Kristin’s Engagement Story

I know this is long and a little past due, but I’ve had it in my drafts for what seems like forever. I decided to post so that Kristin and I would remember the story.
Hold on! This is a long post!

The Saturday before Thanksgiving 2013, Scott and I were able to help in the engagement of our friends Adam and Kristin. Men, can I just say, I completely understand why you get nervous proposing! Kristin shares her side of the engagement story on her blog. But I thought it would be fun to share my side. You can read Kristin’s entire version here, but I’ve taken a few paragraphs from her story {KO} and shared my side {Marie}.

As you’re reading this, keep in mind, as Kristin notes, that it has been a joke that if you want to keep secret/surprise tell Scott not me. Not because I can’t keep secrets, but because I just get so excited and my facial expression would give it away!

{Marie} It all started a Sunday after church. Kristin and Adam were visiting their parents for Thanksgiving and I was going with Scott’s family to Disney. Kristin and I had been talking over the past few weeks and I knew a proposal was going to happen, just not when. Well, I had bought Kristin a wedding planning book from Emily Ley (it’s no longer available) and wanted to give it to her right after she was engaged. So one Sunday night, I pulled Adam aside and said “ You don’t have to tell me any specifics, but I have an engagement gift for Kristin that I’d like her open after y’all get engaged, do I need to send it with you?” To which he replied, no you won’t have to do that and pulls out his phone and shows me a picture of a gorgeous ring! Well, Kristin walks up- so there goes that chat.

{KO} The week before Thanksgiving, Adam was scheduled to help run lights for SCA’s high school musical, Beauty and the Beast. This meant rehearsals for Tuesday and Wednesday night, and performances on Thursday, Friday and two on Saturday. I attended the Thursday night performance, and after Adam and I went to eat with our close friends Scott and Marie.

{Marie} Adam and I texted back and forth that week trying to nail down a plan. He wanted to propose Saturday in Thomasville, GA. I just had to get her there some how. So we can up with the plan that I would take her Tallahassee shopping with me. I needed to look for a pair of jeans for my trip to Disney so it would be perfect. Plus I had already told her earlier that I might go to Atlanta shopping, so the fact that it changed to Tallahassee wouldn’t seem to off. We all made plans to have dinner together after SCA’s play and I would ask her then.

{KO} At dinner Marie asked if I wanted to go shopping in Tallahassee on Saturday. Thinking Adam would be busy with two performances, I said, “Sure, as long as I don’t have to babysit for Renee. She’s supposed to let me know if she needs me Friday or Saturday.”

{Marie} The second I get in my car I text Adam to make sure he heard that. He did and he said he would get on that first thing Friday morning. Friday night comes and Adams calls me and we map out the plan. He wants to purpose under a tree. A tree that means a lot to them, but a tree I have never seen, never heard about, nor do I know how to get to, but I’m suppose to have Kristin there at 6:00. I bring up the questions- We are going shopping. What if she has on no makeup, her hair up, and comfy clothing. Adams says make her dress up- So that meant one thing, I was going to be THAT friend, you know the one that says “you’re really going to wear THAT?

{KO} Saturday morning comes and I’m getting ready for Marie to pick me up. (Woke up before my alarm, had time to curl my hair, and decided not to look grungy. As in, I put thought into what I was wearing. Again, I’m look back and go, “Why in the world did I do that? That’s not really normal of me…”).

Marie and I drove to Tallahassee, Florida passing through downtown Thomasville, Georgia. This is one of Adam and I’s favorite places. It has fun, cool shops and restaurants, and where we went on one of our first dates. That date included a trip to the Big Oak (complete with a park and gazebo), which is a location that comes into play later 🙂 . Marie at this point mentions that on the way back she’d like to stop and look at the bookstore downtown.

{Marie} I didn’t know Kristin had never been to Tallahassee, so didn’t know you drove through Thomasville! So it made it very easy to say, Lets come back on our way back home.

{KO} I need to throw in that at this part of the ride I’m beginning to not feel well. Not full blown car sick, but something similar. But we go on, have lunch at Panera and head to the mall.

{Marie} Somehow at Panera it comes up that Scott and I went ring shopping a couple of weeks earlier. And I show her a picture of the ring I tried on. She then tell me she like a cushion cut solitaire with diamonds around that band. I honestly don’t really know what a cushion cut looks like so she shows me a picture. When I see it, it is identical to what Adam got her! Which means I have to try really hard to to smile, because why would I be smiling so big just looking at a random picture?

