We’re getting married!

I know I know, it’s about time we got engaged! The long awaited proposal. I was given one requirement, “when you propose, capture the moment on camera”. She knew it was coming the moment I suggested to go to Maui, she knows everything, so my cover was blown from the start. I’m not ‘outside’ much so me suggesting to go on vacation? Dead give-away. How was I going to find the a place to propose on an island I’ve never been to before, capture it on camera, and still surprise her? I’m not a photographer of any sort so that was my first task at hand, find a photographer. I literally googled “Maui Photographer” and found a bunch of them who specialized in proposals so Step 1 , complete. Step 2, When and Where. I couldn’t even picture the perfect place to propose. Mind you, Danika did tell me that I could propose in a parking-lot, probably because I took so long.. But anyway, I would tell myself that I was going to propose when I felt the moment was perfect and although that sounded beautiful in my head, I hired a photographer so spontaneous wasn’t going to cut it. So the search begins, “Best Viewpoints in Maui”, way too many options. “Hidden Beaches in Maui”, way too many options. Our photographer suggested a place called “Maui’s Garden of Eden” and I was sold. I was given a date and time to go to the garden so Step 2, complete. Final task, Propose with hopefully some surprise. I’m not much of a planner so I knew I had to make a plan without making a plan to not raise any suspicion (I failed). We had a pretty loose itinerary to begin with for our vacation festivities so it wasn’t too hard fitting in the time slot for my surprise proposal plan but what we weren’t prepared for was the weather. Just my luck, the weather for the day we originally planned the proposal, rain. Luckily,our photographer was a step ahead and rescheduled for the 26th. I used the weather as an excuse to push our garden day and it worked (I think). So now the day has come, the BIG day, surprise time! Gave the surprise away immediately that morning. Every day Danika would ask me if we needed to dress nice or comfy, which I would reply comfy since I always wear the same thing, black shirt, black pants, and vans. This day, I said we dress nice. I had a really nice shirt hanging in the closet that I was saving for the proposal and when I put it on, she knew immediately. All she did was look at me and I smiled. My smile gave it all up.She was jumping, skipping, blushing, I’m sure she was screaming in her head and all I could do was smile knowing that my plan, my efforts, my surprise, all failed because of this one shirt. Too late now! Now we have to get to the garden in time for our proposal/engagement surprise photo shoot. I was instructed to be at the garden right when the gates open for the most secluded experience as well as the best weather, and to park at the very top of the garden where our photographer would be hiding. We rush through the ‘Road to Hana’ and arrive at the entrance to the garden. I knew where we had to be for the surprise, so my mind was set on the mission. We’re driving through the garden, we spot a restroom which means, potty break for my queen. I impatiently wait for her as she decides to take in the view which led me to giving away my surprise yet again. I rushed her and kept telling her that the view would be way better at the top growing her suspicions. I rushed very top of the garden and found the perfect spot with the most beautiful view of the ocean. Danika’s looking off into the sea, I spot our photographer with a thumbs up, got down on one knee, and froze. I planned to spill my heart out and I choked bad, all I could say was, “Stink” (our nicknames). She turned around and BOOM! Jumping, screaming, tears, all of it. Mission… SUCCESS! Although it wasn’t the surprise I thought I planned, she said yes and that’s all that matters to me! Thank god I won’t ever have to plan a proposal again, but I do have to get better at surprises.