It’s Official!

I probably would have put all of the money I have on the day he was going to propose. I told everyone, I would know when it was happening, and I couldn’t of been more wrong. Our proposal was the most surprised I have ever been in my entire life. It happened on Michael’s 30th birthday. I had a huge booze cruise planned for the weekend, and I was so distracted with making sure everything would be perfect.

The week before I was scheduled to go home I started freaking out. I wanted the booze cruise to be a surprise, but I blew it, and Michael knew it was going to happen. I was calling my mom and all of my friends saying, “I am the worst girlfriend in the world, I have to somehow surprise him still on his actual birthday, he only turns 30 once.” One of my girlfriends said, “well what will you be doing on his actual birthday?” I told her all Michael wanted to do was go to the beach together. So my girlfriend recommended I have one of those planes fly by with a banner attached. I thought, oh my gosh that is brilliant! I was so excited about the idea. I called my mom right away, I sent a text to his sister, and proceed to tell everyone my new plan (keep in mind these poor people knew what he was going to be doing for me, and were now so confused we had the same idea for each other). I called the plane company as soon as I got off of work, and I asked them how much it would cost. When they told me it would be at least $400 I said, “Have a nice day.”

On Thursday, when Mike and I were at the beach together a plane went by. I was so disappointed. I said, “Michael I wanted to surprise you with one of those planes, but it was so expensive.” At one point I even looked into a sign boat for him, but the sign boat wasn’t available on his actual birthday. Mike kept the straightest of straight faces, and said, “it’s the thought that counts.” He reassured me that I was already doing too much for him. All morning and all afternoon he was SO himself. So cool, calm, and collected.

We had the best day on the beach together. We even met his parents for lunch. When we got back to our beach chairs his sister called me. She wanted to talk to Mike, because she wanted to give him his birthday present. I told her we weren’t going to be home for a while, she told me to have him call her. Originally Mike wanted to propose to me while we were still in our bathing suits. Linds x’d that idea. She told him to get me home and in a dress ASAP (Thank you Linds!)

Out of the blue Mike said, “I want to go to dinner, there is this new place right on the bay, and I really want to try it out, what do you think? Should I make a reservation?” I told him it was his birthday, whatever he wanted to do, we would do. So Michael made a fake phone call and pretended to make a reservation. He said they only had 7pm available so we had to go home and get changed fast. I got ready as fast as I could for him, and he looked at me so surprised. He said, “too fast. We have some time to kill, want to hit the beach?” Again, it was his birthday, so I did WHATEVER he wanted.

Mike and I walked along the beach talking about the most random things. Work, family, friends, the upcoming party. Then he asked me if dinner was at 7pm or 730pm. I told him to call the restaurant and double check. He made ANOTHER fake phone call and told me dinner was at 730pm. He asked if I wanted to walk a few more blocks, which I of course had no problem doing. We were passing a family on “our beach” Rumson Ave, when the family said to us, “you are the most beautiful couple.” As I was thanking them, Mike told me to look up. I looked up and saw a plane. The plane had a banner. The banner read, ‘Jenni, will you marry me? Love, Michael.’ I shook my head in disbelief. I said “NO?!!!!!” I looked down and my Michael was on his knee, handsome as ever with the biggest smile. I said, “NO?!!!!!” again in disbelief. That’s when he started to laugh, and said “you better not say no” and then asked me to marry him. I screamed yes, and I cried probably for about three hours.

My three other surprises: Mike had a photographer hiding the entire time, and she took the most amazing pictures. He also told me we weren’t REALLY going to dinner, and I told him, “that’s fine I just need my phone so I can call my family.” He said, “no you don’t — look.” I looked up and I saw his family, and my family sprinting down the beach. Everyone was there. He had everyone on the top deck of our favorite bar right on the ocean and we celebrated all night long. As if that wasn’t enough, his sister also booked us an ocean view room at the Chelsea in Atlantic City. When we walked in there were roses, chocolates, and champagne everywhere. It was the most gorgeous night.

I am the happiest girl alive. I feel beyond blessed. I cannot wait to marry the most remarkable man who has taught me so much including life’s most important lesson: true love.

August 28th, 2014: Michael is officially 30, and we are on our way to forever and more.