proposal story

It's funny how many little "anniversaries" you have before your REAL anniversaries start kicking in. Anniversary of your first date, anniversary of your first kiss, anniversary of the proposal, then every month of your first year married. (Ryan's a pro- he knows every one!)  So silly, I know, but sometimes you just can't help it.  Let us have our year of being crazy-in-love-newlyweds, will you?

Humor me in our latest milestone- one year ago today, Ryan popped the question. 

It's been fun to go back through my journal and relive all the details and feel the excitement all over again.  Here's the story...

So, I knew it was coming.  We had been going ring shopping, and I was even THERE when he bought the ring when we were in Boise for Thanksgiving.  Ha, I don’t think we really meant for it to happen that way, but as everyone always says, once you KNOW, it’s not really about the surprise anymore…you just want that ring!

Even though it wasn’t exactly a “surprise” anymore, he sure kept me on my toes those next 3 weeks waiting for it! The suspense was almost worse knowing it was coming. I knew he had the ring, I knew he had talked to my dad—but when was it gonna happen?! Talk about torture! Of course Ryan was LOVING it, and drew it out as long as he possibly could.

The MEGA-tease started about 7 days before he really proposed.  Every night he had some big, elaborate date planned.  ALL my favorite things—he nailed it every single night. Malawi’s mac & cheese, Rocky Mountain Chocolate apples, Riverwoods Christmas lights, Chipotle, Temple Square, a carriage ride through the Christmas lights at Thanksgiving Point...HELLO! Every night was set up to be the perfect proposal—any one of those things would have been just fine. Looking back, it was the BEST week ever—it’s a shame I could hardly even enjoy it! Wearing all my cutest outfits, painting my nails every day, preparing the perfect “reaction”—goodness, I was a wreck.

After all the fake-out dates, came Tuesday.  The BUSIEST day of my life.  All 3 of my finals were on Wednesday, so naturally, the day before I was beyond stressed.  We had plans to go up to Bryce's house in Draper that night with all our friends for a Christmas party, but unfortunately, it was on that dreaded Tuesday night.  I crammed ALL DAY so I'd be able to go, but when it really came down to it, there just weren't enough hours in the day and I was completely overwhelmed.  I had to bail. This is coming from the girl who NEVER backs out of social plans—especially for homework... NEVER. Since this was a first for me, I thought for sure Ryan would understand and let me off the hook, but he really pushed it! Not in a way that would make me suspicious at all, but kind of guilted me into going since we'd had these plans for a long time and everyone was expecting us to be there.  He promised we'd just make a quick appearance, so, what the heck, I just went. We got up there, hung out, had a cute little hot chocolate bar, played games, had a great time.  

Then Ryan wanted to take me to see the Draper Temple! He had mentioned a few days earlier that he wanted to go look at the Christmas lights at the temple while we were up there at Bryce’s, so I didn’t think anything of it. Besides, “temple grounds” were one of my only requirements of where not to propose, so there was no suspicion.   Bryce’s house is right in the neighborhood of the temple, so Ryan wrapped me up in a blanket and we started walking.  He took me on a back pathway behind the house and said it was a “short cut.” Lucky for Ryan, I’m completely directionally challenged, so when we started walking the complete opposite direction of the temple, I hardly noticed.  It was super cold and extremely windy, but Ryan was just being so adorable, I just ate it up and let it happen! After we had been walking about 15 minutes, trudging through the snow in the freezing cold, and were no where near the temple…I started to catch on…which was luckily right around the time we arrived at our destination.  We turned a corner and kind of came up over a snowy hill, and….there it was!  The snow was covered in candles and roses.  After gigging and squinting and smiling uncontrollably, Ryan took me into the middle of it all, told me the sweetest things he’s ever said, got down on one knee, and asked me to marry him! I only wish I could remember all the details… It was cold, and windy, and I wasn’t even dressed cute (dang it! After all those fake-out nights!), but I’ll never forget how happy I was. After we had our moment, all our friends ran out from the woods and started celebrating with us. It was the perfect set up…just “us” for the proposal, but all our friends close by ready to attack us with hugs and tears and tons of pictures.  We spent the rest of the night making phone calls, gushing about plans, and toasting with sparkling cider.  Wouldn't have had it any other way. 

Don't even ASK how all those finals went the next day...like I'd ever be able to contain my excitement and actually focus...but who cares! I was engaged! We were married on April 27th, and I still couldn't feel luckier to have such an incredible guy ask me to be his :) 

marcie's wedding

My best friend is MARRIED!  Talk about the happiest, happiest day :)

Here's a little background on Marcie and I... We've been friends for over 18 years. 

Friendships like that don't come around everyday.  

We rode the bus home together in elementary school for playdates, had lemonade stands, rode our "first airplane all by ourselves" together, and ate a bowl of ice cream almost everyday after school before dance team practice. We love Potbelly's sandwiches, lifesaver gummies, Bagel Cafe breakfast sandwiches, and went through obsessive phases of Zac Efron and The Jonas Brothers.  

We bawled our eyes out together all night long the night before she moved. 

