a proposal surprise

Yesterday was one of the most special days! My best friends threw me the most beautiful bridal shower in the whole entire world and I can't wait to share the photos with you later this week. I was already feeling kind of emotional opening my last gift from my bridesmaids and then Matthew surprised me by walking in with a gift of his own! I opened up this green polka dot box and there inside was a book. My first thought was "aww a guest book!" since we had been talking about how we still needed one. Then I took another look and saw the picture on the cover, originally thinking it was just a generic photo they put in as a placeholder. But then I was thinking, "hm those look like my shoes, and wait a minute that looks like Matthew!" And then I put it all together and started bawling! Oh my gosh, I am such an emotional person to begin with and this put me over the edge. Matthew hired a photographer to take photos of the proposal back in September and he totally surprised me! I had no idea whatsoever and to now have these images that capture such a life-changing event means so much to me. I'm seriously tearing up just thinking about it! ahh if I'm Wendy Waterworks now, what will I be like on the big day?! {a mess, I'm sure}

I love this guy so much and I can't wait to marry him in less than a month! What an incredible surprise!

xox

the proposal story {told by matthew}

Hi everyone! First of all, let me say, it’s a huge honor to be able to do my first blog post EVER, on my favorite blog, EVER!

The Master Plan…

So Mara never gave me any hints about how she would want the proposal to happen other than one very important contingency: She wouldn’t say ‘yes’ unless she was surprised! And I’m not talking kinda surprised. I mean, genuinely-in-shock-surprised. That pretty much ruled out any activities that were out of the ordinary/classic proposal type stuff. I just had to pick a place that was sentimental/romantic and then make sure that she wasn't expecting it.

A little background on Mara in regards to surprises: She is SO keen and usually on to my surprises. And she knows I don’t keep them very well anyway (I get too excited about them). So with everything at stake, I knew I had to keep my game face on and create a believable plan.

I always knew I would propose in San Francisco, as it’s filled with sentimental places and lots of happy memories. We met there, we had our first date there, and it's just a romantic city anyways. As soon as we decided on a date to drive up, I knew it was on! I told Mara that it would be fun to go out with my buddy Ryan and his girlfriend on Friday night in SF since I haven't seen him in a while. I had rehearsed this whole plan with him and told him to call me at exactly 6:20 pm to tell me that he was stuck in traffic and would be about 25-30 minutes late, but that he was still coming---just the thing to throw her off! I knew that if I had him call to cancel, she would automatically know something was up. I made sure that we were in the car by 6:20 en route, so I had the time I needed. Sure enough, at 6:20, he called. It was so believable---I was cool as a cucumber and assured him that it was no big deal and we'd meet there soon enough. A few minutes later, as we were arriving in the area, Mara was on the phone with her dad talking about how Ginger was doing (he was dogsitting for us). She didn't catch on to the fact that I was only looking for parking on the street closest to Alta Park (which is about a block from the planned Fillmore destination). Alta park is a gorgeous park in Pac Heights, with great views---the perfect spot for pictures.

I said to Mara, "hey lets go take some pics while we wait". We got to the top of this pyramid-style park and the view was absolutely lovely! As I took the photos, my life flashed before my eyes. I was a little boy dreaming of the day I would fall in love with the woman of my dreams, the woman i would ask to marry me. I was breathless. I remembered the first moment I saw Mara, back in March of 2008---when I was completely knocked off my feet---the only thought in my mind was "this is my future wife"!!! And now she was right there before my eyes, looking even more gorgeous than I could ever imagine!!! I tried hard not to lose it---I quasi teared up, but luckily I had my camera to put in front of my face. Plus, I had to keep my game face on!!

I then faked that my camera wasn't working and asked her to come take a look at it. That's when I held her hands and looked in her big brown eyes and began to tell her what I had so diligently rehearsed for months (with my heart pounding out of my chest!):

"Mara, I love you with all my heart and soul. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?"

She started saying something like, "what, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, are you serious?!!"...I nodded yes and reached for my coat pocket, dropped down on one knee and opened the ring box. She said yes and I stood up, put the ring on her finger and gave her a kiss and a huge hug. It was SO surreal. It was happening and I was filled with so much emotion!!!! I asked a lady passing by to take a picture of us, telling her that we JUST got engaged, like right now! She said, "like right now?", and I said, "Yes, right now!!!!"...

At that moment, Mara realized what was happening and she started crying, and then I started crying, and we both were crying and laughing and hugging!!! We stayed up there for a few minutes and she asked if we were really having a double date, and I said, "of course not!". It was the most magical moment of my life and one I will never ever forget!!!!

On Friday we also coincidentally walked by the spot of our first coffee date!

I love and adore this girl with all my heart and I'm so excited for all the amazing things to come in our marriage and life together. I'm not as good a writer as my fiance, so hope I didn't bore you too much!!! Thanks for letting me tell you my favorite love story.

-Matthew

photo taken on our pool shark date

the proposal story

dress Forever 21, sweater Madewell, shoes Aldo, clutch BR, necklace Elephantine

So on Friday Septempber 17th {aka proposal day} Matthew and I had the perfect day. We drove into Berkeley first and went shopping and ate at one of my favorite Chinese restaurants. Then we drove into the city where I stopped by my old workplace and caught up with my favorite boss! That night Matthew and I were supposed to go on a double date with his friend and his friend's girlfriend. We were leaving the hotel and his friend called to say that they were caught in some traffic and would be a little late. Matthew said, "No worries. That's totally fine. We're just leaving now too." I saw him hang up with his friend so I knew it was a real conversation. {I really wasn't expecting Matthew to propose during this trip but I was just being aware haha} So we drive to the Fillmore where the restaurant is and find a parking spot next to the adjacent Alta Park. We decide to take some outfit shots since the couple is about 15 minutes behind. It's so cold but the view of the city is just beautiful. In the middle of our little photo sesh Matthew asks me to check and see why the camera isn't taking the picture. {This isn't that strange since sometimes the button won't depress if not enough light is let in}. I walk over and am looking at the camera and Matthew starts to say how much he loves me and how he wants to spend the rest of my life with him. I was thinking this is so sweet but there is no way he's proposing. It wasn't until he got down on his knee and reached into his coat pocket that I was like, "What?! Oh my gosh! Are you serious?" I was sooo surprised and a little in shock. It didn't really hit me until Matthew asked two ladies walking by to take our picture. Then the tears started coming! I asked him, "Did you ask my parents? Did you ask Lizzie?" and then "Are we still going on a double date?," which he responded to with a "No of course not!" I was so excited and happy and it was such a wonderful rush of emotions! There was a "Yes, of course!" mixed in somewhere as well! I called my mom, brother, best friend, and dad immediately who were all thrilled! It was so great that it happened in the city where we met and fell in love. San Francisco will always hold a special place in our hearts..even more so now!

holding back tears!

I'm trying to get Matthew to share his side of the proposal story tomorrow {since some of the facts are a little different in his mind} so stay tuned!

And don't forget the enter the giveaway for the Zodiac t-shirt!
xox