How we met: Mike and I met our freshman year in college at the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!). We went to our first Alabama football game together and then the rest was history. After college we moved out to San Francisco.
how they asked: Mike and I had planned a little getaway to Hawaii last May. He had never been before and I hadn’t gone since I was little so we decided on two totally different islands: Maui and Kauai.
Before the trip we talked about everything we wanted to do on each island. We both really wanted to watch the sunrise from 10,000 feet above sea level on Mount Haleakala. I mean, how could you not? Your above the clouds watching the sunrise, I don’t know what’s more beautiful and romantic.
On May 14, 2014 the sunrise was at 5:49am. So we woke up at 2:30am, packed up our sweatshirts,
towels and blankets (its freezing cold up that high – ironic because you’re in Maui) and got in the car to drive 2 hours up Mt. Haleakala.
Once at the top, we parked the car at the crater and hiked up 10 minutes to get away from the crowd of people. We sat down at the highest point we could with three other people. We had about 15 minutes until sunrise so we cuddled up in the blankets to stay warm – yes my fingers were numb! Though it was freezing, it was absolutely breathtaking being above the clouds and looking at the moon light. Mike told me to go take pictures of the moon, which took a little convincing because I was already so cold. While capturing the moon, Mike had made friends with the couple next to us, which isn’t uncommon for him.
A few minutes later, the sun started peeking through the clouds. Mike asked his new “friend” to take a picture of us. While taking the picture Mike says “I love you” and grabs my both of my hands and gets down on one knee and asked if I would marry him (this part gets pretty blurry…I’m pretty sure I blacked out). We’re still not sure if I even said “yes” because there were happy tears and kisses!
This was by far the best and biggest surprise! It was truly a surreal moment with the sun peeking through behind us, clouds below us, and we were the closest we could get to God above us.
We called all of our family and friends on the 2 hour drive back to our hotel where they treated us to mimosas and celebratory leis at the Andaz Maui in Wailea. The day couldn’t have been planned any better, it was absolutely magical and romantic.