{KO} Of course in the car and walking around we talk “what ifs” of weddings and married life. Its just want girls do… especially if you are two girls in serious relationships. Before we leave the mall we went in a jewelry store, so I could point on the cut of diamond I liked. Marie ends up talking to a lady who pulls out a ring that looked a LOT like the ring I would see later on in the day.

{Marie} I can’t remember if KO tried on the ring or not, but it was the first time she had seen one in person. She looked at it and said how much she loved it. All the while I’m thinking, Well good because in about three hours it’s going to be on your finger.

{KO} Its get to be early afternoon, and I’m kind of done with the whole shopping thing I’m definitely ready to get on to Thomasville. I remembered that the shops closed around 5 or 5:30pm, so I prompt Marie to the idea of heading back. Its only a 30 minute drive to Thomasville, so no big deal… until Marie starts driving 15 mph under the speed limit…which I notice and call her out on. Lucky for her, there were road work signs out.

{Marie} We weren’t suppose to be in Thomasville til around six and I was suppose to drive Kristin straight to the Big Oak, so leaving so early kind of threw a curve ball in the plan. I texted Scott and told me I was driving SO SLOW-how close were they? I didn’t think Kristin noticed, until see leaved over said told me what the speed limit was.

{KO} We get to downtown and are taking our time looking around the bookstore. What I don’t know is that Adam and Scott are FLYING to Thomasville because we are early. (Marie is suppose to have me at the Big Oak at 6pm. Its 5:15pm. I’m ready to eat and go!) I had mentioned to Marie that we could eat dinner at this cool little pizza place, and was starting to hint that I was ready to eat (have I mentioned I didn’t feel good?).

{Marie} I know at this point Kristin was probably rethinking our friendship. She keeps telling me she is hungry and that she wanted to eat and I proceed to just stand a bathroom in a store for a couple of minutes, walk into another store, look at the window displays- anything to kill a little time.

{KO} So Marie and I get in the car, and I start trying to direct her to the pizza place. She then acts busy on her phone and goes the opposite way for EVERY. TURN. I tell her. She gets all distracted, borderline ditzy, and ends up driving past the Big Oak, which is conveniently a block and a half from the pizza place (walking distance, people. Even though this was not a part of the plan.). I point out where we are, and she asks about the Big Oak. As I explain what it is, why its important to Adam and I, she parks and I then become busy trying to figure out if the pizza place is open for dinner. I start to walk up to it, then turn to find Marie walking in the opposite direction. (I really think I probably gave her the most confused, aggravated look possible.)

“I thought we’d just walk down there! Check it out before it gets dark.” She says with a smile.

{Marie} By this time I know Adam and Scott are close. Plan A was for there to be a line a the pizza place, because there is always a wait to eat at places in Thomasville! Nope- not today. It looks like the place is closed, that’s how not busy the restaurant is. So I knew we couldn’t just walk in. So I tell her I want want to see the tree before it gets dark. And text Scott to tell him what street we are on.

{KO} “Ok, sure.” Literally thinking, Of course you do. Because this day could not have worked out any other way. My hair is curled. I like what I’m wearing. We just saw a ring I love. I love this little town, and this would be the perfect opportunity for my boyfriend to surprise me… but he’s not. Because he is watching Beauty and the Beast for the fourth time. Lord, please get a hold of these thoughts!! They are ruining my time with my friend!

As we begin walking downhill, I see a little white truck roll through the four-way stop at the corner of the park.
“Ok, that’s just weird.”

Marie mentions something about a nearby house and I feel myself look at her as if she was from another planet. My heart is racing and I’m beginning to walk slower.

“This isn’t happening, Kristin. Get. a. grip. ”

We get to the edge of this little park and I see movement under the massive oak tree branches. Out walks Adam from beneath the tree…in a suit…looking pale. Cue me freezing in place. (He says his first thought was , She’s really gonna make me walk all the way up to her”).

Scott (who rode with Adam) and Marie hid to take some pictures, and came out once we called for them. We celebrated at our favorite restaurant, Jonah’s, and called our parents. In between it all, I got the details of Adam’s side: from the curve balls I threw him, to the lies he told to cover up the surprise.

{Marie} Haha, and that is the story!

Our engagement story

Scott is going to write most of this because he did A LOT of behind the scenes planning, and honestly… I was so shocked when he proposed, i kind of blacked out. Hope you enjoy!

{Scott} It had been almost five weeks now since I bought the ring and still Marie hadn’t the slightest clue about it. We were getting ready to make our fifth annual trip to Madison for the candlelight tour of homes and our friends Chris and Haley Shaw were joining us this year.

A few weeks prior, I had told Chris about the proposal, but neither of us told Haley. I knew it would be in Madison, but I would have to determine the specific location once we arrived.

