Q: OMG!! When did it happen????
A: August 4, 2013 at around 5:30 pm. Orrr 5:45 pm. Sometime between those two times. When Jon gets nervous he talks a lot.
It was a bit funny: since Jon and I started dating, he knew I had a heart to go overseas to do some medical work. Jon had told me last year that he wouldn't consider proposing until after I had gone to at least one trip. On August 4, 2012, I left on my trip to Honduras - one of the boldest, craziest things I've ever done (go to a different country with a bunch of people I didn't know). Ironically, exactly a year later, Jon decides for us to get engaged on the same day - which in it's own way is another bold, crazy step in my life. I thought it was a perfect example of the selfless person he was - waiting for me to accomplish a dream of mine before pursuing our marriage, but I found out later that it was coincidence and that he didn't think about it at all.
Q: Did he do it in Japan?
A: Nope! Before the trip he kept insisting it was not going to happen in Japan. Some friends kept saying "that's just to throw you off". During the trip, there were moments where I thought he might just do it, like when we were overlooking Kyoto in the Monkey Park. Or sitting beside a lake covered with Lotus Flowers. And all these 'moments', we would stop and joke about some pretty crazy epic scenarios of how he could propose . Like in the middle of a bamboo forest with green tea in one hand and the ring in the other - followed by a meal of Kobe Beef.
But, all jokes aside, he did it in good old Waterloo. Where we met. Where he's doing his PhD. Where my family and lots of close friends are. Lots of sentimentality.
Q: How did he do it??
A: Well, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Old school.
Q: No, seriously... How? And Where?
A: Haha well he planned a 2 week scavenger hunt that included finding things, solving clues, meeting up with friends, making macarons, hunting for pictures and general hanging out. Each of the stations were 'manned' by my family or some of my closest friends. Jon had planned that each station would link to important aspects in our lives: Support, Encouragement, Familiarity, Fun, Friendship, Growth. But he also allowed my friends to put their own spin and flavour into it. At the end, each meeting was just so comfortable and full of fun and laughter. I really appreciated he involved so many of these people, and remind me how thankful I am to have them in my life as well.
After all the running around, on the last day (Sunday) he brought me to Waterloo park, and like we discussed in Japan he proposed in
We then went to Golf's Steak house for some
Q: Did you see it coming?
A: Well as you can see from the large proposal plan, by the time it started, I knew it was going to happen. I didn't really know how, or why, or where, but I knew it was coming. We had talked a LOOOONG time ago about how he might do a Scavenger Hunt type thing for our engagement, and so I knew once the hunt began it would end with a proposal and a ring. Also, back in February/March we did go ring shopping as well, so I had an idea that it was gonna happen sometime this year...
Q: eeee! Can I see the ring?
A: My Blackberry camera doesn't really do it justice. But here it is. It's a bit distracting. Especially when I'm driving and it catches light (which is all the time). Man that thing is shiny! But yes, we went to go ring shopping earlier this year so at that point I was fitted for size, and explained to Jon that kind of thing I would like (or not like).
:
Q: Did you cry?
A: No
Q: Did he cry??
A: Haha. No.
Q: What did he say??
A: He was pretty nervous! But to sum it up: He told me that I am more important than his PhD and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. And then he asked me to marry him.
Q: Was it what you hoped for?
A: To be honest, I'm not really the type to dream about "the perfect" proposal. I just knew I wanted to be with this guy and that at some point we'd go from dating to being engaged to being married. I didn't really have a perfect "how" in my head.
At the end of it, I think that Jon did it just right - it matched our relationship perfectly. It was wonderfully and meticulously planned when it needed to be, and spontaneous and genuine in all the right places. It was full of fun, laughter, friends and family. And instead of making one huge surprise (I hate surprises), it was a build up of emotions that led to one final question that at the end of all that, I undoubtedly knew my answer for.
Q: So, what did you say?
A: YES! (I may have said it even before he finished the question...)
The aftermath.
After speaking to many parties involved with the proposal, I thought it was pretty amusing the interactions many of my friends had with Jon. It just made me feel really happy that this whole plan didn't just result in our engagement, it gave some of my friends a chance to get to know Jon a bit better, and for Jon to get to know them better too. I've heard some pretty funny back stories, and it just warms my heart that so many people were involved and the trouble you all went to for us! Thank you! :)