From dance recitals, Halloweens and Achievement Days skits...

...to countless sleepovers and photo shoots...

...to girls camps, proms, homecomings, dance team, concerts, boyfriends, vacations, cell phone curfews and zillions of other high school happenings.... 

...to our WEDDINGS.

Talk about a lifetime of memories.  

It was so fun to get away for the weekend and road trip down to St. George to celebrate this girl's special day.  In the sealing room, after filing in towards the back, Marcie's mom stood up and said, "Lisa! Get up to the front! You're family."  I was so touched.  She was right; to say we're best friends just doesn't cut it.

I remember when I was engaged, Marcie told me that my wedding would be "the second best day of her life," only after her own wedding.  Having experienced both now, you were right Marcie-- experiencing the joy and happiness of my best friend's wedding has absolutely qualified as the second best day of my life.  

I love you, Marce! Couldn't be more thrilled for you :)

six months

Well, we made it half-a-year! Six months ago today, I married my best friend.  I still can't get over how lucky I am to spend forever with a person as incredible as Ryan. To commemorate this little "milestone" of ours, here's a little tribute to the happiest day of our lives :) Enjoy!

Temple Film:
https://vimeo.com/75603188

Reception Film:
https://vimeo.com/77549314

(The password is "2" on both.)

virginia reception

Our Virginia Reception at the beautiful Lightfoot Restaurant in Historic Downtown Leesburg. 

It was elegant and lovely and the food was to die for. I'm so glad we were able to celebrate with all my Virginia favorites, and it was so fun to be a bride all over again! Here are a few pictures from our Wedding Day, Part 2. Enjoy!

all paying off

As if the wedding wasn't perfect enough, we hopped on a plane the next day for Cancun. Hot sun, cool breeze, white sand beaches, and the warmest, clear blue water I've ever seen.  The whole time I just kept asking myself, is this really happening? Am I really this happy? 

The weeks leading up to the wedding were an absolute whirlwind... Projects, papers, tests and final wedding preparations, all on top of my already crazy schedule of work, school and dance.  The final week before the wedding just about killed me. I knew it would be crazy, but WOW, did it blow me away.  In one week, I took 3 finals, graduated, moved out of my apartment, and threw a killer wedding.  

I still don't know how I survived, but it sure paid off! Now I'm DONE with school forever, MARRIED to the man of my dreams, had the time of my life in Cancun, and now just living the dream. Worth every sleepless night and every ounce of stress. I'm still just waiting to wake up because this is all WAY too good to be true. I am one HAPPY girl. 

just married!

Well, I've successfully just had the best day of my life, and I don't think anything could possibly ever top it.  It was just married to my best friend for time and all eternity, and had the absolute dream wedding to celebrate it.  A day I'd dreamt of my entire life turned out to be about a thousand times better than I ever could have imagined it.  I've never, ever, ever been happier. 

The night before, Andrea threw me an amazing bachelorette party. All the bridesmaids and I stayed overnight at a hotel in Salt Lake and it was a blast!  What better way to spend my last night as a single woman than having a sleepover with all my best friends? Sipping on Shirley Temples, taking photo shoots in bathrobes and bridesmaid sashes, giggling and reminiscing all night long. It was the best. 

The next morning we had all the time in the world to get up and get ready. With a 1:40 sealing, we could sleep in, eat breakfast, and leisurely get ready together. It was awesome. My hair stylist came to our hotel room and did my hair while I did my makeup and sipped on a jamba. Straight spoiled. It was the perfect, stress-free morning. 

After we all got ready, the girls sent me off with my handsome husband-to-be...and we drove off to go get married :)

As if I haven't said it enough, everything was flawless. The temple was perfect. I loved sitting in the celestial room together before we were sealed.  It was beyond gorgeous, and I loved the quiet time we had together before our day got crazy with festivities. The sealing was awesome.  Our sealer was incredible and all our friends and family were there.  It was pure bliss to feel of their love as we were all gathered together in the temple.  I've never been filled with more peace and joy in my entire life.

Next, was the luncheon! It was awesome. In addition to our parents' sweet messages and tributes, the TALK of the day was the little presentation by the nieces and nephews! Stacy and Amy put together this adorable little video of "marriage advice" for Ryan and I, and oh. my. gosh. it was HILARIOUS!  We were all dying, it was so darling. 

Finally, it was reception time! I loved finally having all the bridal party in their matching outfits with bouquets and boutonnières and taking all those pictures- such a fun part of a wedding. I loved the anticipation of getting the reception all ready, but once it started, it was even better! Everything ran perfectly smoothly. From the receiving line, to cutting the cake, to the dancing, to the bouquet toss off the balcony, to the sparkler send off- everything was PERFECT.

As if I hadn't been planning my wedding for years, it turned out even better than I could have imagined... More than anything, because of the guy standing next to me. He is truly the most incredible person I've ever met, and I couldn't feel more honored to be his wife. I am so in love and so grateful for all the happiness and joy Ive been blessed with in my life. Now onto life as the new Mr. and Mrs. Bench!