Proposal in the Moonlight

[Marisa]

I'm reposting the original 2 posts:

THE PROPOSAL

Marisa's Version

I don't even know where to start. Let's see...

AIDAN PROPOSED ON AUGUST 19, 2005, AROUND 9.45 PM ON CORAL BEACH – ON THE BEACH, IN THE MOONLIGHT

That was a mouthful! And you know what -- I was speechless! Okay, I had better give the setting of the evening, etc. as I gaze at this beautiful ring.

We had a romantic dinner at Coral Beach. I actually teased him about why we need to dress up while he put on his tie and jacket in the parking lot. We entered the building, which was so beautiful with the flowers outside, the hardwood floors inside, and the parrot saying ‘hello’. We walked down the stairs into a lovely restaurant -- there was a single candle set in silver candlesticks on each table and beautiful summer flowers. We sat looking over the water -- which became even more beautiful as the full moon sparkled and spilled over the ocean. We ordered a South African red wine and enjoy a delicious four course meal. Conversation varied and included the quest for this year's charm (the comedy and tragedy masks).

After dinner we went to look for the path to the beach. We got “lost” a few times so I was of the mind to not worry about it and to go back to the car and go home. Still, Aidan was persistent, and we walked all over the place. Finally we found the stairs to the beach and stood on a balcony above the beach and the moon sparkling over the ocean. Then he started talking about the 1,461 days that we had been together. I was impressed (as I would be) that he had calculated the exact number of days. He then led me down to the beach. I took off my shoes, but he didn't, which I found somewhat weird. We began walking along Coral Beach. I was commenting on how amazing the moon, the water, the sand and beach were. We would stop every so often and kiss-- and got irritated at the number of people walking along the beach and the kids playing with the beach chairs. We continued down the beach, and at some point he stopped and started talking about the 1,461 days again. I found it odd, but then he continued on talking about having another present (other than the year four charm). I can still remember how clearly he said “WILL YOU MARRY ME?”. I was stunned! My mouth fell open. I was so surprised. I could not say a word. I began to cry, and he hugged me close to him. Somehow, I squeaked out a “YES” and I felt him slide the ring on my finger. I was crying a lot by then. My legs felt weak. I was so happy! I wanted to explode. He was smiling so much and I thought how great he looked in the moonlight.

He walked me over to a beach chair because I was close to collapse. I was still having trouble putting together a coherent sentence. He started telling me the stories -- abour talking with Veronica for ideas, about talking with my mom yesterday about the best way to ask my dad, and about asking my father last night. He told me about designing the ring, loading the specifications into AutoCAD, and putting together a model that he put on his pinky finger to see what it looked like when I would look through it and down upon it. He told me about his week of having to ring in his top draw in his room and his stressful morning where he had to find a way to calm himself down between 4 a.m. in 10 a.m. I was calmer, still crying off and on, but oh so happy! I didn't want to leave the beach when it became time to do so.

The ring has a three stone setting. The middle stone is a princess cut diamond, .74 carats, clarity of VS1, and colour E. the side stones are amazing sapphires that weigh about half a carat all together. The three stones are set in platinum and the prongs look like a crown to me. It is definitely my personality, his personality, and our sensibilities represented in this ring. I was saying to him last night that it was odd that he went for three quarters of a carat. I explained that when I was in my early 20s in Boston, I went to a jeweler who told me that due to my long thin fingers I shouldn't wear anything larger than three quarters of a carat -- anything larger would overwhelm my hand and be uncomfortable for me to wear the ring. I know that the uncomfortable part is definitely true due to my ring collection that I have expanded over the years. I was amazed that he got it dead on. He considered my fingers and came up with the exact same result! And the sapphires are the first that he has ever given to me. He decided back in 2003 that sapphires had to be included in the engagement ring. The sapphires represent him (a September baby), and now it also will represent our wedding month. And best of all, blue is my favorite color!

Somehow, we got to my place. We decided to keep the news to ourselves for a while -- to enjoy the first few hours of the new phase of our relationship. I told my parents around 10 a.m. -- 12 hours after the moonlit proposal. We called my brother and grandmother. The rest of the world will find out accordingly.

I am just so amazed and overjoyed! We had champagne, and I had him opened his engagement present -- the Colin Cowie “For The Groom” book. We then began to fill out certain sections of our Wedding Journal -- both of us had fun with that task. We spent the last minutes of our anniversary/proposal day gazing at each other. Aidan said the “W” word for the first time to me -- it felt so good. We decided that we'd like to tell my priest the good news together -- possibly after a Mass one Sunday.

