How we met: I met Kevin during my freshman year of college at the University of California, San Diego. As fate would have it we lived directly across the hall from one another. We became friends quickly and for the next 5 years he was my best friend.
I always thought he was cute and there was always a mutual affinity for each other. We both played soccer, loved movies and enjoyed trying new restaurants. I could tell that there could be something really special between us even though when our friends would tell me they thought we would make a cute couple or that we should date I would say, “But he’s my best friend!”
A year after college my romantic feelings for Kevin grew very strong and after waiting a few months I finally mustered up the courage to tell him that I wanted us to go on a date.
It was his birthday and we had just gone out to dinner. As he walked me to my car I remember thinking “Now’s the time, tell him you like him and want to go on a date with him!” It was nerve racking as I had never asked a guy out before. After saying goodnight and almost getting into my car I turned back around and exclaimed, “I want us to go out on a real date!”
His face was priceless! I will never forget it because he was completely shocked!! He said “really?!” to which I responded “yes!” Then without a missed beat he walked closer to me and kissed me! It sounds cliche but honestly I saw stars and it was by far the best first kiss of my life.
We went on our first date 2 days later at one of my favorite restaurants in La Jolla called “George’s At The Cove.”
We had a really wonderful first date and then dated for over 2 years before he asked me to marry him…
how they asked: After over 2 years of dating Kevin popped the question 2 days after Thanksgiving last year. He had told me that we were going on a special date and wouldn’t tell me anything about it. This didn’t make me suspicious at all because he’s been known to surprise me with fun dates or tries to be sneaky about something special…so I didn’t think he was proposing.
We went to the La Jolla cove (one of my most loved spots in the world!) and he had planned a beautiful picnic right before sunset with some of my most favorite appetizers.
We had crackers, cheeses, homemade bruschetta, salami & wine! We put our picnic blanket down on the rocks right next to the water. As we were enjoying this nice and tasty spread the sun started to set. The colors in the sky were insanely beautiful. Hot pinks, vivid oranges, yellow hues lit up the sky mixing with fluffy yet whispy clouds. Kevin suggested we stand up to watch the sunset. As we did he started saying very romantic things to me, which again isn’t unusual, and only when he said that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me and started getting down on one knee did I realize that he was proposing!! No joke.
Then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him!!! This was the most crazy beautiful moment I have ever experienced.
We both were crying and so extremely happy!! It felt surreal and I kept saying, “I can’t believe you just proposed and that we’re engaged! I love you so much!” It honestly seemed like time stood still for 5-10 minutes and that we were the only 2 people at the cove as we hugged and kissed and admired my new ring!
Then coming back to reality a photographer approached us and said that he started taking pictures of us when he realized Kevin was proposing to me. He was at the cove photographing a family for their Holiday photos since it was a gorgeous November day. He gave us his card because we told him we would of course love to see the photos he captured.
I always wanted our engagement to be photographed from afar, without me knowing, so we would have photos of such a special day but Kevin is a pretty private person. So he didn’t hire a photographer, or have any of our friends or family attend the proposal, because he wanted it to be just us two which I love! But the fact that we serendipitously happened to have a professional photographer take pictures of us during our proposal is pretty crazy and awesome!
We then went to one of our favorite restaurants in La Jolla/anywhere called George’s At The Cove. Kevin had made dinner reservations and I was so excited to celebrate with some delicious food and drinks. In a quick car ride I also realized just how much thought and effort Kevin put into our proposal and it really blew me away. George’s isn’t just one of our favorite restaurants, it’s actually where we had our very first date! So sentimental and symbolic right?!
So we’re escorted to our table and I’m completely surprised (once again on this day) to see my parents at the table! Such a sweet surprise! Kevin asked both of my parents for my hand (which I think is phenomenal) two weeks prior to proposing and then asked them to drive down to San Diego to celebrate with us at George’s after the proposal. They knew about the whole thing for a while and kept it a secret, with absolutely no hints or anything, which is very commendable since I’m very close to both of my parents.
It was the most perfect proposal for us and I feel so fortunate to be marrying the love of my life and my best friend in 113 days :)!!! Yes the countdown is real, haha!
Photos by Dan Sowersby