How He Asked

My mom always told me that when I met the one I was going to marry, I would know. I never believed in love at first sight, and surely thought I wouldn’t be thinking about marriage when I first met someone. However, when I met Zach, that all went out the window. As soon as I met him, (yes, even in the nasty quaker steak basement) I knew he was the one for me. From day one, he made me laugh, smile and feel like I had never felt before. From the beginning, Zach always said “when you know, you know” and always assured me that “he knew”.. and I knew too. A little over two years after Zach and I met, Zach proved he knew, in true fairy tale fashion.

A little over a month ago, on November 26th, Zach asked me to marry him in a way I will never forget. Over the span of a couple months, and weeks, Zach, together with the help of my mom and family, masterminded the perfectly planned proposal. About a week before the proposal my mom called and asked if I would help out a friend by being in a music video for her friend’s boyfriend. She convinced me it would be something super low-key where there would be a few still shots and maybe a couple of me casually walking around. I kind of figured it was another typical thing my mom would offer me up for (if you know my mom, you’d know this is something she’d do). Zach “made plans to go shooting with my brother” even going as far as having my brother come pick him up “to go shoot” while I headed off to the “music video” shoot with my mom.

When we got to Dawes Arboretum, the location of the music video, I met with Denzel who was doing the music video, a photographer and another friend of theirs who was helping out. They then walked me around a corner to the most beautiful path, surrounded my trees, a pond glistening as the sun started to set and a quaint little bridge. They got me all mic’d up, took a couple of still shots and then told me they wanted to show me some inspiration on their iPad so I knew what to do going forward. When they handed me the iPad, I realized there was a video of Zach pulled up. They told me to click play and Zach began telling me what he truly had planned for the day. Among other things, he made me swoon with his loving words, and explained he had planned a special day with my family. At the end of the video he said “I’ll see you soon” and the photographer and videographer led me down a path.

As I walked down the path, my brother arose from the woods, gave me the biggest bear hug and explained that he was happy for me and knew he was handing me off to a great man who would protect and love me for all of my days. After I walked away from my brother, my mom was there waiting to express her love for Zach and I, share kind words and pass me on to my dad. Being a huge daddy’s girl, I knew this was going to be a big moment. Watching our video over and over I can hear my dad saying “I love you to the moon and back”, something we’ve said since I was very little. He then escorted me to the most magical scene, Zach waiting for me on a secluded bridge, with his journal in hand. Zach guided me to the bridge and read me words that I’ll remember everyday forever.

I had always joked with Zach that I had some requests for whenever he did propose. They include having my nails done, getting it on video, using my full name and asking for my dads blessing. Zach did all of these on an even bigger level. Being as close as I am to my family, I could not have thought of a better way to say yes to spending forever with Zach, than the way he included my family. Above that, I am so thankful for Zach and my mom’s “music video” plan led to the greatest keepsake I could ask for – the video of our proposal. Zach made my dreams come true, when he came into my life, and every day since then, life has gotten with him by my side.
Check out our video to see the whole proposal!!