I am writing this on Valentine’s Day because I tend to get a little nostalgic. I want to do something a little different and I want to tell my story, our engagement story.
The story of how I got engaged.
It’s my favorite love story because it’s mine, in hopes you get to know me a little better I’m going to tell you our story. The story of an unexpected relationship, a reluctant girl with trust issues, and how I have completely found my best friend. This is our engagement story.
I was working as a salaried restaurant manager for PF Changs. I know, I know – chicken lettuce wraps LOL. I had been working there for about two years and had recently got promoted. When I first met Alex she was hired as a server in the front of the house. Being a new manager and being the rule follower that I am, I made it a point to not hang out with any hourly staff outside of work. I still hang out with my best friend Julie, but I tried to keep it at that. As Alex will tell it, she tried to hang out with me several times but I wasn’t having it.
Fast forward another year and a half and I had ended a toxic relationship with my ex-fiancé. I had always enjoyed Alex, working with her, and of course, thought she was attractive. I asked her out for a drink and the rest is history.
Well, almost history. At the very beginning of our relationship, we moved to Florida and that was a challenging time in our lives. I was trying to figure out what being in a healthy relationship meant, and she was trying to keep me from running away. We learned a lot about each other that summer and when we moved back to Asheville in the fall of 2016, something has shifted.
A little backstory about me – I’ve never felt like I needed someone. I was always raised to be very independent and self-sufficient and to never rely on anyone but myself. Being with Alex was a challenge. A challenge because I didn’t know how to let myself be loved and cared for in that way, and it was terrifying. Even though I didn’t realize I was doing it, I was doing everything in my power to sabotage myself in this relationship. But she stayed steady. She never wavered, she never gave up on me, and she never stopped loving me.
When we made it back to Asheville I knew that this was someone that I wanted to keep in my life forever. I didn’t know how and I didn’t know when, and I sure didn’t know where, but I knew that I wanted to make her my wife. I took two of my best friends Julie and Jean, and we went ring shopping. It took me a few hours but I found exactly what I was looking for. A super unique amethyst ring and I knew I was ready to propose.
Our anniversary falls on December 8 and I knew I wanted to do it then. So I planned a trip to Hot Springs North Carolina for a long weekend of champagne, hot tubs, and exploring. If you’re not from around this area I need you to know a little bit about where we went. Hot Springs is a tiny town kind of northeast of Asheville. They are known for their natural mineral Hot Springs, and the resort there is known for their mineral hot tubs. I knew this would be a romantic setting for our potential engagement and I booked a trip.
I planned to hike to Max patch which is a beautiful 360° view of the mountains. We were going to hike up just before sunrise and I was going to propose right as the sun came out. As luck would have it we got up that morning got dressed and I was ready to take her on a sunrise hike. I didn’t do a great job planning because it was 12° when we went up the mountain.
YIKES!
Nevertheless, we hiked up, I set up the camera and we almost froze to death while we waited for the sun to rise. Â Once it did, I got down on one knee. It was everything that I had dreamed of, minus the freezing cold.
That was over two years ago and we have been happily engaged ever since. Now the fun thing about being the one to pop the question first, meant that I would still get a ring. This is where my side of the story starts.
I had no idea that New Year’s Day 2019 would be the day that I got my gorgeous engagement ring. We had plans that day to visit her parents and have New Year’s Day dinner. We headed out to do a little bit of driving and sightseeing before we headed to South Carolina. Alex had planned a couple of small hikes with waterfalls for us to do before we went to visit the in-laws.
We went to the first which was Merry Falls which was a beautiful waterfall just off the side of the road. The second waterfall we tried to go to was called bridal veil Falls. Unfortunately, the entrance to that waterfall was closed so we had to skip that one. Keep in mind that I had no idea what was going on the whole time. The final stop on our list was Connesstee Falls. If you don’t, know my heritage is Cherokee Native American and this waterfall was named after a Cherokee princess. Alex sometimes refers to me as her Indian princess, I know gag – but it’s so sweet. Now as you’re reading this you’re probably starting to put it together, but I am super oblivious and I still had no idea.
I had gotten a new lens for Christmas and Alex was excited for me to take some photos. I was snapping photos and enjoying myself and she asked me to set up the tripod. So I set up the tripod and started taking photos of us and our adorable chocolate lab – Smokey. She mentioned that she wanted to get a couple of her looking at me, looking at the waterfall. I was so excited and thought that was so cute so I set up the tripod turned around and grabbed her hand. Â While I was looking away from her I caught something out of the corner of my eye. It looked like she was down on one knee. So I did a double-take and what I saw was her down on one knee with the most gorgeous engagement ring I have ever seen. She asked me if I would wear my Bridal Veil, be her Indian princess, and marry her!
Get it? I know – so freaking adorable. I sobbed for no less than 15 minutes. It was one of the happiest days of my life and I am so excited to marry her and spend the rest of my life with her. Now I can start the planning process and I’m so excited to be on this journey with all of you guys. I hope that was as fun for you as it was for me, I love reliving that moment. YAY US!
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