Hello friends! Today's blog post is very special to me. Today we are exactly 6 months out from our wedding day; we have also been together 6 month today (officially anyway). This seemed like the perfect opportunity to share our engagement story. I relive this day all the time thanks to my wonderful fiancé who arranged to have this moment captured forever. The photos on todays blog were taken by the sweet and talented Leah Bannick of Leah Bannick Photography. Evan planned the perfect proposal for us. I told him that he gave me the proposal I never knew I wanted. It was so romantic and thoughtful. He even included some of our family and friends to celebrate in the moment with us! This blog will have a longer narrative than normal, so settle in.
Now, where to start...
Well I guess it starts with a family visit. Evan has two amazing sisters, Allyson and Kristin. I have known Allyson going on 9 years from the time we met as students at Cedarville University. We lived in the same dorm halls during our time on campus, in a house with some of our friends our senior year, and then shared a room in an apartment with friends the year after we graduated. This is actually how Evan and I met. He came to help us move into our apartment after graduation and we met in the kitchen when I arrived with my stuff. That is when we REMEMBER meeting anyway. LOL Who knew that 6 years later I would be engaged to my friend's incredibly cute brother who I secretly was crushing on that day we met. Having known Allyson all through school I also met their mother (Janet) and father (Hayes) multiple times. I even knew Allyson's husband (Scott) during our time at Cedarville and had the pleasure of watching their love story unfold from first date to wedding day; as well as the adoption of their sweet daughter, Ruby! The only members of the family I did not have a chance to know was Kristin and her husband Eric and their 4 awesome kids; Mary Grace, Abigail, Naomi, and Noah. When Evan told me that Kristin would be coming out to spend some time with us in February I was so excited!
Well the visit changed to Kristin AND Allyson! Since they were both coming this only meant one thing; girls day! They were going to be available on Friday but Evan was going to be at work. I took a personal day to spend time with them. The night before we met up with the girls for dinner and Evan told me there would be a surprise guest at dinner. When we arrived I was thrilled to see his mother sitting with the girls! We exchanged hugs and squeals of excitement and enjoyed a great meal together. The next day Evan went off to work and us ladies went out for the day. We got Chick-fil-a for lunch, found a salon to treat ourselves to mani/pedi's, and did a little shopping.
Even after seeing that Evan's mother came on the trip and getting our nails done, I still had no clue Evan was about to propose. They all thought those two things would be dead give aways. I was just so convinced Evan would not propose when family was in town visiting; why I have no idea! LOL Anyway, Evan came up with the perfect story to get me to our proposal spot without raising any suspicions on my part. The night before at dinner he mentioned that one of our favorite spots, Clifton Mill, was hosting a special dinner event and he thought it would be fun to go together. This was not a crazy idea because the Mill does host special event's from time to time. So it was the PERFECT excuse. Conveniently the girls had planned to meet up with a "friend" in the afternoon and dropped me off at home before they went to meet up with them. Of course there was no planned meeting...they were going to the Mill to prepare!! After a couple hours, Evan came to pick me up so we could meet up with his mom and sisters for dinner. As we arrived at the Mill I saw all of the cars for the others who came for the dinner event...I'm still not suspicious at this point. As he opened the door for me to walk in there was something that stuck out instantly; silence. It was so quiet! Too quiet for a restaurant filled with people...unless there were no other people around. These were the thoughts in my mind in that instant. I looked at the women behind the counter just beaming as they greeted us. NOW I am HIGHLY suspicious. Evan then took my hand and had me close my eyes. He lead me, blind, through the restaurant; and now I KNOW what must be happening. When I opened my eyes I saw a beautiful path made of candles, white roses and rose petals leading to a beautiful candle display overlooking the Mill. Evan still talks about the look of blissful shock on my face! He then took both of my hands told told me how much he loved me and wanted to serve the Lord together for the rest of our lives. He referenced Proverbs 31
10 A wife of noble character who can find. She is worth far more than rubies. 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
After sharing what I and our relationship means to him he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife! He then says there was a painfully long pause before I said yes...but I said yes immediately! I guess it's true that this pause is the longest pause a man will ever experience. I couldn't believe it! The love of my life just asked me to marry him!
"WE ARE ENGAGED!!"
We were both shaking and teary at this point. I don't know what caused me to shake more, the shock of the moment or my pure happiness. We moved closer to the edge of the deck and into the light so I could admire my ring. It is GORGEOUS and one of a kind. Evan designed it and it is so me; better than anything I could have picked on my own. Evan had been asking me about what I would like to have in a ring (since I have seen and photographed so many). I told him I love yellow gold, and an oval cut was my favorite. I told him that what I really wanted was a classic ring. Something I would still love 10, 20, even 50 years from now. Something that someday I could leave to our grandson (if we have one) to present to his future bride and not seem dated. That is exactly what I got. Don't worry there are photos of the ring a little further down and I'll describe his design process then.
