I can't see the ring!

Full disclosure: I was that girl. You know, that girl whom, after a number of years of dating/cohabitating, becomes a dreadful nag about engagement. To be clear: I wasn't the girl who cared about what "people" would think if we didn't, or about Holy Ceremony, or even about the diamond. I was the girl who wanted to throw a terrific party to celebrate her overflowing love for the boy. But, I was a terrible nag... I admit.

A month or two before our 5 year anniversary, Hunter gently informed me that he would not be proposing on our anniversary, because he wanted me to enjoy it without expectation or disappointment. It was fair of him, and I was glad to have the pressure taken off. We decided to each take a weekend and plan something special for the other, as our gifts. He had the first weekend, which was that of our actual anniversary.

The Friday morning of that weekend, he laid out clothes for me to wear and woke me at 6am. I had to be at work at 10:30 but he assured me I wouldn't be late. I figured, based on the outfit and time, that we were going on an early hike. Then, as we got onto the highway, he had me pull out the directions from the glovebox, where I found a AAA travel guide for Baja, Mexico!

Clearly in early morning shock.

He completely surprised me with a trip to San Felipe, on the eastern coast of Baja, along the sea of Cortez. He thought of everything, from packing everything I might need (and more) to making sure I got a manicure and pedicure that week before we left, from lining up a fur-babysitter to getting Friday and Monday off from my bosses. I swear, he's never been so organized. :P

San Felipe was such a beautiful, remote and peaceful place. Our hotel only had 3 rooms, and our room overlooked the pool which overlooked the sea and mountains. It was a block from the beach, and a lazy 2 mile stroll into town. Barely anyone spoke English, so we got to learn a lot of Spanish - everything from ordering more margaritas to bartering for mexican wares in the shopping bazaar district. The food was amazing, as were the friendly folks that live there. We drank, dined and danced the nights away under a sky full of stars on the gorgeous sea.

Bliss.

Saturday night, the 6th, Hunter took me to a secluded beach just before midnight, with the bottle of wine he had arranged to have in our room upon arrival. They almost didn’t let us on the beach, as it was closed, but in that moment, I magically knew enough spanish to say “Today is our 5 year anniversary. We would like to go to the beach and look at the stars. Its romantic” - Amazingly, it worked! No one was around for miles and miles.... it was pitch black. Just us, the sky, the sand, and the sound of the waves. We sat and watched the stars, listened to the crashing surf, and reflected back on the last 4 years. Then Hunter said, “At midnight, let’s stand up so we can give each other a biiiig hug!” So, at 12:00am it became Sunday, our official anniversary, and at that moment, in between kisses, with the sweetest words ever, he got down on his knee and proposed! It was utterly magical, but all I could say between tears was, "I can't see the ring!" because it was so dark out, which is too funny because he could have easily given me a lifesaver and I would have said yes! He produced the flashlight, made the bling sing, and I sang too.

Mere moments after it happened...

He designed the ring himself, with a local Los Angeles jeweler (more on that later), and its so beautiful! The whole thing was just a fairy tale. Coming home on Monday was bittersweet - as hard as it was to bid Adios to our romantic vacation, we were thrilled to get to come home and share the news with all of our loved ones! Pretty dreamy, eh?

As it happens, he had been planning the trip since February! Poor guy, having to put up with my engagement harassment, all the while having this in his back pocket!

So, there you have it! The proposal that won us a free e-photo session, and my heart of course! I can’t wait to get into details, so stay tuned…..

until then….I leave you with a photo Hunter took of our doggie, Paco, as he helped pack my suitcase the day before we left.

He clearly wanted to come, too :)