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Wedding Week – Before the I do’s

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Here is our engagement story.  It’s fun to think back and remember…and perfect for wedding week.

Jeremy & I had been dating for around two years when we planned to attend a wedding of a close friend down in Orlando Florida.  We drove down on a Thursday and planned to spend the weekend there…returning on Sunday – just in time for work on Monday morning.  While we were in O-town, we scored cheap tickets to Universal Islands of Adventure.

You may recognize our friends right there in the middle of the group – that is Brook & Kent.  It was uber-fun to go on all the rides and still have the option to split off from the group to have a little alone time.

It was the perfect start to a fun weekend…and to be completely honest, I almost ruined the entire thing.

You see, I was in a mood.

A BAD one.

A VERY BAD one.

And I think I cried at one point while in line to ride the Jurassic Park river adventure.  It was that bad.

My emotional rollercoaster was worse than the Hulk coaster…and I think that since Jeremy didn’t yet pop the question, he probably had a moment or two where he reconsidered volunteering to spend the rest of his life stuck with me.

I blame my lady bits.  It was their fault.  Totally.

 

So now that you know some background on the situation, you will understand why I totally flipped out on Saturday night when we left the wedding and did not have any hotel plans…or so I thought.

We were driving down the highway and I asked Jeremy “Sooo….are we planning on sleeping in the car?  Because we just passed a Starbucks and I could find something on the internet.  I mean…you could sleep in the car if you want but I really want a bed….with a pillow…and a bathroom.  Did I mention that it’s not really a good time for me?  Because it’s not.  At all.  Are you listening?”

And then we pulled in here:

It’s Loews Portofino Bay Hotel.  A hotel that looks like Italy.  Totally my style.  And that is when I knew.

Literally it was like a light bulb changed my entire mood.  I was smiley, gleeful…practically oozing with happiness.  I was like one of those annoying Disney Princesses….and yes, there were cartoon birds that were singing around me as they tied my corset.  You see, I am Italian.  And I have always said that I would love to go to Italy…because it would be the most romantic place in the world.  I guess Jeremy was listening 🙂

Jeremy told me that he had the entire next day planned out for a fun time…and told me that check out time was 4pm so to make sure my things were packed.

So the next day we woke up and it was freezing outside.  Literally it was the coldest day in history for that early in Orlando.   And since I am cold-natured, whenever we stepped outside, I shook like crazy.  Jeremy, being the fix-it-kinda-guy, drove me over to the nearby outlet mall to pick up a sweater.  Jeremy took me from store to store suggesting very dressy sweaters.  I, however, NEEDED a bathroom and just picked up the first sweater I could find…a casual white zipup hoodie.

After a quick bathroom break, we drove up to see this:

Jeremy knew that I was afraid of heights and wanted to create a fun adventure for us…so he booked a free fall indoor skydiving adventure.  It was sooo fun.  We took a quick training class and then got ushered into a room with a giant fan.  IT WAS HILARIOUS.  As I ‘flew’ in this huge air tunnel, my mouth was wide open and drool was flying everywhere.  (note that Jeremy still did not run for the hills)

At this point, I totally expected Jeremy to use a cheesy line like “I’d love to fly through the rest of life with you” or “You are a bigger thrill than this”…but still, nothing.

After our indoor adventure, we went back to the hotel and Jeremy told me that he would pack up the car while I had an “appointment”.  What?!  Yeah…he had booked an hour long massage for me in the hotel spa.  It was my first real massage and I was sooo excited.  The lady was awesome.  Every bit of tension was rubbed outta my shoulders and I walked back to the room completely oiled up and relaxed.

I walked into the room to discover that our bags were packed and there was a single gift box on the bed with my black dress shoes and a note.

Tears immediately flowed.  I ran and grabbed my camera and tried to take some photos through the tears.  The note read “I hope you enjoyed your massage.  Please get dressed for dinner – see you at 5:15.  Love – Jeremy”

IT WAS 5:00 already!

I jumped in the shower and rushed to get ready.  Inside the box, Jeremy had purchased a dress I had admired at White House Black Market.  He had even thought of packing my ‘dressy’ jewelry.  The entire time I was getting ready I cried.  I knew what was about to happen.  I knew and was so excited but most of all, so humbled that he was choosing me.

