Weddingbee boards

...that as soon as he got the ring, it would take him about 3.8 seconds to propose. Or 3.8 days, anyway. :D

The ring arrived the day before we left for our SC vacation. My family stays at my grandmother's house in Garden City for about two weeks every year, and we laze about the house in between movies, eating out, and trips to Huntington Beach (Marmee buys one or two passes to the park every year, which makes for a MUCH better beach experience than a public beach).

With that in mind, my FI (OMG) and I went out to a very nice restaurant on Wednesday. He wouldn't tell me where we were going to eat (smooth, buddy, real smooth), but told me to dress nicely. And bring flip flops. Which made about as much sense as the fact that he packed cigars because "there's always a reason to celebrate life," when he only smokes on rare ocassions. Like I said: smooth.

My oh-so-sneaky FI ended up taking me to Thoroughbreds, where we had wine flights, she-crab soup, and utterly delicious tableside chateaubriand bouquetiere. After dinner we headed to Huntington beach. He brought along a backpack with a beach towel and other things in it. We don't bring anything for evening beach walks, not even flip flops (yay cleean beaches), so this was also unusual. We walked to the beach and pick a spot to spread out a beach towel. He said many sweet things to me, and it was clear he had picked his moment. With the sun setting behind us and the moon rising over the ocean in front of us, he asked me to be his wife.

I didn't cry, I didn't go into shock. I just said yes. I was so happy! I didn't even look at the ring, haha. I love that he got sand all over his dress pants when he knelt in front of me, I love that we made the guys fishing down the beach feel totally awkward, I love that we stayed on the beach watching the moon rise until it was utterly dark and mosquitos drove us away. I loved every moment of it.

When we got back to the house, we played it off very cooly. We just wandered in, didn't say anything. My mom and older sister immediately saw the ring, but didn't really react until FI and I started laughing. BIL knew all about it, so he busted out the champagne (a vintage from the year I was born) and wine. We celebrated.

Then we made phone calls, talked about wedding plans, and were very merry.

Oh! This is my ring. I got my emerald!

In person it's this unbelievable vivid green (photographing green stones is super hard). He did a fantastic job. I'll have to take better pics for you all as soon as I can!

So, in summary:

1. Proposal was awesome.

2. May 2011. Be there. It will be awesomeness upon awesome.

3. Waiting for the right person is worth it. Totally and completely. :) (We're already dreading a ten month wait for the wedding, haha)

You ladies are the best. :)

Love that you are just beaming happiness!!!  Great ring, great story! Congratulations!!

Oh that just made me smile and audibly sigh, "mmm..." :) How utterly dreamy! You lucky girl. I'm so happy to get to cross you off on my very first waiting/engaged list! Congratulations, and btw... I think you ought to be the next Bee! ;)

YIPPEEEE - - YAAAAYYYYY - - CART WHEEL - - BACK FLIP - - WAHOOOOOOOO

Your ring ins gorgeous, absolutely magnificent.  10 months will fly, girl don't you worry! I got engaged this past Dec and October is just around the corner, LOL - - Once you begin with the plans everything will go go go ....ENJOY EVERY MINUTE

Thanks for all the lovely well wishes, I really appreciate it! I've just gotten back from vacation, so pics and wedding planning fun are imminent. Family and friends are very excited (particularly the sisters). My mom has already found a dress for herself, we've compiled a rough guest list, have a tentative date, and my sister wants me to start looking at invites on Wednesday. Stuff is happening fast!

@littlemissmango: I'm glad to make it onto the engaged list, even if a small part of me misses the particular brand of excitement that came with the waiting days, haha. Also...I think you're right. ;)

@jackie-o: Hopefully it will fly, haha! The idea of designing invitations is making me break out into a cold sweat!

congrats!! that is such a beautiful and unique ring...I love it!