The Ultimate DTR

Early December

Colby: "What kind of rings do you like?"

Shannon: "Ummm, that is a good question. I like unique rings. I don't really like diamonds."

Colby: "Me either, such a waste of money. What do you mean by unique?"

Shannon: "Nature-y? Or just vintage looking."

Colby: (Google searches vintage nature engagement rings.) "All diamonds, what stone do you want then?"

Shannon: "Opal!"

Colby: "What is that?"

Mid December

One of the most nerve-racking moments of my life was going to see what size ring Shannon would need. We went to a local jeweler on St. George Boulevard. When we pulled up I was honestly shaking, thinking, "Wow, I am really going to be engaged soon." And I know nothing about rings or anything that has to do with weddings. I was seriously so nervous and Shannon thought it was hilarious. We walked into the jewelry store and I instantly saw basketball playing on both of the large televisions. Clearly the jewelry store knew who its target audience was. Shannon tries on a few rings and we learned that she is a size 6. We inquire about opals and the jeweler almost scoffs at the idea of that  on an engagement ring.

Late December 

Do you know how many people get engaged on christmas or around it?

My family was all over me about proposing to Shannon. They all wanted me to do it sometime around then. I hated the idea of doing it then because it felt so cliché, and Shannon and I are anything but that. By this time I had been looking into rings for weeks and could not find one that I knew Shannon would love. After many attempts I finally found the perfect ring. I read 50 reviews and decided to take a risk and order a handmade ring from an artsy website (Etsy) and pray that the online store owner didn't mess it up.

Mid January

It was a challenge trying to plan something that would fit what I wanted in a proposal. I wanted it to be intimate but I also wanted it to be sort of a surprise. Honestly, I am pretty terrible at surprises. After a huge text message with my siblings and some friends I decide on dinner in my backyard with some surprises in between.

The Plan:

Step 1: Go on a hike with my good friends Gab and Bri. Take her to the highest point... and fake propose. 

Step 2: Hide the dinner decorations and lights from Shannon so as not to spoil the surprise. 

Step 3: Make her a fancy dinner while also trying to hide the fact that I was making a dinner. 

Step 4: Propose then cry like the baby I truly am. 

Step 5: Become engaged.

January 22nd

The ring had yet to be delivered.  After many emails and calls I arranged the ring to be overnighted to me so that it could get there the day of my proposal.  Making a custom ring seems cool on paper but if you run a tight schedule it could potentially become problematic.

January 24th

(The Big Day)

The ring showed up that morning. Trust me when I say I have never followed a UPS tracking order online more religiously. I felt like Scott Pilgrim waiting for his package to arrive at the door. It came and when I opened the ring and saw it for the first time, I loved it so much!  I honestly couldn't care less about jewelry but I really thought this ring was so much like Shannon. I just enjoyed that was the first thing I thought when I saw the ring: basically it was rad. I was officially pumped to get engaged. Up to that point I had felt anxious about wanting it to all work out well. I wanted it to be perfect, and seeing that the ring turned out to be perfect, I knew that I could just relax and get pumped about proposing.

Shannon showed up right on time so that we could go hiking. Gab and Bri showed up a few minutes later. I kept ushering Shannon into my room so that she would not wander around the house and look into the backyard and see the surprise that my friends had help me set up the day before. Right before we went to leave Shannon said she had to go to the bathroom really quick and ran off to use the guest bathroom which is near the pool! I was so nervous that she would see everything I practically camped outside the bathroom waiting for her to get done to usher her away from possible disaster.

On our hike in Snow Canyon the sky was really cloudy and I was happy that I had gone with the plan to propose at home and not on the hike. Mid way through the hike I asked Shannon if she wanted to go up to another look out and I could tell she really did not want to. But anything for a good joke right? So i convinced her to climb and when we got to the top, I got down on one knee and Shannon made this shocked face and covered her mouth. She said, "Really?" All I said was, "No, not here," and started to laugh. She almost pushed me off the edge if i remember correctly.

After the hike Shannon knew something was up. I told her to shower and that we would go to dinner with our friends after. When she got into the shower I ran into the kitchen to help finish the dinner that my Mom and Dad had been working on.  I then hurried and showered and began to get nervous. I went and got Shannon and told her that I needed to blindfold her to take her across town. I did so and took her the long way to the backyard where a table was set up surrounded by candles. Christmas lights were draped over the table from the roof. I took the blindfold off, brought her to the center, and got on my knee.  To be honest, I didn't prepare a speech and I hadn't practiced the words I would say.  I wanted it to come when the moment was there.  I got on my knee and said, "Shannon, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love you. I love you so much! Will you marry me?" She blurted out a yes and we were engaged! The ring fit perfectly and she loved it. The strange thing was, I didn't cry. I was just beyond happy and excited as I am today. I cannot wait to be married. And everyday I feel more lucky than the last that this is all happening.