He came to the door and had a small gift bag in his hands.  It was a black cashmere wrap that he ran out that afternoon to purchase for me.  Jeremy was very concerned about me being cold and the entire shopping excursion earlier was not just for a daytime sweater…he was secretly trying to find me something for that evening.

Dinner was amazing.  It was literally the best meal we have ever had.  We both had steak.  And as soon as it was over, Jeremy stood up and asked if I wanted to go for a walk.  I knew why.  We started walking through the courtyards.  There were piazas and stone cobble walkways.  Just as we were walking up to an extra large garden area, Jeremy said “hey, let’s go over there and take a photo”.  Now let me explain something.  Jeremy does not like cameras.  I am the one with the lens in his face constantly.   He rarely thinks of the camera, much less offers to take photos.  So I knew.  This was it.  Before he had a chance to argue, I quickly said “I gotta go to the bathroom” and ducked into a nearby restroom.

OH MY GOSH.  THIS IS IT KATIE.  THIS IS GO TIME.

I literally talked to myself in the mirror while jumping up and down, rubbing my frozen arms and wiping my eyeliner off my cheeks.

We both walked over to the end of the garden and Jeremy set up the camera as he muttered “this is a good shot”.  The timer was set and he came back over and slipped his arm around my waist.  For a split second, I doubted my instinct.  Maybe this isn’t it.  Maybe he doesn’t want to marry me.  Maybe this is just a romantic getaway.

And then just as the countdown came to an end, he eased down onto his knee and held up  the ring.

“Katie.  I love you.  I know you are cold right now.  But I would like to keep you warm for the rest of your life.  Will you marry me?”

Simple.  to the point.  and sweet.  Totally like Jeremy.  I just kept nodding and smiling.  I couldn’t see the ring through the tears but I knew that it was there.  He slipped the ring on my finger and hugged me close.

“Was that a yes?”

“Yes.  That was a yes!”

We were officially engaged.  I laughed.  I cried.  I laughed some more.  Suddenly I wasn’t cold.  The only thing I could think of was how perfectly planned the entire day was…how he had prepared for me…how he had taken care of me…how loved I was.  I didn’t mind thinking about the long drive back home since we had so much to celebrate on the way.

“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe we are gonna pull an all nighter!”  I said.

“Nope.  We aren’t.”  He smiled.  “I called your boss and told him that you needed an extra day off.”

“WHAT?!”  I couldn’t believe he really had thought of everything.

“Because tomorrow we are going to the happiest place on earth.”  His smile got bigger and bigger with his revelation.  He knew this surprise would make me so excited.  For the better part of my life, I was obsessed with Disney.  Walt Disney with his giant imagination and his even bigger theme parks.  His movies, his creativity, his simple way of making love stories come alive.  I loved the idea of going to Disney World with the man I was going to marry…and Jeremy had tickets for us the very next day.

“So where are we going to stay?” I asked, knowing that the bell boy had already retreived our luggage.

“Here.”  His coy little grin made his eyes twinkle.  “I arranged for the hotel to move us to a different room.”  His sneaky little plan was revealed.  He knew that I would know.  And he knew that I would be looking in the luggage for a ring at any chance I got.  He knew that I would try to bust the surprise and that I would love multiple shocks.  He knew me like well-worn blue hat.

As soon as I got back to the room, I called my mom and told her the news.  Then I cried again.  Then I told her the entire story.  And cried some more.

At this point Jeremy was probably wondering why I was crying so much…it’s because I don’t handle change well.  And this was going to be a HUGE change.  Just the thought of change has me shaking…but this was one time that I wasn’t scared.  I knew that Jeremy would always take care of me.  He always has.  I was crying because I was just so darn happy.

The hotel surprised us with a little congratulatory treat in our new room.  We called our friends Kent and Brook and they came up to the hotel with us to help celebrate.  Apparently they had suspected it was going to happen and were waiting by the phone for the call 🙂

After some champagne and strawberries, we changed clothes and took a quick impromptu photo shoot in the same place that we had just commited to marriage.

Then we hopped in the hotel boat (I know it sounds weird but the hotel had a little ‘bay’ that opened up to a waterway to the Universal CityWalk area) and went to celebrate with our friends.

