On a Saturday at the end of August, Bryan planned a thoughtful surprise date for me. I love the beach, I love to be outside, and I love the city of Chicago. We spent the morning at North Avenue Beach relaxing, reading, and swimming. Then we went back to my apartment to get cleaned up and ready—Bryan only told me that he had dinner reservations for us at 7:30. (I was wondering if he was planning to propose that day, but doubted it because proposing at a restaurant didn’t seem like his style!) After we both showered and changed, he took me to Promontory Point, which is our favorite park along the lakeshore. We had a picnic with a beautiful view of the city from the south shore. There was even a wedding happening at the park, and I loved getting to see the bride in her dress! Next, we went to the Garden of the Pheonix, which is a beautiful botanical garden in the city. When we arrived at the garden, Bryan parked in the parking lot. There were Pay to Park signs in the parking lot, and I asked Bryan why he wasn’t paying for parking. He told me that we wouldn’t be here for very long. I teased him that his car would get towed again (on our first date, his car got towed and we had to Uber to pick it up from the impound!) We walked around the beautiful garden until it was time to go to dinner. When we came out, we were looking in the parking lot for his car and we couldn’t find it. I couldn’t believe it, but it really had gotten towed! Bryan started using his phone to call an Uber to take us to the impound to get it. I was so shocked and was making fun of him relentlessly because I couldn’t believe I was right and his car really did get towed! (I also felt so bad for him because if he was planning to propose tonight he was probably freaking out!!!)

The Uber came and we started to drive to the impound, but I was geniunely so confused when it turned into the parking lot of the South Shore Cultural Center. I asked Bryan, “Why are we here? I thought we were coming to get your car.” And Bryan said, “We are getting my car.” The Uber dropped us off by the beach and I asked Bryan, “Do you promise your car got towed?” He grabbed my hand, looked in my eyes, and said “I promise I love you.” And I totally began sobbing. We walked past the beach, both of us crying until we reached the trees. I could see some lights in the trees and as we got closer there was a path of rose petals leading up to a fire pit along the lakeshore. Bryan’s sister has set up picture frames with memories from our relationship along with flowers all around the fire pit. It was so beautiful and so romantic. He sat down with me and read to me from a black journal. I never knew it, but he had been journaling throughout our relationship and underlined moments and memories he wanted to share with me today. He got down on one knee after he read from the last page, dated with today’s date. He asked me to marry him and I was so overwhelmed, I almost forgot I had to say yes! Our parents and Hannah all came out from where they were hiding to congratulate us! (Come to find, his mom had moved his car to trick me into thinking it was towed!) Our dinner reservation was at the Signature Room on the 95th floor of the Hancock Building with the most amazing view of the lights on the skyscrapers and fireworks from Navy Pier! The whole day was so beautiful and I felt so so loved.