Planning the proposal was difficult for me. I went about it all wrong in the beginning. I wanted to do something so over-the-top, but later learned it would be the personal way that would truly be a memorable event for her. She's not from where we live now and I planned to have her parents come up. I was going to rent out the the top suite at this very nice hotel and decorate it with all the glory of a Queen's Estate. Her best friend and my co-worker suggested I do something more personal that made her the center focus. I felt so bad that I had planned so selfishly. My idea of a proposal was the flashy way, but the event is about her, so i changed my style. I reached out to her parents and asked them to bring up things from her past that held sentimental value. I met them the day before and checked them into a hotel. Saturday morning, I set up everyting on the dining room table. As she came down the steps, she noticed the things and only thought I was doing something sweet for her. I told her I received the items in the mail. As she turned around though, I got to one knee to ask her to marry me. She couldn't really answer through the sobs. It was truly the reaction I was looking for. Later, she tried to call her parents, but they didn't answer. As she hung up the phone and turned around, she was shocked to see her parents walking up the steps. Her reaction brought me to tears. It was truly a great moment. My advice to anyone planning an engagement would be to do something simple that she can remember. Make her the center of attention by doing something that relates to her. You will truly give her an event she will remember forever. Plus, I got it all on film so she'd never forget!
