The end of August is one of my favorite times of the year. Summer begins to turn into fall and for me, it’s a time of reflection and reevaluation on all that I’ve been blessed with so far and what else I want to accomplish by the end of the year. It also marks our wedding anniversary and a time to celebrate us!
Being said! This week, my husband and I are celebrating three years of marriage and I couldn’t be more excited for another milestone. I wanted to take some time to share with all of you a little bit about our story. Today’s post is all about our proposal!
The Beginning
Our story began when we first met in the summer of 2011. People say “and the rest is history,” but that couldn’t be more true. We started dating soon after and this guy really stole my heart from the beginning!
The majority of our relationship was long distance. Tim lived in Indianapolis at the time and traveled home often to see me and spend time with our families (we both grew up in the same area in the suburbs of Chicago).
By the time the proposal came around, we had been together for about three years and knew we wanted to get married. I know Tim had been praying/waiting for the right timing for us and it couldn’t have been more perfect.
To this day, I continue to thank God for his perfect timing. For allowing us to grow stronger in our faith individually, to get to know one another and experience different seasons of life together before making a forever commitment. It’s so important to have a stable foundation before taking the step of marriage.
August 29, 2014
Tim had plans to travel home a previous weekend but things fell through. He said he wanted to make it up to me by coming home on that Friday, the 29th and enjoying a fun night in the city together. His way of convincing me to get dressed up was telling me his parents wanted to take us out for a nice dinner. I’m all for a night in the city so that was easy!
There were a few instances prior to this day that had me a bit suspicious about an upcoming proposal but I didn’t think too much into it, not wanting to get my hopes up or ruin any surprises. I remember calling a close friend while getting ready who kept saying “this is it, this is it, it’s happening!” but I denied it all the way!
That evening we made it to Chicago and pulled into the parking garage of the Aon Center. Because Tim’s Dad helped build the building, Tim requested that we make a pit stop here for a quick tour.
Considering the size of this building, I knew it was going to take a good chunk of time for the tour. The building was beautiful and it was a lovely tour I have to admit, but it wasn’t part of our plan. Despite trudging around in heels and acting hangry that Tim’s tour was throwing a wrench in our dinner reservations, I slapped a smile on.
Once our guide showed us around the lobby and main attractions of the building we began taking all sorts of elevators. Once we got off one, we’d get right on another one and we just kept traveling up and up. Some were nice elevators, others the service ones and I remember being so confused wondering if I should be concerned for my safety. Where is this guy taking us?!
Almost 90 floors up, we finally reached the top and stepped off the elevator. Our tour guide opened the largest garage door I’ve ever seen and it was just the sky. I’m not one to be afraid of heights but I remember it taking my breath away.
We walked around a few metal pathways and up a few stairs until we finally made it to the main area of the rooftop. Side note: the roof was not a common area of the hotel and with only special request were we allowed to be up there.
The Aon overlooks both Millennium and Grant Parks in the eastern loop of the city. The views were absolutely stunning!
Despite of course, being the place where we got engaged, seeing the Chicago skyline from that view was one of those moments I won’t ever forget in life. It was so pretty and peaceful to be up above all the hustle and bustle. The pictures do not do it justice!
A Proposal in the Clouds
Our tour guide received a fake radio call that he had to go back down and disappeared around the corner. At this point, we had been on the roof for about 10 or 15 minutes just taking in the views of the city. I started to get worried that he left us up there, we would be stranded and get in trouble by his parents for being so late to our reservation!
I think back to this entire situation leading up to the proposal and Tim hardly said a word the entire time – I think he was nervous!
Finally, Tim pulled me to the edge, took my hands, got down on one knee and said the sweetest things before asking me to marry him – all of which I wouldn’t have been able to remember if it wasn’t caught on video – it was all such a blur! (And all the tears!)
Both his family and best friend who had been capturing everything on photo/video jumped out from hiding and celebrated with us. It was so much fun having them there in such a special moment. (More tears!)
One of my favorite things about our proposal is it truly was a special moment for just us. It was just the two of us, on what felt like the top of the world – no candles, no flowers, no cheesy signs or music. (Tim knows me so well.) Just us. And I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
A Weekend of Celebrating
The night didn’t end there. The “dinner reservations” we had were of course just part of the plan. Instead we spent the evening on a dinner cruise on Lake Michigan with the most amazing views of the night skyline.
He also booked us a night at the W and we spent the next day brunching, shopping and exploring the city together.
That Sunday, our families hosted a celebratory engagement party for us and it was such a special time getting to celebrate with sweet friends and family.
Our lifelong commitment and journey officially started that day but God had been working in our lives far before then. Seeing his will play out in our relationship has been the biggest blessing.
So there you have it! Our proposal story. And exactly one year later, August 29, 2015 we said I do!
For anyone who is in a serious relationship, thinking about the idea of marriage, or even waiting for that special person to ask you, I encourage you to pray for God’s will and timing. He already has everything perfectly planned out for you and I promise it’s so worth the wait!
If you’re here still, thanks for reading a bit more about our story! I have a few more wedding/marriage posts in store and cannot wait to share with you soon!
