We're Getting Married!!

I (Bridget) had known Derek’s dad and step mom for about a year prior to meeting Derek. My mom hung out with them and always talked about how cool of a family it would be to marry into. That’s when the scheming between the parents started! Bill and Tina planned a birthday party for Derek at Last Call, a little hole in the wall bar where we all frequented. I changed my outfit 3 times that evening before showing up. We met and Derek called me Brooke (running joke). His sister, Bailey, basically knew my whole life story before we ever talked, so the pressure was on. I used his birthday the next day as an excuse to message him and asked if we would be seeing each other again. A few days later he planned our first date and the rest is history!

The evening prior to the proposal, Derek took me back to our first date spot, and I got dressed to the nines in preparation. We hadn’t been back there since our first date, so I assumed the question was going to get popped. Well, end of dinner came and went and no ring. False alarm. Derek asked me what I wanted to do on Sunday and I chose pottery painting. He chose a bowl and I chose a picture frame. I asked him if he’d be offended if I used his last name to put at the top of my frame because both our first names were too long & I was hoping to share his one day anyways. He said “yeah and if you’re good, it’ll happen”. We continue painting away and he says he’s done with his and asked if I’d like to see the inside. I was completely caught off guard when he flipped it around and the bottom of the bowl said “Will you marry me?” With boxes to check next to the words “yes” and “no”, and a gorgeous Ariel Inspired Disney engagement ring laid there in the bottom. I just sat there stunned and stuck my hand out for him to put the ring on and he said I had to answer first. Of course I drew a big heart in the YES box! We're so excited to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with you.