Going to the Chapel

I woke up on the morning of Saturday, May 17th to find that Steven and Sean (Courtney's, my best friend from college, husband) were no longer in the apartment. Of course I am slightly confused and when I ask Courtney where they went, she says nothing. She simply gets off the couch, walks over to Steven's suitcase and begins riffling through it (also a little weird). She pulls out an envelope, hands it to me and tells me to read what is inside.

Steven's first letter beautifully described why he loved me. He used the following part of a Robert Frost poem...I shall be telling this with a sign. Somewhere ages and ages hence; two roads diverged in a wood and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. He was ready to travel that road with me and that because of that he had decided to change our plans for the day. I was to meet him at Stone Mountain Park by the old Carillon bells at 1:30. The second letter, which I was only allowed to have once I had showered and gotten ready to go, included a highlighted map of the park and a gift card for me and Courtney to get our nails done. Thank goodness he gave us something to do. I would have gone crazy just waiting for 1:30 to come.

When I arrived at the park at 1:30, Sean told me I was to walk down the path until I reached the bells. The bells sit on a peninsula on the lake inside the park. That path did not seem like it would ever come to an end. As soon as I read the letter that morning I knew what was coming and of course by this point had gotten myself all worked up. I rounded the corner and there he was with roses. He said "Not quite the world of coke, is it?" (We were supposed to go to the world of coke with Sean and Courtney that day. That had been my plan for a month. Of course they all knew what the real plan was and let me talk about it for that long)

Steven got onto one knee and proposed. As soon as I said yes the bells rang. It was an absolutely perfect moment.

We're Engaged! This is the spot where it all happened!

Courtney and Sean brought us a gift basket full of goodies including champagne bottles dressed as a bride and groom, and ECU garter (it is a tradition), and bride and groom baseball caps (seen below).

The surprises did not end here. We hung out in the park for a little while afterwards and I was told we had dinner reservations for later that night. Once again everyone managed to keep another secret from me. We arrived at the restaurant and his parents and mine were already there to celebrate with us. It was so nice to have them all there. We had champagne (which came in a She Said Yes! bag) and toasted the day.

All of the hidden truths came out later and I slowly began putting all the pieces together. I never picked up on it at the time, but when I thought back, it all fit. Steven had met dad in Augusta a month before to ask his permission. There were a lot of people who knew it was coming. I had no clue!

And of course, here is the ring!
GET READY TO PARTY WITH US IN 2009!