The first place we hit was Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville.  We were practically the only people in there.  And wouldn’t you know…an 80’s tribute band was playing that night.  We both love 80’s music so this is totally our good luck.

We danced.  We laughed.  We did everything that two crazy in-love people do.

And the next day, we went to Walt Disney World.

I can’t really explain how much fun we had that weekend.  It literally is too complex for the english language.  But I will say that I loved every second of it.

Even the moody seconds.  I guess because that is how I know Jeremy really loves me.  It’s easy to love me when I am happy and laughing and smiling and in a great mood…but I know that it is heart-wrenching to love someone and they don’t act like they love you back.  I know that I don’t always say it outloud but Jeremy really was handmade for me.  Sure we fight.  We fight dirty and often.  But he has never failed to love me.  And so it is completely fitting that our adventure started with a rollercoaster and ended with a ring in the happiest place on earth.

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Comments

  1. Hi Katie 🙂 Your blog is a very recent find for me (like, a few days) and I am absolutely loving reading through past posts. You’re a fantastic blogger and seem like a super-awesome person.

    Anyway, what an amazing and thoughtful engagement! So, so lovely and swoon-worthy.

    -Sam

  2. wow. cute story! i admire the fact that you found the time to do such a post w/ a baby! V. impressive. you are good sister!

  5. What a sweet story! What a sweet guy you have! It totally made me cry! Do you have a closer picture of your ring!? Thanks for sharing that!

  6. Cute story Katie! You know they are the one when they plan a perfect engagement that fits your personality and everything. You guys truly were meant to be!

  8. Thanks for making me cry before 9am! What a great story. I love that you have all the photo memories too – you both look so happy!

  14. Oh my gosh. Please don’t tell anyone I cried because I don’t cry…ever. I blame it on post baby hormones.

  16. Hi Katie! I’m a long-time reader, first-time commenter, and just wanted to say what a great job you do with your blog. After reading yours and others’ blogs for a couple years, I decided to start blogging when we moved across the country in August. Needless to say, blogging is way harder than it looks. I totally look up to your blogging and photog. skills! (Maybe my photos would improve if I actually had a camera and not just an iphone!)
    Anyway, bravo and keep up this excellent work! -j

  17. I actually really love your short haircut! It is super cute on you!
    What a well-planned proposal. Seriously, he did an awesome job! I live in Florida and it was kinda crazy to see pictures of you guys at Islands of Adventure because it is one of my favorite places. Reminds me that I need to grab the hubster and run to a theme park.
    You and Jeremy are so so cute together 🙂

  18. Ok, this is hands-down the best engagement story I have EVER heard! Seriously. Which says a lot since about 70% of my sorority sisters from college are now married or engaged. I live in Atlanta, do you and Jeremy have any single guy friends who are even half as thoughtful?!? Ha!

  19. you are so good at making me cry. 🙂 That Jeremy is such a keeper, the whole weekend PLUS the extra day to go to DISNEY WORLD was freakin’ amazing. He really knows how to make something memorable. you guys are so adorable together.

  20. This is the sweetest, most romantic engagement story I’ve ever heard. What a memorable weekend. There is nothing better than creating a life with your best friend. It reminds me of that quote from When Harry Met Sally, “When you find the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”

  23. Awww… awesome story! I loved reading it and seeing the pictures! You guys are sooo cute! Makes me reminesce about my engagement story (sigh).

  24. Loved your story :)I can relate to the freaking out part of waiting for the proposal. My boyfriend and I knew we were going to get married, we talked about it, started ring shopping and even looked at several reception places and we weren’t even technically engaged yet. After looking at one place I freaked out crying saying how ridiculous I felt because he haden’t even proposed yet. We already had plans for dinner out that night but what I didn’t know was that was the NIGHT. He planned the most exciting night for us with an amazing dinner, carousel ride and then he popped the question on a horse drawn carriage. We both couldn’t stop crying we were so happy. I felt silly for freaking out earlier in the day but he still pulled off the perfect proposal and seriously I had no idea! He really surprised me in the end when he told me he was making seceret trips down to the city were my ring was being designed and made… hence the waiting. So I guess I needed to learn some patience, hee! 🙂 Almost 3 yrs for us and we are still feeling “made for each other”! Congrats on your anniversary!!

