Will You Marry Me?

So I bet you’re wondering how I popped the question. Well here’s the story…

Last year, Nikki and I celebrated our 9-year anniversary in Italy. Nikki has taken a few international trips with friends but this was my first BIG trip across the globe. We experienced all that Italy had to offer and overall had the time of our lives. But as perfect as our vacation was, something was missing. It seemed as if this big trip was just calling my name for THE BIG PROPOSAL. Italy was not a cheap trip and I wasn’t in a financial position to afford both the trip and an engagement ring.

After our return from Italy, I spent the next year researching engagement rings. I had a good idea of what I wanted but I didn’t find anything that I liked. I found a couple of rings that I thought to be decent but those turned out to have a price tag that was beyond my reach. ::#RingHuntPause::

This year, Nikki and I planned on taking a trip down to Florida to celebrate our 10-year anniversary. As soon as our trip details were solidified, I resumed my hunt for the perfect engagement ring. ::#RingHuntResume:: I’d heard of this place in Downtown LA called Icing on the Ring. This place comes highly recommended from friends and YELP so I decided to check it out. Side Note: At times I can be highly indecisive. I walked into the store and was greeted by the owners daughter Ani. I told her that I had a good idea of what I was looking for and began browsing their selection. While I was looking, I began to give her requirements for the perfect ring so she could help me find what I was looking for. But before I was able to finish explaining what I was looking for, I saw it…the most beautiful ring that I’d seen in my year long search. I asked could I see the ring and she gladly removed it from the display case. While I admired the ring, she offered to show me others, but at this point I was sold and refused her offers to explore other options. I then sat down with her to pick the perfect center stone. I normally have trouble making these types of big decisions but on this day, I couldn’t have been more sure that this was the perfect ring for my wife-to-be.

So then comes our vacation. We spent the first half of our week in Orlando at Walt Disney World and the second half relaxing on South Beach, Miami. Disney World overall was amazing and everything about Miami was beautiful. We planned to spend our actual anniversary in Miami so I called a month in advance to make reservations at the best Italian Restaurant in South Beach called Casa Tua.

I figured since I wasn’t able to pop the question last year in Italy, I would try the next best thing this year. I requested to sit outside on the private outdoor patio (which by the way was gorgeous) where Nikki discovered a table covered with rose petals waiting for our arrival.

We enjoyed a beautiful sunset and enjoyed some tantalizing Italian cuisine. Nikki even swore it was the best meal she had ever had. Well just when she thought the night couldn’t get any better I asked her…

“So what did you get me?” She replied with, “Nothing! I helped pay for our trip.” I followed with, “Well, I got you a little something. Close your eyes…”

I grabbed the ring from my jacket pocket and got down on one knee. I grabbed her left hand and said something along the lines of, “Babe, this has been a wonderful 10 years with you. I love you with all my heart and I want to spend the rest of my life with you and I hope you want to spend the rest of yours with me. You can open your eyes. Nikki Dejesa, I want to know “WILL YOU MARRY ME?” Nodding her head, while in tears she replied, “Yes!”

Tags: anniversary, casa tua, engagement, engagement dinner, icing on the ring, miami proposal, proposal, wedding, wedding ring