{Marie} Scott and I have been going up to the tour of homes since we first started dating. This year we went to the tour of homes on Saturday night, instead of Friday. So Saturday, we spent the day shopping in Athens and Madison. We went to one of my favorite vintage stores in Athens to try on dresses. Side note: I had told Scott that when he proposed I didn’t want to be in work out clothes with my hair in a pony tail. I wanted to look nice. I tried on and bought this great vintage dress that I was planning on wearing to a wedding the next weekend. Scott made such a big deal about how much he liked the dress, I thought maybe he would proposed the next weekend while we were both dressed up. But I quickly put that thought out of my mind and enjoyed the rest of my shopping.

{Scott} Saturday afternoon comes and we make it to Madison. We are early for the tour so the girls decide to run into a few shops. I start into planning mode with Chris and try to figure out when and where to do it. I knew the park downtown was very pretty and thought it would work nicely.

We catch up with the girls in a store and determine everyone needs a bathroom break. So I suggest that the information center in the park has public restrooms, so we make the trip.

Lo and behold as we pass the corner there are loads of people in the park! The tour registration tent is on one side, there was a group taking pictures for a formal, and people walking all over.{Marie} Plus, a couple sitting/kissing on the park bench near us. {Scott} Some people may like public proposals, but Marie and I are very private people and I knew that wouldn’t be special.

So we all use the restroom and come out one at a time and I’m the first one out. I climbed to the top of some stairs that overlooked the park and the James Madison Inn. {Marie} When I come out of the restroom, Scott is standing at the top of the stairs, almost surveying the landscape. I think I even asked him what he was doing. {Scott} As we’re all standing there, Haley says ‘Take a picture of Chris and I’. I looked at Chris and he looked back as if to say ‘This is it!’

Chris and Haley pose and I take great care to set the camera up, making sure focus is in check, the background is clear and pretty and take a few pictures. Now I suggest Marie and I have some pictures taken. We switch places and hand the camera to Haley, who is completely unaware of what is about to happen. Chris is frantically trying to get the camera back to catch the moments coming and Haley is determined she will take the pictures!

She snaps a few of us standing there and I turn to Marie {Marie} At first he just moves a little and I think, “Why is he moving, he is ruining the picture!” {Scott } and whisper in her ear ‘I love you’. {Marie} I know Scott and I have been dating for a while, but he told me he wasn’t going to say ‘I love you’ until he proposed. So even though I heard him say it, it didn’t click in my head. I was thinking, “Why is he saying that in front of Chris and Haley! It was suppose to be special.” And I look at him, and his eyes are a little watery and I think ” Oh, this is about to happen!”

{Scott} She looks back at me with a bit of a confused look in her face as I step to one knee and pull the ring from my pocket. It’s right about now that Haley sticks her head around the camera with a confused look and ‘What’s happening?’ comment, and Chris takes control of the camera.

‘Will you marry me?’ – ‘What?’ – ‘Will you marry me?’ – ‘Yes!’ She tells me to put the ring on, and as I stand to kiss her she says in her moment of confusion ‘I did say yes, didn’t I?’

Her confusion, surprise, and also the realization when she saw it was the ring she picked out five weeks ago that day. The moment couldn’t have been planned better.

{Marie} Make sure to check out our engagement night photos!

Story of My Ring: Part 2

If you missed Part 1 about finally picking a ring you can read it here.

{Marie’s side of the story} So, I’ve finally picked a ring! Great! Right? Well, normally you would think that. Other than the designer was only there for one day and was leaving at 9:00 when the mall closed and wouldn’t be back in Albany for 4-6 months. And this isn’t a style band Kay’s carries in their store, it’s specific to the designer. And the special they are running is only for that day. Remember, Scott and I had just stopped by to look! Now, I don’t like to feel pressured into buying something and I wasn’t about to let them pressure Scott into buying a ring. Thats a big purchase! Plus, who really wants to be there when your boyfriend buys your engagement ring? Not me! But I talked with the sales associate, while Scott went with the other associate to talk about price. When they finally came back the associates were just looking at us like “What next?”. I told Scott I didn’t want to be there when he bought a ring, and that we came in just to look. And I thought it would be wise if we just left and talked about it. They would be there til 9:00 and I had to go into work, if he decided to get it that day he could do it when I went into work. But I didn’t want to make a decision without talking it over.

So the associates wrote everything down and we went to Publix. (Cue breakdown in the meat department of how we were only looking and now there was this ring I wanted and loved, but we weren’t planning on making a purchase and I wasn’t even planning on finding something I like and things were just going too fast. I told you-dramatic). So we leave Publix and head back to Scott’s house. He goes and lays down on the couch and starts to watch tv. I tell him I’m heading to work that I should be an hour or so. I leave and he’s still on the couch- not moving a muscle.

