The proposal

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AKA the longest post I’ve ever written.

Every girl has dreamed about the perfect proposal. Every boy has had nightmares about coming up with the perfect proposal. Bender and I are no exception.

Ever since I could remember, I have always wanted a proposal during Christmas; arguably, but not with me, I will win, the most romantic  time of the year. Unbeknownst to me, Bender, along with my mom, sister, and best friend had been plotting lying planning behind my back to pull off the perfect proposal. And did they ever succeed.

Bender came into town December 22nd to spend Christmas with me and my family. We had a couple busy days before Christmas: my friends’ annual Christmas Eve Eve party, a Christmas themed photoshoot at a Christmas treet farm (Bender’s idea), and lunch with my best friend and her mom in Dixon on Christmas Eve.

That first night, he presented me with a “Christmas Eve Eve Eve” gift, which he had never done before, but I am not one to turn down a gift. A copy of Mindy Kaling’s book – score! The next day was the day before Christmas Eve; traditionally the day that my friends and I hold our own Christmas. After getting home that night, he presented me with a “Christmas Eve Eve” gift; a new dress that he said I should wear for photos at the Christmas tree farm he found in Dixon. A little note: He has never picked out or bought clothes for me, so it did strike me as odd, but once again, I am not one to turn down a gift, especially a nice dress.

On Christmas Eve morning, I went on a run. When I got home, I took my time eating breakfast, checking blogs, and taking a shower, all while Bender tried to gently prod me into getting ready so we could “be on time” to take photos before lunch. I finally got ready, and after being turned down by my mom to join us, we were on our way. It was really cold that day, so I surprised myself by putting on the thin material dress and agreeing to trek through a giant Christmas tree farm, periodically taking off my coat for photos.

While walking through, we would stop and take photos. During photo sessions, I check the photos regularly to make sure we are getting what I need. Doing this on that day showed that Bender had no real intention of taking outfit photos of me; all the photos were out of focus, not taken when I was ready, etc. I thought he was being lazy. After barking orders at asking him to take more, and finally being satisfied on some photos next to a cute tree with a big red bow on it, we kept walking deeper into the farm. 

Bender made a comment about how the farm should have decorated trees throughout, and a couple minutes later, low and behold, we found a nice tree, decorated with faux presents under it. Of course, we had to take our photos there. Bender set up the tripod and we took one together and then he instructed me to turn around and he would take my regular walking away/back photo. At this point my coat was off, I was freezing, and Bender was taking for-ev-er setting up the camera to take the photo from behind (I would later find out he was actually setting it up for video). I became slightly antsy and I admit that I started whining because I was cold and becoming impatient that I could not turn around. In the back of my mind, I assumed I was getting a “Christmas Eve” present, to go along with the theme of him giving me other presents each night leading up to Christmas, so truthfully, that is the only reason I stayed turned around.

The next thing I know, I am allowed to turn around, and Bender is on his knee holding out a ring. From there, it is slightly blurry; figurativly and literally: tears came from no where and were blurring my vision. The first thing out of my mouth, before he uttered anything was, “Shut up.” Nice, right? After he gave his little spiel, my word vomit struck again; “Are you sure?” He was obviously taken aback and claims he cannot remember his response, but I remember him laughing and saying yes. I vigoursly shook my head yes in response to his proposal, and after he asked me to say it outloud, it was offical and neither of us remember how the ring got on my finger.

I honestly think I was in shock the rest of the day.

After all the mushy, gooey, cheese, hug, kiss stuff, I see someone come out from behind some trees and it happens to be my best friend. I actually thought nothing weird of the fact that she was there at that moment; she’s there during all my big moments! But then her mom, my mom, and my sister all came out! They had been there early to decorate the tree, set up the faux gifts underneath, and mark the path so Bender would know how to get to the tree, ahem, the tree with the bow that I would not let him stop taking pictures of me at.

Excited with my mom and sister!

My beautiful mom!

My sister is jealous and trying to rip my ring off. Not at all staged.

My best friend and soul sister from another mister.

With Alyssa and her mom, who is like a second mom to me.

Face timing with the future in-laws.

One of the sweetest parts? Bender then cut down the tree and we took it home. We are hopefully planning on getting coasters made from it as wedding party and family gifts.

I had always wanted a Christmas proposal, and never wanted it done in public, but somehow he knew that the most imporant people in my life had to be there when it happened. The fact that they were hidden among the trees watching us is simultaneously hilarious, creepy, and awesome. Everything was perfect.

This proposal requried me to agree to a lot of things to get us to the destination, which, if you know me, sounds impossible. Bender said afterward that it was all the little “yeses” he was worried about, not the big one; Wearing the dress he bought for me, agreeing to go to lunch in Dixon (where the farm was located), turning around for a back photo, etc.

Hindsight is 20/20: A list of things I was totally oblivious to

• The over abundance of suitcases Bender brought in town; he had one extra one for the tree decorations and gift boxes and bags
• The constant “work” calls that took him out of the room; calls (and texts) for last minute planning
• Alyssa posting a picture of a dress on my Facebook telling me she thought of me when she saw it and Bender gifting me that exact dress; Bender picked out several dresses and used her to see which I would like the best. He knew I would want to be dressed nicely for the proposal
• Gifts leading up to Chistmas; he did not want it to be completely out of the ordinary when he gave me the dress and he knew that I would not dress up for our “lunch” in freezing cold weather
• Bender’s urgency in making sure we had plenty of time at the Christmas tree farm for photos before lunch; he had never been so excited to take photos. He enjoys being able to help me with my blog, but he is never exactly super excited to take time out of our short visits to take photos
• The fact that the Christmas tree farm was completely empty; they were closed that day but opened just for Bender’s proposal
• My sister wanting to do my hair and nails the night before; She wanted my nails to look nice for when I would be showing off my ring
• A fully decorated Christmas tree in the middle of a Christmas tree farm; Even after the proposal and everyone popped out of hiding, I did not know that was part of it until they told me

All in all, I am really easy to lie to and trick. Please don’t take advantage of me. Unless you are giving me the most beautiful ring I could ever hope for and presenting me with the perfect proposal.

p.s. thank you to the planning team for helping making everything happen!

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// Dress and Shoes: Urban Outfitters // Hat: Threadsence //

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