After we had a moment to soak in what just happened, Evan told me all about the set up and how his mom and sisters took care of everything. They brought the candles with them on their flight and found the white roses once they arrived..first thing after they arrived actually! I loved everything about the moment. He told me that his original proposal plan fell through; he wanted to propose at a restaurant in Circleville called Tuscan Table. That is where we had our first date over a year prior. However the restaurant has since closed...but that wasn't going to stop him. Evan tried to track down any source he could that could let us in to have a nice private romantic dinner in the spot where it all began. How romantic is my fiancé? Then when that plan could not work out, Clifton Mill came into his mind. We went there to see the Christmas light display that they produce every year in December and had the best time. He decided that would be a perfect spot. We have also decided that it will now be our place. I told him that as romantic as that first plan would have been, this moment was PERFECT and I would never trade it.
So by this point we have calmed down a bit. Evan's nerves have subsided and my trembling with pure joy...well that kept intensifying. LOL Evan started to tell me even more of his proposal plan. "Alright, so I did not lie to you about tonight. There IS a dinner event here at the Mill; it is our engagement party!" My jaw dropped! "We're having an engagement party?!!!" His face was beaming as excitement and curiosity washed over my face. All he could do was nod "yes" as I asked him who was here. "Well let's go inside and find out." As we walk inside I now understand why I had to close my eyes. He led me through one of the Mill's dining rooms that was completely decorated for our engagement party!
Evan let me soak in the decor for a moment then told me to wait. I watched him as he walked down a hallway and stopped at a door to say, "SHE SAID YES!" Then I heard a ton of cheering and squeals of excitement!! My mind was blown by the volume of the response and I kept thinking, "OH MY GOSH WHO IS HERE?!?!?!?!" Little did I know our friends have been in a small room packed like sardines the entire time!
So obviously my parents were there, in fact my mom was the first person I saw. Once she had me in her arms my tears came back! Her tears came flooding too. I realized she has not seen the ring prior to now because when she looked at it she was beside herself with joy and admiration. You can't fake that first reaction. It was such a special moment!
Then I started to notice everyone who came to celebrate with us! Turns out Evan made a secret Facebook group and invited everyone there to come experience this moment with us...again this was beyond anything I would have ever thought I wanted in a proposal. We spent maybe 10-15 minutes hugging everyone, showing off the ring, and saying "I can't believe this is happening!" I was having about 3 reactions at once. I would react to the person in front of me and hug them, then I would see who was in line behind them and react at their presence, and then go back to reacting and talking with the person I was hugging. LOL Evan invited some of our closest friends to come and to see them all was so special. I was so moved that they would all take the time to come celebrate us in this next step we were taking.
Then it was time for dinner! My family pastor, John, and Evan's best friend, Ken, both opened our time in prayer and it made me cry all over again. I thought to my self, "How many happy tears can I possibly shed tonight?" On our wedding day we will both be a mess, we already know this! lol Evan chose one of my favorite meals ever; salad, pot roast, mashed potatoes.. and of course cake! If you know me you know I LOVE Diet Coke. Clifton serves Pepsi products, so that meant no Diet Coke with dinner...LIES! Evan's sister Kristin came prepared and handed me a Diet Coke from her bag! I was not surprised and incredibly grateful. We were so excited to enjoy dinner and our time with family and friends.
Then it was time for something really exciting; calling the rest of the Wicker family in Naples. We got on FaceTime with Evan's dad, brother-in-laws and the nieces and nephew! They were so excited and having their own celebration. The oldest of the kids, Mary Grace, even skipped her first slumber party just so she could FaceTime with us after Evan proposed. Girls, you know what a big deal your first slumber party is!! So the fact that Mary Grace chose to skip it just to talk with us for a few minutes... I was so moved! It was so fun to see the kids all excited and show them what was happening at the Mill. We were sad they couldn't be with us but felt their excitement and joy all the same! Evan and cannot wait to go down to Naples for a visit!
Before she left for the night, our photographer, Leah, pulled us aside to capture a few special shots. She captured my ring, our families, and a few special shots with us as a newly engaged couple!!
These are a few of my favorite shots of the two of us. Evan and I are forever grateful to Leah for her time and beautiful work. These photos are so special to us and I have already relived this day many many times through her photos.
Alright, now it is time to share the ring!!!
To say I love it would be an understatement! This ring is so incredibly special to me. As I mentioned earlier Evan knew that I love yellow gold and an oval cut the most. However, something he did not know what that I always thought it would be so special to receive an heirloom ring from the family. That is why I wanted something classic so I could offer the ring to a future generation in our family. Not knowing this, Evan managed to include the family in my ring too! So not only did I get the yellow gold and oval cut I hoped for, but I also got family jewelry included in the design.
Evan's mother offered him two marquise diamonds from a ring she received from his father on their 25th wedding anniversary to include in the ring. When Evan was telling me about the ring he explained that there was already over 25 years of marriage invested in the ring. I loved it! I also love that the marquise diamonds were laid on their side instead of in a vertical placement. Evan told me that he thought that made it more unique...and it reminded him of the rose from Beauty and the Beast! He knows me so well!
Every time I look down at my ring I think of the man I am preparing to marry and how blessed I am. He is BETTER than the man of my dreams. He is the man I prayed for but never expected to meet. He treats me like pure gold. He is my best friend. My confidant. He inspires me to be the best version of my self. The thing I love most about him? He always points me back to the Lord. I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with him and experience everything the Lord will bring our way.
