Please RVSP to our new date by June 4, 2021

I pretty much knew I wanted to marry Melody after the first day we spent together back in June of 2017. But I figured the responsible thing to do was to hold off and not propose right then and there. So fast forward to April 2019, when I seriously decide to start pursuing a ring, assisted by the knowledge of my mother because I had no idea what I was doing. The very first day I was out looking I run into one of mine and Melody’s great friends, Staci Rainwater. Imagine my shock and horror seeing one of Mel’s best friends while I'm out shopping for a ring. A true woman of integrity, she kept our secret and pointed me in the right direction while providing inside information. I decided to plan a trip to Los Olivos to propose to Melody, specifically a winery called Bridlewood. I spent weeks researching the perfect spot to propose, calling ahead, reading yelp reviews, zooming in as close as possible on Google Maps to determine the best location. It was worth it. Planning done, it was now time to execute. I had a game plan, lines that I had rehearsed written and rehearsed, and a timeline I wanted to stick to. It all went out the window. We were feeding some horses right before I was to propose and Melody was breaking each slice of apple into 3 mini slices to savor that moment. I'm sweating in anxious anticipation and just hand the whole plate of apples to the horses to expedite the process, which saddened Melody. I walk her over to the most picture perfect bridge, murmur a few lines about how much I love her (nothing close to the lines I rehearsed), get down on one knee, and ask her to spend the rest of her life with me. Melody and I look back on this story regularly and what’s so shocking is how I actually pulled it off. I am the worlds worst liar, and keeping this from her for roughly 6 months was extremely difficult. Luckily that’s the last time I have to do that and I can relive it whenever I want, thanks to the photographs that captured the moment she said “Yes”.

Every year, I get a “Fall Break” and it’s the perfect opportunity to go on a trip mid week. We decided on Los Olivos, a quiet, quaint, small town to unplug and just relax. Normally, I like to research and plan things to do and create some sort of agenda but this time we were given great recommendations from friends who regularly visit Los Olivos. Brandon planned out what we were going to do our first day. I was excited because he planned something but really didn’t think much else about it. I trusted him and was ready to just go with the flow. As the days approached, he told me about a winery tour he scheduled for our first day. We arrive at the gates of Bridlewood Estate Winery. We talk to the sommelier and learn a bit about their wines. They tell us we can explore the estate which includes hill top views, a lake, picnic tables surrounding the property, and horses. It was that moment I knew why Brandon brought me here: the horses! They brought us some cut up apples to feed the horses. We head down to the horse pen and I started to feed the horses, slowly. Breaking pieces of apple to last longer and enjoy the moment. Brandon, decides to grab the entire plate and just give it to them. I was a little upset that he cut our feeding time so short but I wasn’t going to let that bring my mood down. So, I brushed it off as we headed to the lake. We approached a bridge in the middle of the lake. He asked me to stop so he could tell me something. He began sharing his thoughts over the past few years and I kept reaffirming that my feelings were the same, aka interrupting him. Eventually he asked me to stop interrupting so he could talk. Then, he went down on one knee. I was confused and shocked I couldn’t process what was really happening. Luckily, Brandon had a photographer there to capture the moment. The winery had a picnic table set up with a picnic basket, wine, charcuterie and a personalized note. It was nothing short of perfect. Simple. Intimate. Us.