  25. great story!! I hope I find a man someday that is as creative & fun!

    so, I’ve been reading your blog for a few months now but never had the courage to comment. BUT I read about these envelopes in a magazine @ the doctor’s office and knew I had to tell you about them:

    bacon flavored envelopes!!! found at http://mmmvelopes.com

    they even look like bacon!

    you can thank me later 🙂

  26. Such an amazing story! I love reading people’s engagement/wedding stories so I’m really enjoying your wedding week!

  27. Aw what the heck. That’s like the best engagement ever, especially with Disney World thrown in there. All my husband did was wake me up from a nap (I was grumpy because I was freakin tired) and propose. Is it bad that I don’t like telling people that story because it’s so anti-climatic??

  29. your story was too cute. i think it’s funny that you suspected way ahead of time. on the night the hubby proposed to me, i was COMPLETELY oblivious! but that’s pretty typical for me, so it works!

  30. Katie-

    I loved this post! It makes me so happy when I hear others say that they found “the one” that God made just for them. My heart overflows with gratefulness because I did too. What a blessing.

  31. Hi Caitlin,
    Yes, Jeremy had asked both my parents for their permission and blessing. I think my mother grabbed his face and kissed him when it happened 🙂
    xo – kb

  35. I have to say I LOVE your story. IT makes me so happy when people find the one that was hand made for them. I have that and I cant imagine my life without him. We get each other… the worst and the best sides. I dont make his life easier (harder actually) but he LOVES ME… WOW… kinda crazy huh. I love knowing that you are happy in this way… it really shows what love is like.. how real it is when someone loves all of you…

  36. Great post! Very sweet & romantic! I knew the minute I saw the top of your first picture where everything was going to take place. I’ve lived in Central Florida for pretty much my entire life. So, IOA & Disney are pretty common places we go to. I took my boyfriend to the indoor skydiving last year as an anniversary gift to him. He’s always wanted to skydive, but I have a fear of heights & falling (seriously! I hate even falling off the bed or couch!), so I thought the indoor method was much safer! 🙂 I’m glad you guys had such an amazing time in Orlando and with such great memories & stories to share!

  37. Oh my gosh Katie! You have me in tears!! That is the sweetest engagement story! Jeremy did such a great job, I’m so impressed! He’s a keeper indeed 🙂 Thank you for sharing!

  39. I’m so glad you’re doing this again. I’m getting married in may and always lookn for inspiration as it will be a small affair, and being on a tight budget, mostly diy.

    I gotta say I was VERY surprised when my soon to be proposed. I had thought it would be Christmas last year cause there were all these clues, didn’t happen. Then I thought, hmm, maybe my birthday, which is December 31, again didn’t happen. It happened two months later in February! Your Jeremy got a day of grumpy, my guy got a couple months. I’m amazed everyday that he still chose me after I was such a poophead.

  40. What a beautiful story! And I loved your little bit about fighting dirty and often. That totally describes my husband and I as well as the part about our love never failing. Maybe that’s why we chose to have I Corinthians 13 read at our wedding or why we both love The Notebook.

    Hope you have a great anniversary. You have so many things to celebrate this year!

  41. That is such a cute story. I love your stories. Thank you for sharing.

    We must be long lost friends because we share an anniversary and we went to Disney World for our honeymoon. Happy Anniversary!

  42. love it! love it! love it! very beautiful story and a great couple you two make. jeremy seems like a very special guy. not many of those out there but i will say that i have one too. happy anniversary of many more to come. love reading you and have been following you for a couple of years now. keep it up!!!!!!!

  43. I am about to forward this link to my boyfriend’s email so maybe he’ll get some ideas 🙂 What’s even funnier is that we are going to Orlando this weekend (we only live 3 hrs away in northern florida) to go to Universal and Halloween Horror Nights. But definitely the sweetest engagement story i’ve ever read – i totally teared up reading it! (I’m a dork!)

  44. A fabulous engagement story… but no fabulous (as in up close and clear) pictures of the ring! Just curious to see what Jeremy picked out for you… or what you gently hinted at him to get. 😉 Sorry if the ring was already addressed in a previous post/comment somewhere. Thanks!

  46. Amazing story – you have quite the man there! (well, men now, I guess with little Will around :)). Has anyone mentioned that your hair looks awesome with the cut you have in these pictures? (It looks great now, too, but just wanted to mention that I like the look!)

