love the city and Jeff doesn't, I'll take any opportunity I get to enjoy it, even on a cold December night. Jeff didn't have a jacket with him and said it wasn't a big deal if we went for a walk or went back to my apartment and got a movie. We decided on the walk and held hands through the park as we admired the Christmas lights and talked about how we should go into the city more. Again, as we walked, Jeff made sure to keep me on his right side. Jeff started looking back constantly and for a minute, I thought we were being followed. I started looking back, too, and getting a bit nervous. All of a sudden, he said... "April and October, huh?... 9 bridesmaids??" My heart literally dropped out of my chest. I was suddenly aware of what was going on. My usually cool, calm, and collected boyfriend was checking over his shoulder and saying random wedding-related things out of the blue. He stopped walking and said, "I have a question for you... will you marry me?" I was 99% sure this was a cruel joke because he wasn't down on one knee (his excuse was that it had just rained!) and I was totally blindsighted. All of a sudden, he pulled out a ring and was holding it out to me.

I don't remember too much else besides lots of crying and saying "Are you serious?" over and over. He started to put the ring on and asked if this (the crying and smiling) meant yes. I said, "Yes! Yes! I will!" He put the ring on and I didn't even look at it. All I could do was smile and cry and kiss him and hug him. It was all so surreal. I came back to reality when he said, "Do you want to call your parents? Because my parents are probably sitting by the phone going crazy!" We called our parents and then headed over to my parents' house where they had champagne waiting for us. It was such a fun night! My roommate had left wine out for us with a message and we celebrated again and again. I do wish we had spent more time just the two of us before telling people but I was afraid it would leak out on Facebook and I didn't want my best friends or family to hear the news over the internet. The best thing was that my family Christmas party was the next day and we got to announce it to everyone in person. It such a fond memory for us and I will cherish that time forever.

{ps. he was keeping the ring box in his left pocket, which was why he was apparently trying to keep me on his right side!}

He picked out the ring himself and we had never gone ring shopping. I did tell him that I wanted a princess cut diamond solitaire. He decided to go with the three-stone ring but with princess cut diamonds on a platinum band. I love that he chose the ring and was so proud of the clarity and quality of the band and diamond. I really have no clue what any of it means but the ring is gorgeous and I love it!! I am SO looking forward to our wedding on April 28, 2012!! Four months to go!

{So sparkly!}