I am so happy!

[Marisa]

THE PROPOSAL

Aidan's Version

Well, last evening (August 19th, 2005) was the culmination of about two years of research and work. The idea started as an idea of how to involve it in the Edinburgh Tattoo. I began mind games, thinking about how, what, when, where and why with regard to this proposal. I decided fairly early on that I wanted to include sapphires in the ring, to ensure that a part of me was included, it had to include a diamond as that is recent tradition and it had to be a white metal, platinum, because that goes best with her skin tone. I started looking around Hamilton to see what was available, which didn’t thrill me an awful lot, so I decided to try the Internet. I tried various schemes and eventually ended up with a three stone ring. Through various hints, nudges and other very subtle hints, I learned what Marisa liked in rings, cuts, styles, ring size and a host of other pieces of information. Patience was a must as this information gathering took a while. I tried contacting several online jewelers asking about styles etc. It turned out that most only did three stone diamond rings in the type of style I wanted. It wasn’t until four months ago that I found one that would put together the combination that I wanted. By the time I had collated all of the information that I required, did tests on AutoCAD including scaled printouts that I tested on my pinky finger for sizing etc. I eventually settled on about ¾ carat as being the best size. Researching the quality, I discovered that the best which would not change things too much was to get as near colourless as I could, with a fairly good grade of clarity and most of all a top class cut.

The ring arrived about a week before I had decided to do it. I had to tell someone, because I was so excited, so I let my sister, Veronica, in on the secret that evening. My next project was to ask Marisa’s parents. I tackled her mother first to gain some vital information on how I should approach Marisa’s father. Armed with some good advice, I had 24 hours to sort something out. I arrived at Marisa’s house that evening. Her mother was out walking and her father wandered around the garden with us looking at various things. As if on queue, Marisa disappeared indoors and so I took my chance. His reaction was interesting, in that his first comment was, “Yes, take her out of here” or words to that effect. I knew I was ok as he was actually beaming.

So now, I had to put the final touches together for the evening that followed. We arrived at Coral Beach and walked to the clubhouse. We were greeted as is traditional at CBC by Alonso the parrot with a cheery “Hello”. We were escorted to a table in the corner by the window and passed the menus and wine list. We chose our drinks, wine and dinner. I had quail, vegetable soup and beef tenderloin. Marisa had seafood medley, fish chowder, and the beef tenderloin. We talked about a variety of issues, and the thread kept on coming back to engagement, rings and wedding and timings thereof. I was inwardly smiling, knowing what I knew. We had dessert. I had ice cream with chocolate sauce and Marisa had the dessert medley, which was a small portion of everything on the dessert menu.

We got up to leave and I suggested that we take a walk outside. We walked across the granite outdoor dance floor and then found our way through a myriad of corridors and passageways to the steps leading down to the beach. We stopped on the balcony below the beach terrace, and I started the ball rolling, talking about our 1461 days together and that I had another present for her anniversary. She then suggested that we go down to the beach. This was my nightmare, as I had been thinking that I would drop the ring in the sand and lose it at night. The moon was shimmering across the water and the ocean was near calm. I started my spiel again and was distracted by some children who came running onto the beach. We walked a bit further along the beach until I felt a little safer away from the “crowds”. I then began my spiel again about the 1461 days and all that. I decided not to kneel for two reasons. 1 – I wasn’t sure how she would take the surprise, because it was obvious that she didn’t have a clue what was about to happen. 2 – the sand.

I eventually got out the words “Will you marry me?” to which her mouth opened wide, her face fell and she broke into tears. I was glad that I was standing as she probably would have collapsed. I kept on prompting her for what felt like at least ten minutes, until she said yes. This gave me time to get the box out of my pocket, the ring out of the box, and pre-position it near her ring finger. As soon as she said “yes” I slipped the ring on her finger. She looked down and burst into tears again. We walked along the beach a bit further to a beach chair and sat down. She continued crying for about 15 minutes. I asked her if she was happy, and she said yes. I told her the story of the ring and asking her parents etc. I’m not sure how much she truly took in as she was rather caught up in the moment. We eventually got up and left the beach in the moonlight to spend the rest of the evening together.

[Emily]

that was great! I love seeing the 2 versions! Congrats!