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So how did this whole thing go down?
There are many ways to tell a proposal story, but out of all the stories of a couple we feel the proposal story should start with the person doing the proposing. In this case it was Alex. So Alex is going to start the story, and Molly will interject when needed. When you see text like this, that's where Molly is corre--- putting in her viewpoint.
Well, there was one week between my decision to propose to Molly and our engagement. It totally wasn't supposed to go down like that! I figured it'd take a few months to find the ring. Then, a few months to get her in the right time and place. So, I had plenty of time, right?
Well, I was referred to a jeweler in Denver by a friend. Upon my initial meeting with him, 2 days after deciding "mission was a go," I had a handmade band and colored diamond that hit the nail on the head for what Molly had dropped hints she liked over the past few months (Whoa, whoa, I did not give hints. He asked me what kinds of stones and rings I liked. I did't think anything of it at first, because we weren't in any rush. I told him my favorite color was blue, so I like sapphires or blue stones, and I love vintage jewelry and rings. At no time did I hint. He asked, and I told him. I thought I had plenty of time to think of the kind of ring I'd want, because we were in no rush. Trust me if I want something I tell you, as you'll see later in the story, I don't give hints.). I put the ring on hold, and having a business trip already planned to New York City, and met with a few vendors and confirmed the guy in Denver was legit. So, four days after the initial 'go' decision turned out I had the ring.
We get to day seven. I'm at work, about 6:30PM, and yell out a loud, graphic expletive (use your imagination). My stunned colleague asks what's up, and I share the contents of the email from Molly, subject line "I hope this isn't too forward or assuming", where she details what she wants in a ring. Note - the description was the exact opposite of what I'd just picked up. CRAP! (Ok, so let me explain. My mom and I had gone on a girls trip to Yellowstone National Park. I told her that Alex had been asking about rings and what not. And I told her I really didn't give it much thought and told him I like blue stones and vintage rings, but if I was honest with myself I had always envisioned a yellow stone. This is when my mom said, "Molly, if he's asking, you need to tell him what you really want." Then I thought to myself, "This IS ALEX. When he gets something in his head, he does it (which is one thing I love about him), so I better cut him off before he gets too ahead of himself.)
So I had decision to make. I knew I could pull her into the process, get feedback on the ring I'd bought and keep my plan a reality for how and where I had planned the proposal. But I was scared the process would then become a sterile one, lacking all surprise and romanticism. So I decided to throw the plan away, and propose that night with Molly's grandmother's wedding band then make her pick the ring out herself.
On my way home I called a florist and arranged to pick up extravagant arrangements that Don Corleone would be honored to have at his funeral (Seriously, they were HUGE). I snagged a few hundred tea lights, filled the house, added some ambient sound tracks painting a path through the house, setting the stage in the mountains and hot springs. Six months prior, I had told Molly I loved her at Cottonwood Hot Springs in Buena Vista, CO, and I wanted to play off that memory (hint: that might have been the original proposal plan!). When Molly got home from work, she found a path winding through the house (As soon as drove up I thought, Uh oh, this just got REAL.) with stops at two poems placed throughout the detailing that night we had, and my desire to create a lifetime of such memories. The final stop was in the back, where I was waiting (terrified) (like really terrified) to pop the question. She said Yes! Best night of my life (and mine).
There are many ways to tell a proposal story, but out of all the stories of a couple we feel the proposal story should start with the person doing the proposing. In this case it was Alex. So Alex is going to start the story, and Molly will interject when needed. When you see text like this, that's where Molly is corre--- putting in her viewpoint.
Well, there was one week between my decision to propose to Molly and our engagement. It totally wasn't supposed to go down like that! I figured it'd take a few months to find the ring. Then, a few months to get her in the right time and place. So, I had plenty of time, right?
Well, I was referred to a jeweler in Denver by a friend. Upon my initial meeting with him, 2 days after deciding "mission was a go," I had a handmade band and colored diamond that hit the nail on the head for what Molly had dropped hints she liked over the past few months (Whoa, whoa, I did not give hints. He asked me what kinds of stones and rings I liked. I did't think anything of it at first, because we weren't in any rush. I told him my favorite color was blue, so I like sapphires or blue stones, and I love vintage jewelry and rings. At no time did I hint. He asked, and I told him. I thought I had plenty of time to think of the kind of ring I'd want, because we were in no rush. Trust me if I want something I tell you, as you'll see later in the story, I don't give hints.). I put the ring on hold, and having a business trip already planned to New York City, and met with a few vendors and confirmed the guy in Denver was legit. So, four days after the initial 'go' decision turned out I had the ring.
We get to day seven. I'm at work, about 6:30PM, and yell out a loud, graphic expletive (use your imagination). My stunned colleague asks what's up, and I share the contents of the email from Molly, subject line "I hope this isn't too forward or assuming", where she details what she wants in a ring. Note - the description was the exact opposite of what I'd just picked up. CRAP! (Ok, so let me explain. My mom and I had gone on a girls trip to Yellowstone National Park. I told her that Alex had been asking about rings and what not. And I told her I really didn't give it much thought and told him I like blue stones and vintage rings, but if I was honest with myself I had always envisioned a yellow stone. This is when my mom said, "Molly, if he's asking, you need to tell him what you really want." Then I thought to myself, "This IS ALEX. When he gets something in his head, he does it (which is one thing I love about him), so I better cut him off before he gets too ahead of himself.)
So I had decision to make. I knew I could pull her into the process, get feedback on the ring I'd bought and keep my plan a reality for how and where I had planned the proposal. But I was scared the process would then become a sterile one, lacking all surprise and romanticism. So I decided to throw the plan away, and propose that night with Molly's grandmother's wedding band then make her pick the ring out herself.
On my way home I called a florist and arranged to pick up extravagant arrangements that Don Corleone would be honored to have at his funeral (Seriously, they were HUGE). I snagged a few hundred tea lights, filled the house, added some ambient sound tracks painting a path through the house, setting the stage in the mountains and hot springs. Six months prior, I had told Molly I loved her at Cottonwood Hot Springs in Buena Vista, CO, and I wanted to play off that memory (hint: that might have been the original proposal plan!). When Molly got home from work, she found a path winding through the house (As soon as drove up I thought, Uh oh, this just got REAL.) with stops at two poems placed throughout the detailing that night we had, and my desire to create a lifetime of such memories. The final stop was in the back, where I was waiting (terrified) (like really terrified) to pop the question. She said Yes! Best night of my life (and mine).