It finally happened: After 9 years together, we’re engaged! On September 17, 2022, my then-boyfriend (now fiancé), Nick, popped the question. It was everything I could’ve ever dreamed of and more, and we’ve been floating on cloud 9 ever since. With each passing day it keeps sinking in more and more that I get to marry my best friend; that this is really happening and we actually have an engagement story now!
The outpouring love and support we’ve received from friends, family, strangers and more has been absolutely incredible—so thank YOU to all of those who have sent us well wishes and congratulations. It’s made this entire thing all the more/that much more special.
That said, you’re probably wondering why now? Why—after 9 years together—did we decide to take the plunge and leap into the next chapter of our lives? Or maybe you’re wondering how it all went down—what was said, my reaction, and so on and so forth.
Whatever the case may be—if you’re reading this because you’re interested in the juicy details, want some proposal inspo yourself, or just love love—I’m sharing all the intimate details below. Keep scrolling to learn all about our engagement story.
Our Engagement Story:
Why we decided to do it now:
When you’re with someone for a long time (re: 9 years), you’re bound to experience highs and lows together. Previously, we had to deal with my neck injury, career changes, and just life in general. Marriage was never on the forefront of our minds. We both knew we were committed to one another for the long-haul (AKA forever), and for the entirety of our relationship, that felt right for both of us.
A few months ago, though, Nick kept bringing up the fact that he was sick of referring to me as his ‘girlfriend.’ “It’s so childish,” he said to me. “I don’t like it anymore.” With that, I began mulling over the idea of being engaged, planning a wedding, and getting married. The more I sat with it, the more I realized it felt completely right. My neck injury is still there—it always will be—but we’ve finally found some answers and some temporary solutions, and I’m more established in my career as a writer. It’s always been extremely important to me to have my career in order before saying “I do.”
We were also sick of living in this noncommittal limbo. It dawned on us that waiting around to see what was going to happen instead of taking the next step ourselves was only going to hinder us in life. You can’t move forward if you’re rooted in the same spot for eternity. So, after talking about it for months, we decided that it was finally time.
What happened next:
After deciding that it was finally time, we went ring shopping in June. My fiancé has really good taste and knows mine like the back of his hand, but my engagement ring preferences have changed over the years. I knew I wanted an emerald cut diamond with a thin diamond band; I wanted the diamond itself to be the main focal point of the whole thing. So, I tried on different styles to see how they looked on my finger and if I liked them, and my fiancé learned exactly what I wanted.
From there, things moved pretty quickly. We made the decision to move forward in August, and Nick went back to Providence Diamond and designed the ring. And in just four weeks—landing around September 16, 2022—it would be ready. (Total sidenote/fun fact: My dad designed my mom’s engagement ring at the same store and both of their wedding rings are from there.)
The proposal:
Total disclaimer: I knew it was coming. Now, I know what you’re thinking—you knew when the proposal was happening?! The answer is yes, BUT—I wanted to know. I was a major part of the whole process from the beginning, and in all honesty, I’m so glad I knew ahead of time. Plus, none of the surprise was taken away because I didn’t know what the ring looked like or how the proposal was going to go down.
The only thing I did know was that it was going to be private. Since the beginning of our relationship, I’ve always said that I’m personally not into public proposals; I feel like it’s such an intimate moment that should be shared between two people alone. I didn’t want any public consumption surrounding my big moment.
How he proposed:
On the day he popped the question, I went to my parents’ house to get ready and came back to our condo around 6 p.m. I had no idea what I was walking in to, but it was better than I could’ve ever imagined.
Our front door opens up to our living room, which my fiancé made spotless and set the tone with roses and lit candles. From there, he led me into the kitchen. The kitchen table had more roses and red rose petals scattered on top of it, and in the center was lobster, scallops wrapped in bacon, and asparagus. I’m a major foodie and massive seafood lover, so his food choice was perfect for me.
And then it happened—he popped the question. When he got down on one knee and pulled out the ring I actually gasped. Of course I said yes to marrying him.
The whole evening was so romantic and magical. I couldn’t of dreamt up a better one if I’d tried. And of course we can’t forget about the ring. It’s absolutely stunning; I fall more in love with it every time I look down at my left hand.
In conclusion…
Marriage is a very big decision, and it’s not one that either of us made lightly. Regardless of what anyone says, it’s more than a piece of paper. It’s a major commitment—bigger than staying together forever. Every couple is different, and there’s no “right” or “wrong” way to do things. I’m proud of us for not listening to society’s rules and doing things at our own pace. Every decision we’ve made throughout the course of our relationship has been exactly right for us. I think it’s so important that every couple always does what’s right for them and them alone. What goes on between two people is nobody else’s business.
We’re so excited to start this next chapter in our lives. And I have to say, forever has a nice ring to it. 💍
