Today marks exactly 1 month since I said YES!!!!
September 27, 2015 is a day I will never forget and a day I am sooooo happy took place. Here is our engagement story:
About a week prior to this day I mentioned I wanted to go to Disneyland on Sunday and just hang out and walk around since I would be starting a new quarter on Monday. Disneyland would be my last little hoo-rah before starting school. Andrew wasn't too shocked by request and responded by saying "ask my mom and see if she will get us in" (side note: Andrew's dad work[ed] at Disney & just retired after 40 years of service there, so either of his parents can sign us in for free anytime we want).
But let's rewind some...
He had been talking to my mom and trying to plan out the perfect proposal for about a month (it's easy for them to communicate without me knowing since they work at the same place). His original plan was to have a surprise dinner set up for just the two of us at the Mission Inn in Riverside where a surprise photographer would be. This was to take place on 12.23.15. It ended up being way to expensive to pull off, but he also didn't want to have to wait until December to ask the biggest question of his life (obviously I would not have said no either way). So he came up with option B, a Disneyland proposal! The Wednesday prior to our engagement we celebrated his niece's birthday, and while we were there his mom asked what we had planned for Sunday. I smiled and said "Disneyland?". She answered by saying "I was actually going to ask if you guys wanted to go." (this was obviously a way to throw me off, because I just thought it was all a coincidence). So we planned our day with both of his parents, the two of us and his niece.
Proposal day...
So Sunday arrives and I wake up feeling terrible. My throat was hurting, my body was tired and I did not feel like doing anything. I told Andrew how I was feeling and he told me to just get up, take an allergy pill and get myself ready...I was sure to feel better after all of that. I went along with it and tried telling myself I was fine. There was nothing that was going to stop this day according to him! We arrived at Disneyland around 12:30 or so. When we got there they were talking about how cool it would be if his dad could take us backstage to see where he has worked all of these years before he retires. At the same time we were also talking about what ride to go on first and we decided on Indiana Jones. Once we got near the Indiana Jones entrance all of a sudden Andrew and his dad started walking off in a different direction leaving me, his mom and his niece. I was so confused and even said "I thought I was going with them" and his mom replied saying "they don't even know if they will be able to go back there and we can't have too many people, don't want him to get in trouble." I thought this made sense so I blew it off and we got into line. (this was actually their excuse to sneak off and finish off the details for the proposal) It was so miserably hot while we were waiting in line all I could think about was wanting to just people watch and not stand in long hot lines. After standing there for about 15 minutes they announced that the ride was shut down (coincidence?), so we left. We met up with Andrew and his dad and decided to go to Haunted Mansion next. Conveniently, on the walk from Indiana Jones to Haunted Mansion we pass by a caricature stand in the New Orleans area. We stop at the little stand and his mom starts talking about how we should get ours done. This is actually something I have always wanted to do but never done. I looked at the prices and thought no way! Too expensive! They convinced me it would be fine with the discount his dad gets and we should just go for it. So we did! The artist begins by drawing Andrew and once he was done with Andrew he mentioned it was time to draw me. At this point Andrew's parents and niece had walked off to check out one of the nearby shops and he starts panicking. At this point he is completely uninterested in what is going on with the caricature and all I can see out of the corner of my eye was him looking for his family. Then he pulls out his phone to tell them to get there quick. (He thought the guy was almost done with the drawing which was going to be his cue, so he was freaking out because he wanted his parents there to take pictures). At this point I just felt confused as to why he was caring so much where they went. Almost two hours later, our drawing is almost complete. The artist says to us "I'm just about done, but Ashley, there is something I need you to come look at and tell me if you approve of first" I stand up and walk over to look at the picture and there is a speech bubble above Andrew's head on the drawing that says "Will you Marry Me?" When I looked up all I saw was him on one knee, and the rest is a blur. While we were hugging, Andrew says to me "look over there to take a picture" so I turn my head and there stands my mom! Second best surprise of the day! Of course I said YES! but the artist reminded me I needed to write my response in the speech bubble above my head. I made a silly joke and asked Andrew if I should write "Duh!" It was such a wonderful moment and I was so happy with all of the thought he put into it. From having his niece there with us to share that moment, and having my mom surprise me at the end of it all. I am so happy to have this moment captured by photos and to have a special keepsake that will be with us forever!
Loved having these people there to witness such a special moment! |
The awesome artist who did an amazing job! |
We spent the remainder of the day hanging out in the parks, riding rides and enjoying the day!!! It's still such a shock sometimes to realize I no longer have a boyfriend, I have a fiance!!! After almost 8 years, it still feels strange to no longer call him my boyfriend, but I cannot wait for the moment to call him my husband!!! We plan on getting married Spring 2017, and I am so excited so start planning for this beautiful day!!!