I’m Engaged! My Dream Proposal Storytime

My Overall Feelings

I’m not trying to sound dramatic, but the proposal I just had doesn’t feel real. It felt like a fever dream I had made up and woke up from. But, truly, it was my dream proposal that came to life. I thought having my friends participate in the planning process would be a great idea. However, I had no idea how meaningful and thoughtful each detail would be.

Most importantly, the fact that not only did my fiance and my friends work together for a month to bring this together, spending their time when their schedules were incredibly busy coordinating through online video calls and chat, but the fact that they surprised me with our closest friends and family members being there too.

To make a VERY, very, long story short, this past year has had its serious ups and downs, but it has also been incredibly life-changing. You know that silly quote that says, “Your life can literally change in a year?” It’s 100% true and I’m a testament to that.

The Beginning

At the start of the day, I knew a proposal was going to happen since we had been talking about being intentional about our time together from the third date. I knew that this relationship was at its core, about building a legitimate friendship where we can confidently call each other best friends. From pre-engagement counselling to reading a Gottman book about marriage, to finishing the We’re Not Really Strangers relationship card deck, to spending countless hours together and facing many challenges.

So, it wasn’t a surprise that this would happen. However, the execution was a COMPLETE and total shock to my system and I’m still reflecting on it and processing it.

10:15 AM

I was blissfully unaware of where we were headed for this proposal after being picked up from my house in a white dress, bringing my dog along, who had vomited the night before and on the morning of the proposal. My fiance was dressed in a suit and evidently nervous. It was a pretty quiet car ride.

And then, he suggested we drink one of our favourites, jasmine milk tea and we hit up a Coco Tea. It was not clear to me at that time that it was a distraction.

11:30 AM

5 minutes away from the boba spot was his home. He said he had a gift for me before we headed to Stouffville. Which, I responded, “What’s in Stouffville?” Because apart from an outdoor farm and treetop trekking, I’m not sure what else happens there.

And it didn’t take me off guard that he wanted to stop by his house first for a gift, because he’d done that before. But this gift required me to enter his house. With Noah on a leash, in his hand, I entered the house. I was told to close my eyes and not open them until he told me.

My mind started to think, okay, is he planning to gift me a cute handbag for this proposal? Ha, or is this a proposal now? As I walked, holding his hand, I almost fell, because I am way too clumsy to be trusted with walking with my eyes closed. I was led into a room and told to turn around to face him.

11:45 AM

When I opened my eyes, I was surprised because there was a massive balloon arch. There was an LED sign with the words “Will you marry me?” and the cutest lace teepee tent.

All of them were in colours I would have chosen myself. And then I heard some rustling behind me, and saw his brother (the photographer), and then his speech started.

And it lasted ten minutes. I was speechless. I’m a planner. Anyone who knows me knows that if I want something to happen as I imagine it, it will happen. This will be done along with several Google Calendar invite emails that might flood your inbox. But, he’s not, which is how we complement each other. But, he exceeded my expectations. This is because not only was it my dream proposal, but he executed it flawlessly and the amount of planning required was evident.

11:55 AM

At the end of the speech, he mentioned, “while gathered here with friends and family,” and then our friends and family came out of hiding to surprise me. And THAT was the biggest surprise, seeing all the love and support of people. My trust and relationship with these people have only grown through this process.

The End

Thank you for all the warm wishes. I can feel how genuine everyone is, and I never expected SO much support. My heart is full. I’m abundantly grateful. I’m still speechless. It’s the attention to detail that really, really touched me.

This is because it’s so clear he and my friends knew what would completely blow me away. I loved how at the end of it all, we could all talk for hours and new family members could get to know each other.