I love a good engagement story. Every married couple has one, and each one is unique. Maybe yours was sweet and romantic, maybe it was funny or full of blunders, or maybe it wasn’t romantic at all, but it fits the two of you so well. Our story definitely fits us.
Next week, Hubs and I will celebrate two years of wedded bliss. In honor of the occasion, here is our engagement story. Matt and I love to tell stories together, so it’s only appropriate that we tell this one together, too.
MELISSA: It was November 18, 2008, and Matt took me to Polihale Beach in Kauai when we were there with his family. It was a pretty rainy week so we went to the beach on the first nice day we had.
MATT: Upon squiring Mel down a road that could only be described as holy (a.k.a. pot-holy), we found a pristine portion of beach known as Polihale Beach. I was quite relieved to find that we had made it to our destination considering that the only directions I had were "follow the road until it stops, then turn left at the Monkeypod Tree."
MELISSA: Luckily the Monkeypod Tree was obvious. I couldn't believe it when we got there. It was beautiful! Polihale Beach is literally where the road ends. You can't get any farther west around the island unless you are a very adventurous hiker. With high cliffs to the west, the sand was perfect with hardly a footprint on it. We had miles of beach all to ourselves. Literally, not another single person was there on that giant stretch of sand. Matt had picked out the perfect spot for our sunny day together.
MATT: Upon squiring Mel down a road that could only be described as holy (a.k.a. pot-holy), we found a pristine portion of beach known as Polihale Beach. I was quite relieved to find that we had made it to our destination considering that the only directions I had were "follow the road until it stops, then turn left at the Monkeypod Tree."
MELISSA: Luckily the Monkeypod Tree was obvious. I couldn't believe it when we got there. It was beautiful! Polihale Beach is literally where the road ends. You can't get any farther west around the island unless you are a very adventurous hiker. With high cliffs to the west, the sand was perfect with hardly a footprint on it. We had miles of beach all to ourselves. Literally, not another single person was there on that giant stretch of sand. Matt had picked out the perfect spot for our sunny day together.
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| Polihale State Beach, Kauai, Hawaii |
MATT: There really is no place like it. Very romantic. The sand, the sun, the blue water with the ancient tank remnants corroding in the shore break. Oh, did I forget to mention that the beach is adjacent to a navel base? Well it is, so I was sure not to let the beautiful Melissa out of my sight since many of those guys have been in a submarine for months on end.
MELISSA: After I assured Matt that I would not leave him for a submarine full of stinky drunk guys, we planted ourselves in the sand. We popped open the umbrella and spread out our extra-large towel. We had packed a lunch, complete with a cooler of beer. We even brought the iPod and speakers for a little background music. Matt and I know how to go to the beach! After we ate, we laid in sand talking about how great we are for each other.
MATT: Little does she know that I was a nervous wreck. We were laying in the sun, listening to our iPod and the whole time I was waiting for the perfect moment to ask the woman I love to spend the rest of her life with me. And to make it that much more stressful, the rain clouds were coming in hot and the ring that I had hidden in my hand was quickly developing a nice, thick coating of sunscreen on it, greatly diminishing it's much cherished bling. Soon enough, the perfect song started playing and I knew it was now or never.
MELISSA: We started talking about how we wanted to get married someday, and then I freaked out that maybe I was freaking him out and putting the pressure on, which I did not intend to do. So I quickly said something like, “But I know we have our whole lives to be together, so there’s no rush to get married. I can enact Rule #3. I can wait.”
Apparently that was the opening Matt was waiting for, and he said, “Rule #3 can see Rule #2,” and he opened his hand with the ring in it. (Get background info on The Rules.) “Will you marry me?” he asked.
Of course I said yes! Well, actually I think I laughed and yelled "Oh My God!" and "You're kidding me!" a few times because I was so surprised. I probably should have blurted out "yes" right away instead, but I immediately recovered from my shock and said yes. He put the ring on my finger and kissed me. It was the happiest moment of my whole life.
MATT: That’s right folks, I shocked her until she couldn't take it anymore and reluctantly said yes. It's surprising how much static electricity I could muster up simply by rubbing my hand against my beach towel, especially considering how much moisture is in the air on the islands. (MELISSA: and how sweaty your palms were.) Anywho, that’s the story of how I asked and why she said yes.
This memory is a great example of our personalities and how clever Matt is. He didn't get down on one knee or make a big scene in a public place. Our proposal was an intimate moment that involved an inside joke only the two of us would understand, and that's what made it special. How was your proposal story special and unique to you and your spouse?
MATT: That’s right folks, I shocked her until she couldn't take it anymore and reluctantly said yes. It's surprising how much static electricity I could muster up simply by rubbing my hand against my beach towel, especially considering how much moisture is in the air on the islands. (MELISSA: and how sweaty your palms were.) Anywho, that’s the story of how I asked and why she said yes.
This memory is a great example of our personalities and how clever Matt is. He didn't get down on one knee or make a big scene in a public place. Our proposal was an intimate moment that involved an inside joke only the two of us would understand, and that's what made it special. How was your proposal story special and unique to you and your spouse?
