How We Met
We met on Halloween at a party with friends. He was dressed as Jim Carey in the Mask, and I was Poison Ivy. I couldn’t see the face I couldn’t keep my eyes off of behind that green mask, but somehow I found myself with him the whole night, talking and dancing and laughing the night away.
how they asked
I got engaged to the man of my dreams in the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. It all started 8 months or so ago when my best friend, Lauren, and I started to plan a vacation. We love planning. I’d actually say we are masters at planning events, vacations, get togethers, birthdays, game nights, you name it. Lauren found an amazing deal on plane tickets to Europe on a travel blog she follows religiously. We had talked about going to Europe for years so we finally pulled the trigger. As if the excitement of the trip of a lifetime wasn’t enough, people started to ask me if I thought Garrett, then boyfriend, was going to propose. The idea seemed beyond perfection but as the time got closer to the trip I never got any hints or feelings that it was for sure going to happen. I started to push the idea out of my head because I didn’t want to come home from the vacation of a lifetime disappointed. Garrett and I have talked about marriage and future for quite a while so I knew a proposal was coming sometime, I just wasn’t sure when.The first couple of days on our trip had passed and I honestly thought that if he was going to propose on this trip that he would have done it by then.
On day 7 of our trip we took a train from Florence to Vernazza. I had been excited and overwhelmed (in a good way) our whole trip. So many beautiful places and new experiences but as our train pulled into Vernazza my heart dropped. My stomach felt like I was about to go down a huge roller coaster. I didn’t think much of it at the time. We walked down the cobble streets to our little apartment and the sun was starting to set. We put away our bags down and went down for a drink when Lauren told me she had found a local photographer online and sent an email to see how much it would cost to get some photos done. Once again I didn’t think twice. Lauren loves getting pictures and we had actually talked about getting professional photos made a few months back. I told her to let us know how much it would cost to see if we could all split it. We had a pretty relaxed night and I woke up around 8am to Lauren and her boyfriend, Patrick getting ready. They said they wanted to get up early to hike and explore. I had already promised Garrett that we didn’t have to get up and going too early that day since I made him get up at the crack of dawn everyday before that.
So they left and said they’d meet us back here around 3pm. Once Garrett and I got up and going we went down grabbed an espresso and headed off on the same hike, I was sure we’d see Lauren and Patrick eventually but never did. After our two hour hike to the next town over, Monterosso, we found a little food truck that had local fried seafood and beer. We sat on a log that was laying perfect in the sand and had the most refreshing beer I think we had that whole trip. We relaxed and walked around a bit and then Garrett wanted to go check on the train back to Vernazza, we had our feel of hiking for the and the trains between the towns were only a few minutes long. It was about 1:30pm and he insisted we get back because Lauren wanted us back by 3:00pm. Looking back now, that should have been suspicious. Garrett is very carefree, I’m usually the one worried about the more punctual things like time. Anyways, we got back and once again walked the cobble streets to our apartment. As we turned the corner we saw Lauren and Patrick at the little restaurant on the corner.
We went over to talk to them and Lauren told me that the photographer had emailed her back and that he could meet us a 5:30 pm for a few pictures. We all headed up to get ready and by the time all four of us shared one bathroom it was right at 5:30 pm as we were walking down the stairs to meet the photographer. It was a married couple, Andrea and Federica, and they were so kind and excited to meet us. They said they would get pictures of us walking around and at the local cafe. We walked in and ordered an espresso and this time should have really got me. The cafe owner started to play the wedding song but immediately changed it to an 80s pop song that I wish I could remember. I honestly thought he was poking fun at us, mainly me, for my big white skirt and off the shoulder dark blouse. I looked like a cross between Sandi from grease and a young Cyndi Lauper. We drank our tiny coffees and started walking again. Garrett suggested we go back to a spot we saw the evening before. It was a little cave that you had to crouch down a little to get through and then your on this beautiful rocky beach with views to die for. You could see the chapel on the hill lined with gorgeous colorful houses.
It was so peaceful and quaint with the slightest splash of waves on the rocks below us. As Lauren and Patrick were talking to the photographer’s Garrett and I were talking our normal small talk as he led me out closer to the water. He asked me if he had showed me what he did to his jacket pocket (he was wearing a very nicely fitted black suit that he was very proud of). He proceeded to open the side of his jacket he had “will YOU marry ME” embroidered just below the inside pocket. I read it at least three times before I think my brain could register what was happening. Next thing I know he is down on one knee on this beautiful rocky beach in Italy.
I had a huge wave of emotions wash over me. I said “stop it Garrett, stop”. I think this reaction came because ever since we met he has loved to play little pranks and thought it was funny to sneak up behind doors to scare me. He thinks I’m “cute and funny” when I get scared. I really think that I had been dreaming about this moment with him for so long that I couldn’t believe it was real. This was it. It was more than I could have ever asked for. So finally, somehow I got out the word “yes”. I then cried and hyperventilated for what felt like 20 minutes.
I saw his smile so big and so genuine and I just thought this is the guy I’m going to spend the rest of my life with and I look forward to every second of it. I then remembered the feeling I had about 2 years before when me, him, and his brother were on the way to a Bush concert and I had a strong wave of emotions come over me. I felt at that very moment that I was exactly where I was supposed to be and I remember thinking that I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else. I think it was at that second that I knew I was falling in love and everyday since I have fallen more and more in love with him. This proposal was greater than I could have ever imagined. I’m so very fortunate to have been blessed with amazing people in my life.
I never thought I would find that perfect guy and I did and he loves me more than ever. We finished our photo session somehow with tears of joy and smeared makeup. After we said our goodbyes to the photographers Lauren gave me a card that said this was her wedding gift to us. Oh my gosh, it sunk in even harder. I just got engaged and my best friend already gave me the best wedding gift I could dream of.
I can only finish this by saying thank you to the three of you for making my dreams come true and Garrett I am so excited to do life with you.