I head to work and for some reason get done with what I have to do in 30 minutes. As I’m leaving I call Scott and he is at Adams house getting the propane tank so we can grill out. I think “There is NO way he had time to go to the mall, get the ring, and get to Adams house.” So I’m a little disappointed, but put it out of my mind. My mom even asked me later, “Do you think he went back to get it?” and I tell her I don’t see how, there is no way he could have had enough time.

{Scott’s side of the story} Now that Marie has left for work I jump up off the couch and hop in my car to drive to the mall. I walk into Kay’s and immediately everyone is elated that I came back for the ring. I made the purchase and said I will have to come back later to pick it up, seeing as how Marie would be with me for the rest of the day. So after about ten minutes everything is done and I’m ready to leave, so I get back in the car and drive to Adam’s house to get my propane tank.

Just as I am setting the tank in the trunk of my car, my phone rings and it’s Marie. She finished work much quicker than expected and asks “Whatcha doing?”. This worked out better than I could have planned, I didn’t even have to cook up a lie to hide going to the mall! We meet back up at the house to start dinner. Throughout that night and over the next few weeks Marie would bring up questions about the ring but I would just brush it off as best as I could. Keep in mind I bought the ring on November 2nd, five weeks before I was going to propose.

Check back for how Scott proposed!

Story of my Ring

“It’s beautiful, and don’t take this the wrong way, but it looks older, like something my grandmother would wear”. That’s what our friend and wedding photographer, Kim, told me when she looked at my ring. I just laughed, because that’s probably my favorite description of my ring that I have heard so far. I find it amusing because that’s the look we were going for!

A while back, thanks to Southern Weddings, I came across Trumpet & Horn. Trumpet & Horn is passionate about finding exquisite vintage engagement rings that have been loved and passed on throughout multiple generations. I started following them on Instagram and periodically looked at their website, but past that, they didn’t really cross my mind.

Fast forward a few months and Scott and I begin to look at rings. Scott keeps telling me within the next year we will be engaged, but at this point he has no clue what type of ring I want. I love the look of a round diamond solitaire with diamonds around the band, but I have never tried one on. So we spend a day going to each jeweler at the mall trying to find the ring I created in my mind, to no avail. Plus every ring I tried on, did nothing for me. Now don’t get me wrong, I still love the look of a round solitaire, but it didn’t look right on my finger. So we left, knowing what I didn’t like, but still not what I did like. (Cue the female breakdown driving home, because how am I suppose to get engaged without a ring and he’s just going to have to pick one and I might not like it and I’ll be stuck with a ring I don’t like for the rest of my life! Dramatic, I know.)

Trumpet & Horn puts new jewelry on their website each Tuesday. So I was looking through their pages of rings and found this beauty – The Riverview. It’s an emerald cut center stone with baguettes on the outside.
The Riverview
Now remember, T&H looks for rare estate jewelry, so each piece has a story. This ring is from the Modern era jewelry (mostly from the 1950’s) which reflected post-war prosperity and economic growth by featuring an abundance of gemstones set in flashy, dramatic designs, with a focus on diamonds, diamonds, and more diamonds. I loved it! The only problem… it’s $21,500! (cue the let down music, that’s a downpayment on a house! or if you’re looking at HUD homes, it’s half a house!) I pinned the ring to Pinterest anyway and looked at it from time to time.

Scott and I were running errands one Saturday and I asked him if we could stop by the mall so I could look at emerald cut rings, because I liked the picture but may not like an emerald cut on my hand. We head to Kay’s Jewelers and as we round the corner we see A LOT of people in the store. They had a designer there who was making custom pieces. Knowing we weren’t in the buying market, we slipped in the side to just look. A sales rep came out and I told him I wanted to look at and try on an emerald cut diamond. Well of course he took us to one of the associates for the designer who was in town. She placed the emerald cut up to my finger and I loved the way it looked, but it was a loose diamond, I still hadn’t tried anything on. So finally I showed her the picture on my phone of the Riverview ring and said, this is what I’m looking for, but we can’t spend their asking price. She took my phone, studied the picture and said “ We can do that, we have that exact same band and the designer only made 30 of them this year so it will be unique”. She got the band, put the diamond in it, placed it on my finger and I turned to Scott and said “I love it”. We tried on a couple other bands with it, but none of them were right!

So now I have found my the ring I love, only problem…The jeweler is only in town for that day!! Stay tuned for part 2 of how Scott actually bought the ring!