4/7/2011- The Engagement Story
As of yesterday, April 6, 2011 Jeffrey David Curtis and I are engaged to be married for time and all eternity on August 19,2011 in the Washington DC temple.
It took a while for me to finally make the marriage decision. Well, once I finally made up my mind Jeff asked my parents and bought a ring. He did a pretty good job of keeping it a secret for a while. Well, as much of a secret as it could have been kept at that point since we already knew we were getting married.
Well, on Tuesday (the day before we got engaged) things slipped a little bit. I was telling Jeff a story of something that happened that day in class. Amy Garner Cropper (a fellow music major) turned to me before one of our classes started and said, “you’re getting engaged soon aren’t you?” Everyone then turned and started to question me because apparently they hadn’t caught on like Amy had. I didn’t know what to say to them because I didn’t want to lie and say no, but I didn’t want to let the cat out of the bag before I was actually engaged. So, I didn’t say much of anything I just tried to play things off until class started.
After I told Jeff this story later that night he said, “Little do they know that to…..I mean.” So, I kind of knew that the proposal was happening the next day. It was hard for me to get to sleep that night too because of what I knew was coming.
Well, Jeff and I had been planning to go to elements restaurant to eat for a few weeks or so. We had a coupon for a free dessert and he had gotten tipped on a gift card once so he got store credit for that tip. I was excited to go because it’s where Jeff works and I had never even been inside before.
So, we got halfway dressed up, Jeff picked me up, and we headed off to Elements to eat. We were/are on kind of on a tight budget so we decided what price meals we would order before we went in so we could stay in a reasonable price range. I know that sounds unromantic, but it’s practical and we didn’t need to order the most expensive stuff on the menu in order to have a good time, or to feel classy. When you’re young, less then well off college kids, you have to take those things into consideration. I wasn’t bothered by it. J
Well, we went in, and the hostess that seated us accidentally gave us lunch menus (which are cheaper then dinner menu) so they let us order from them. Jeff had a booth picked out special but someone had reserved it so he picked a different one. His manager, and the manager for that night was our server. Her name is Sasha and I actually worked with her when I worked at Andy’s. It was fun to have her as our waitress and she took really good care of us.
We decided to just drink water (I try to avoid soda because of my voice and all the sugar anyways) and we ordered our entrees. Well, Sasha, being the manager, went to the bar tender and asked her to make us some nice fancy drinks on the house. So, a few minutes later we had really nice fruity drinks in front of us (a pina colada, and some sort of strawberry something). Jeff started with the strawberry one and I the pina colada then we tried each others and decided that we should switch. Sasha also brought us some bread and according to Jeff she gave us the really good spread. She brought us our meals and we just had a really, really nice dinner. Then we used our coupon for free desert, which was also delicious.
Little did I know, Jeff had told all of his co-workers the day before the he was going to propose the next day so they were giving us very special treatment. Of course we ended up having way too much food so we got it boxed and headed out on our way.
We got in the car and Jeff almost forgot to open my door. He like yelled at himself out loud which I thought was adorable. We started to head in the general direction of both our houses when he asked if I was ready to go for a little detour. I of course said yes because I was pretty sure I knew what was coming. He took me to a park in the island that has a bridge over a little river/creek thing.
Jeremy Taylor (his roommate and best man), and Julia Simmons (my friend from home) and her roommates had decorated the bridge and the trees over the bridge with streamers. We got out and started to walk onto the bridge. As we were walking up, all the rose petals that were on the bridge blew off and into the river. We walked out and watched them float down the river. It was funny, but cute. In the middle of the bridge there was a heart made out of tea light candles. It looks like everyone who was setting up only got about 2 of the candles lit before we got there, and those two had blown out in the wind. It was the thought that counted though, and I liked it anyways. Inside the heart of candles there was a bouquet of half a dozen red roses and there were some fake flowers stuck in the railing of the bridge. There was music playing when we walked up and it was the song, “I like I want to marry you.” After that song, some of the songs that mean a lot to Jeff and I as a couple played.
Jeff looked at me, and he said that he was excited to spend the rest of eternity together. He then asked me if I was ready to do the same, I responded by saying I couldn’t answer that question until he was on one knee. He smiled at me and told me that he was getting there but that he wanted to make sure he wasn’t forgetting anything he wanted to say. We just stood there for about five minutes hugging, and basking in the moment. Some neighborhood guy came and started hollering and making noise at us. We just kind of laughed it off. Jeff then got on one knee, pulled out a ring box, and asked me to marry him. Of course, I said yes. My eyes started to water up but I didn’t quite cry.
He then picked up the bouquet and said “I was supposed to give these to you before I proposed. There’s a rose for each month that we’ve been dating. “
Then Julia and her roommates started screaming and came over to congratulate us. Jeremy, had been hiding under the bridge, and recorded the whole thing on his camera. You can’t hear anything in the recording, but you can see him get on one knee and ask me.
After everyone came and saw the ring, etc, I heard the stories of all the things Jeff planned to do but didn’t end up doing because he was so flustered and excited. He had an elaborate fake proposal planned out with candy hearts. They said something like, your hott, marry me, love bug, say yes. They were attached to a string hanging over the edge of the bridge and a fake engagement ring was at the bottom of it.
Jeff and I then headed on our way back to his house to tell his roommates and call a few people. By this time it was about 6:30 and he had to be at class by 7:00, which really stunk. So, we called my parents, and another person or two then he went on his way to class. While he was gone, I called a lot of my extended family and some friends and then we called his family when he got home from class.
It really was a perfect day, and I’m excited to be able to marry Jeff for time and all eternity. I love him with all my heart.
When I called my grandma Giles (who has not met him before) she asked if he was tall dark and handsome, I responded, “He’s kinda tall, not very dark, but he sure is handsome.” I love that boy with all that I am.
Im stalking your life and following your blog...but let me just say I am so happy im in this! as well as my pictures!!! :) haha
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