We're getting Married!

Zack planted the idea of wanting to take me away for a weekend trip to a surprise destination. I asked him to give me a hint so I’d know what to pack and how far away it was going to be. He told me it would be within a couple of hours’ drive from home and to bring a bathing suit. I was thinking this might be the weekend he was going to propose, because we had gone ring shopping a couple of months before. Our car trip began that Friday evening, and before we knew it, we were at the Salish Lodge & Spa overlooking Snoqualmie Falls! After we checked in, Zack told me we had dinner reservations and that we should start getting ready. He knew I didn’t want to be proposed to in a public setting, so when I saw him start to get all dressed up, I was so confused. I told him I appreciated that he was putting in the effort to dress up, but I didn’t bring anything that fancy! Since he said it was just going to be dinner at the hotel, I decided not to bring my phone. I thought it would be nice to spend the evening unplugged, away from it all. We went downstairs and checked in for our reservation. The hostess at the restaurant said we were a bit early and didn’t have a spot ready for us yet. The hotel was under some construction, so she offered for us to wait out on a balcony instead of in the lobby area. I thought to myself, "That’s very kind of her to offer, but not necessary!" Zack seemed excited to check it out, so I went along with it. The hostess led us up a flight of stairs into a beautiful A-frame room with a big private balcony overlooking the waterfalls. I walked out to this amazing view of the falls rushing down right below. Zack was behind me, so I looked back and asked what he was doing. He said, “Nothing! Enjoy the view!” as he was closing the balcony doors so it was just us in the space. He came around and got down on one knee. I instantly got chills and teary-eyed. It was the perfect private moment in time. He opened the ring box, and it had a light shining on the diamond. I thought to myself, "OMG, it’s so shiny! That hostess lady was in on this! Ahh, I can’t believe this is really happening!" — all while Zack was speaking the sweetest words to me. It really was a surprise, and it meant so much that it was just the two of us there. After I said “YES!” I told him I wished I had brought my phone to capture the moment. He had thankfully brought his, and the selfies we captured are some of my favorites to this day. The hotel staff had champagne and desserts ready for us at the dinner table after he proposed. They were so sweet, offering congratulations anytime they saw us throughout the weekend. I appreciated more and more, as the weekend went on, that he proposed on Friday. It allowed two wonderful days of just the two of us to take in all of the excitement.

As you all know, this was a surprise from the very beginning. I actually bought the ring the day after we went shopping for it—it was just a matter of finding the right time and place. Salish Lodge seemed like the perfect spot for a romantic proposal. I called ahead and told them my intentions, and the staff was not only welcoming but genuinely excited to help me out. They gave me a few ideas for locations and timing, but I ultimately decided on a private balcony overlooking the falls before dinner. When we arrived on Friday, I had dinner reservations set up. While we were getting ready, I tried my best to hide the ring box in my pocket, but it was big and awkward (insert innuendo here). Thankfully, she wasn’t expecting a proposal then and didn’t notice. When we went to check in for dinner, we were a bit early, and the hostess asked if we wanted to see a balcony with a view of the falls. Kathleen said, “No, that’s okay, we can wait,” and I practically shouted, “NO, LET’S GO SEE THIS—I’M CURIOUS!” So off we went. Once we stepped out, we shared a quiet moment together, looking out over the falls. I knew immediately that it was the perfect opportunity. I took a step behind her and started fumbling with my phone to play some Vance Joy, since we both love his music. But she turned around too quickly, and before I could hit play, I knew the jig was up. So I spoke from the heart, dropped to one knee, and popped the question. She responded with the greatest “YES” I’ve ever heard. That weekend turned out to be one of the most romantic and happiest of my life. I’ll always be grateful I was able to surprise her—and even more grateful to begin this next chapter of life together with her.