  47. Thanks Cheryl,
    I often think that maybe I should cut it all off…but then I can’t put it in a ponytail…and that is a deal breaker with a baby 🙂
    xo – kb

  49. I loved reading your story. What a wonderful proposal, he thought of everything! It was neat for me to read because I have been living in Orlando for the past 4 years so I am familiar with everything you mentioned. I too love the Portofino Bay Hotel, although we haven’t stayed there yet.

    Like you, I too knew when my hubby was going to propose, it was fun seeing him pull everything together.

    Enjoyed seeing you and Sherry together again on video, just hopped over from there. 🙂

  50. Katie,
    First off I have to say that I hate to read, but I read this entire post and loved it! It was so funny to see all those places since I am from South Fl. =) you guys are adorable together and have a beautiful family! xoxo
    Stephany

  51. Hi Katie, just found you guys off of young house love….this is the sweetest story ever and I completely almost ugly cried while reading! love your blog so far!

  53. Sitting here “watching” the bears vs. packers football game girlishly shrieking over your proposal post. I am making my husband read this…he doesn’t understand quite yet my obsession with all things Disney. (We are still in the poor married student phase…there is only so much you can do.)
    Your man has got the pampering thing down! It’s never too late to start.
    Lovely Post!

  57. Dear Katie * Your hilarious and I enjoyed reading about your engagement

    Much love to you and yours through your journel of life!

  58. Hi Katie.. I have just recently stumbled onto your blog (because I love the pallet accent wall, found on pinterest, that you and your ” boyfriend” did for baby Will’s room, and so I was checking that out on how to do it, bc I am getting my husband, along with myself to do one of our walls in our computer room ,which is also his hunting trophy room, so it will go really great in there) but anyway I loved reading your engagement story and as many have said, it to brought tears to my eyes. I love the way that you write,it’s very fun, easy and enjoyable to read. I will now be a regular visitor to your blog when I have time so as to keep up to date on your life’s journeys. Keep on with your creative writing, you have a definite talent for that!

  60. I am a new reader to your blog… and I’m obsessed. I love the way your personality shines through in your writing. I found you through an obscure pin on Pintrest and I’ve come back to read your archives quite a few times. I find it absolutely endearing that you open your life to any and everyone… and what an adorable life you have. Anyway, I truly enjoyed this post. You describe your husband the way I describe mine… and I know all too well that I have also found a keeper considering he is still here after dealing with 7 years of lady times. Thank you for sharing. Your blog truly does put a smile on my face.

  61. Love it–what a great story! It’s great that you have it written down for the future and memories, complete with pictures! I seriously need to take more pictures–or hire a photograher to follow me around everywhere 😉

  64. Wow…! Been reading your awesome blog here for a while and just found this amazing engagement story, what a great day. I used to work at SkyVenture in college and I think I remember you guys coming that day.

  66. I just read this and cried. I got engaged in October @ Disney world. I am obsessed with Disney and just like you I would have looked for the ring and ruined my surprise. My fiancé had everything planned perfectly and proposed in the Japan pavilion at Epcot. I have always dreamed of going to Japan on our honeymoon and that is the closest we are gonna get right now. He had given his phone to a random woman to take pics/video the moment and I am so lucky to have his wonderful proposal on video. She also happened to be a manager at Universal and gave us tickets to the park for the following Monday. While there are a few (spectacular/awkward) details I’m leaving out, I just wanted to share my story with you as you have shared with me. It makes my heart happy!

  68. I have to say I find this story troubling. You and your then boyfriend are staying in the same hotel room. You put it on a blog, making it public information. You were married in a Bible church and say you love Jesus. Have you had a life change? Or does this not seem unBiblical to you? If you are not staying in the same room you should edit your post. Your kids will be old enough to read someday. Otherwise non-Christians would be confused by the conflict between what you say and how you live your life.

  69. I hear ya Brittany and I do want to be really clear…we stayed in the same room but not in the same bed. It was like a suite with a sitting area and a pull out bed. And yes, my parents knew. We are human and have flaws and are willing to explain to our kids one day that we struggled with certain things but in this situation, what we believe is unbiblical is being unpure…not sleeping in the same general location. I hope that Christians and non-Christians alike would be open to the discussion of purity.
    xo – kb

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