If you’ve been following us on Instagram, then you know that I got engaged recently! Even though I thought I would know it was coming, I was totally surprised and kind of in shock after it happened. So, if sappy stuff isn’t for you then keep scrolling because this is the story of our Torch Lake engagement:
The Background
Zac and I have been together for over four years and have lived together for a year. We had discussed marriage very early on in our relationship because both of us had a feeling that we had found our person. Because I was only 23 when we started dating, I made it very clear that I was in NO rush to move in together or get married. I wanted to experience my 20s, not just a relationship in my 20s. Plus, when we first got together, I was living with my mom and working three part-time jobs. I had a lot of growing up to do.
Zac wanted us to live together before getting engaged, an idea I agreed with, so after three years of dating, I moved in. From then on we talked about engagement and marriage more seriously, not just in the abstract. Zac was adamant about keeping the proposal and everything about it a surprise. He did allow me one concession and we went ring shopping together once about a year ago. Other than that, I was to know NOTHING about the proposal.
The Proposal
For 23 years, my family has spent a week during the summer at Torch Lake in northern Michigan. Torch is my happy place; it’s where I get to be with my whole family together and spend my days on the water. Zac knows how much Torch means to me and I had a feeling he would propose there (plus we talked about it while drunk one time. Whoops!). Even though I was anticipating a proposal that week, I was still totally shocked.
After our long drive up north, we were all excited to finally get to Torch. Zac, my mom, my sister, my uncle, his girlfriend, and I all caravanned up together and were the first ones to arrive. Our first order of business was to go down to the water to say hello to the lake.
We got to the dock and Zac told me to go stand at the very edge and look out at the water because he “wanted a picture of me and the lake.” I thought that was stupid but I did it anyway. He then told me to turn around, and there he was, down on one knee. It all happened so fast! I was in complete disbelief.
He said some sweet things about our relationship and then asked me to marry him! I (obviously) said yes, and we hugged and kissed and cried a little bit. We turned to my family and were celebrating with them when surprise number two for the day arrived: Zac had gotten Michelle and my friend Alisa to make the drive up north to celebrate with us! I was so, so surprised.
From there we started popping champagne and filling in the rest of my family as they arrived. I was so excited to be able to celebrate our engagement in my favorite place with my family and two of my closest friends around me.
TBH, I didn’t even look at the ring until after I’d said yes (that’s how you know it’s true love, guys). Zac spent SO much time custom designing the ring and I absolutely love it. Part of it is that I just like the design he chose, but mostly I like how much time and care he put into creating the engagement ring.
Here it is in its natural habitat, with cheesy bread:
So, that’s how we got engaged! I’m so excited to plan an awesome party to celebrate our relationship and even more excited to be married to this goofball.
While we certainly never intended for this to become a wedding blog, I have a feeling some of the prep will be sneaking its way onto our content calendar. Now, who wants to help me pick a venue?
