Elegant Southern California Coastal engagement // ©2017 Sun & Sparrow Southern California wedding photographers

Jess’s Side of the Story  // It was the day after our anniversary and Glenn was coming home from a business trip. As soon as I was home from work, I began finishing a few chores I wanted to get done before the weekend so we could enjoy our first trip down to Austin the next day to celebrate our anniversary. I was looking pretty disheveled, wearing shorts, a tank top, and running around barefoot with my hair in a messy bun when Glenn came through the door still in his business clothes. I was downstairs in our pet bunny’s room (yes she is very spoiled) and we immediately sat down and started talking about our weeks. He decided he needed to go upstairs and change before his outfit got dirty.

When he came back down, he was wearing basketball shorts and a baggy shirt. We were sitting on the ground, talking about our upcoming trip to Austin when he made an excuse for me to stand up and dim the floor lamp. I was fiddling with the switch when I heard him start saying so many sweet things. I turned around to say “Aww, I love you too” and that’s when I saw him on his knees shuffling toward me. He continued talking but my ears started ringing as I froze and immediately started crying as he pulled the ring out from behind his back. Our pet bunny, not used to me crying, immediately ran away and hid underneath her tunnel which made us laugh between my happy tears. I’m not even sure I spoke out loud and said yes, but I think Glenn understood my vigorous nodding.

He then took me upstairs to some beautiful flowers and said he hadn’t known until just that moment he was going to propose. So we made a trip to the liquor store and picked out a bottle of champagne. After toasting and calling our families and closest friends, he then said “Well, I know you were looking forward to going to the gym tonight…but I made us special reservations at our favorite restaurant in Dallas. It’s your choice, rocking climbing or we can go get dressed up and go celebrate.” Of course I chose the food! We spent the rest of the night toasting to our engagement and me staring in awe at the gorgeous ring that was on my finger, followed by an amazing trip to Austin the next day to continue to celebrations.

We have been celebrating since and cannot WAIT to celebrate with all our loved ones next August. I’m most looking forward to the moment our officiant pronounces us man and wife and we walk back down the aisle together to begin our night of celebrations with our loved ones. It has been such a fun and exciting past year planning our wedding together and I feel incredibly blessed that I get to spend the rest of my life with this man.

Glenn’s Side of Story  //  The ring had been burning a hole in my dresser for a couple months. I had snuck away to buy it after work one day in June while I happened to be in Texas. Jess was skeptical of my dodgy excuse, but mission accomplished.

I was traveling back and forth to Michigan each week, so my opportunities to pop the question were limited. We had a trip to Switzerland in late August 2016. Clearly it would make sense to ask the most beautiful girl in the world to marry me in the most stunning place on earth. But, how would I get the ring into the country? What happens if they search my bag? How do I organize a photographer without being in constant contact over text? What if I lose the ring in my hiking bag? Will I be distracted until I finally get to ask her? Yeah, the Switzerland engagement wasn’t happening.

One typical Friday, I was hustling through the Detroit airport, always almost late to my flight. Our anniversary was the night before (which I missed) and we were leaving for Austin the next morning. Austin didn’t mean anything to us at the time, so I had a fleeting thought “what if I asked her tonight?” Yeah, I think I might.

After arriving home, it was a normal Friday night. Jess was excited to see me and the rabbit didn’t care if I was home or not. We were hanging out downstairs on the floor of the bunny room. Knowing that family, particularly our current and future fur family, are really important to Jess, I decided it was time. I made an excuse to run upstairs and grab the ring. The next five minutes were a blur. I got Jess to stand up to tinker with the light, then slid over to her on one knee, and pulled out the ring. I’m still not sure if she actually said yes or not, but I knew what she meant.

Following the engagement, we had a series of celebrations. First champagne, then dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Dallas (Stampede 66), then went to Austin for the weekend, and then to Switzerland a few weeks later. Since then the celebrations haven’t stopped, and we’re most excited to get our friends and family all together in Malibu for a really special night of craft beer, cocktails, dinner, dancing, and a cotton candy machine.