1/24/11

{proposal story: text + photos}

a little while ago, mike and i both independently came across the genius that is jeweler satomi kawakita. we also both fell in love with her brown diamond engagement ring. however, her shop was closing for awhile (so that she could get married in japan!) and mike had informed me that a ring was simply not in the budget for awhile. i pestered him a bit, but then finally believed him.

at the beginning of january, we had decided that we should go  to the neighbourhood café on january 10th to celebrate the one year anniversary of our first nine hour date there. to be honest, i briefly considered that mike might propose that evening - but then i reminded myself that the shop was closed and mike didn't have money for the ring. so i forced myself to put it out of my mind!

i got home from work around 5.30 pm, relaxed a bit, read some blogs and then started on homework. mike had told me he was working till about 7.30, so i told him i would be at his house around 7.45. unfortunately, i got a little involved in my homework (so nerdy!), and texted him at 7:55 that i would be leaving shortly!

i got to his house around 8.20 and we walked over to the café (about a one minute walk from his house). we started playing scrabble - a game we both love dearly and that he beats me at, every single time. however, that evening seemed to be different - i was slaughtering him! the last score count was 181 - 82... i couldn't believe my good luck!
at one point, mike went to grab us some waters. then mike said he needed to exchange his tiles, since all his letters were rubbish. unbeknownst to me, he purposely dropped one so that he could exchange his tiles with tiles that were in his cardigan pocket. at this point, he started fumbling nervously, and i realized that he just might propose any second. my heart started beating really crazy and i very concentratedly texted someone (i can't even remember who).

mike finished up what he was working on, and said, "hey jan, look at this!" he turned the board towards me, and spelled out, in tiles, was the query, "WILL YOU?"
i lept up and said, "OF COURSE!"

at that point, the lights suddenly went off in the café. instantaneously, everyone in the café lit sparklers. i could not believe it! then i glanced up and saw my friends krista and kevin video-taping and taking pictures of the event. i did not understand how on earth they were there!

mike got down on one knee and proposed. everyone in the café cheered and suddenly our families started streaming into the café. it turns out they had been watching from across the street in mike's dad's SUV. mike's dad had also been documenting the event with a big old paparazzi lens on his camera!
from left - right kevin, krista, sarah (mike's sister), dan (sarah's bf), mike, juergen (mike's dad), me, janni (mike's mom), my mom
it was absolutely surreal and completely perfect! 

some of you may be wondering how the sparklers were dispersed: mike had gone by the café earlier and talked to the girl working. she happily agreed to turn off the lights soon after he got us some waters. he also went to each table, handing out sparklers and lighters. mike explained that he was going to propose to his girlfriend and asked if they would mind lighting a sparkler once the lights turned off. everyone was super stoked on the idea (although one woman asked him if he was sure that i would say yes! ha!). after mike received my text informing him that I would be by his house around 7.45, he ran back to the café and told everyone that it would be happening around 8. unfortunately, i made everyone wait around as i took my sweet time getting to his house! whoops! but everyone graciously waited at the café, sparklers hidden!

my friends krista and kevin had gone to the café to save us the table right by the window. they then hid themselves in the corner. i can't believe that i didn't see them when i came in! i walked right by them! so sneaky!

so there's the story - more lovely than i could have ever asked for! thank you mike!!

post-script: mike claims that the only reason why i was slaughtering him at scrabble was because his mind was elsewhere.... sigh. slightly takes away from my victory!

*see proposal video here. thank you for all your kind words about it! you're all so sweet!

52 comments:

  1. what an amazing, cute and perfectly Janis & Mike story. oh you two. =) xoxo.
    Danae

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  2. This brought tears to my eyes!! I am so excited for you!!! Congrats and what a great story!!! XO!

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  3. i love how well-thought-out and original your proposal was. i also love that your families were watching from across the street. hah!! what a GREAT story!!

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  4. So thoughtful of a proposal! You are so loved.
    And it's even more awesome because you have pictures and a video to look back on and remember!!

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  5. what caroline said. i maintain that this is the sweetest proposal ever.

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  6. oh my gosh this is beyond adorable!

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  7. this is so sweet. i am actually smiling right now. congrats =D

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  8. i love this story... and i love that you were trying to play it cool with a fake text. so cute. congratulations again!

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  9. That is sweetest proposal story ever. Love love love it! Congratulations again.....you seem a completely lovely couple, destined for a life of happiness :-)

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  10. Such an unbelievably cute story ! And I LOVE your ring !!

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  11. I watched the video yesterday and got a little teary-SO precious!! The whole story makes it even more so!

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  12. i sure do love this post :)
    janis i am so sorry to tell you - i have only been to the big island, oahu, and kauai. i know nothing of maui...

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  13. oh that is SO CUTE! I hope one day I can marry my Mike! xo

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  14. what a sweet story!!!

    pst.. love love your hair!

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  15. what a cute, sweet story! congrats!!

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  16. how cute! congrats

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  17. oh my goodness! I am completely in love with this story! i'm excited and giddy just by reading it!

    congrats to you and mike!!!!

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  18. I am so emotional right now and everything on your blog is moving me to tears! HAHA.. I'm not really that weird, I don't know what it is. I just think it is so cute!

    So if you come to Hawaii and you stay on Oahu you need to stay on the north shore in a beach house or something. It is cheaper than waikiki, way less crowded, and so much more fun. And you have to eat at Haleiwa Eats. It is my favorite restaurant in the whole world! And when you are not being tooooo cute with your husband we would love to take you to lunch or something!

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  19. I think it's absolutely beautiful that he gathered your loved ones there - congratulations!

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  20. i found you off of kylie and spencers blog and i have to tell you your photos are amazing! and congrats on the engagement, that was such a creative proposal :)

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  21. oh wow, Janis this is so lovely and the sparklers were such a wonderful touch, I'm trying not to cry all over my desk lol.

    Congrats again to you both :)

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  22. LOVE this story.
    i think it's so you, and so thought-out and just so special. can't wait to meet this man in march!
    xo.

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  23. this is the sweetest most incredible proposal story ever!! so cute and thoughtful. congrats! and thanks for sharing :)

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  24. This is the cutest thing ever! Ugh. You guys are adorable!!

    KF x

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  25. This is the cutest thing ever! Ugh. You guys are adorable!!

    KF x

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  26. Such a sweet story, congrats again!! I love the photos too. Isn't it funny how girls often can sense a proposal coming? Maybe it's the guys not behaving like they usually do.

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  27. Holy cow! That is the most adorable thing - also in love with the ring. I know exaactly which one you are talking about :) Congrats!!

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  28. I happened to found your blog, and read about your beautiful story. it's so wonderful, and so heart warming...
    He got you the hexagon ring, right?

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  29. These pics are sooooo fabbb!!! The cafe is filled with so much life and energy!!! Love the sparklers and all the LOVE! Awesome pics!
    kisses
    xoThe Beckerman Girls

    www.BeckermanBitePlate.com

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  30. The lights going out and sparklers were the perfect touch to this story. I could just imagine how excited and overwhelmed you felt. Thank you for sharing.

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  31. hey Janis, I love to surf all over your blog, your and Mike´s pictures are all amazing, and the way he proposed... wow!!! :) I love it! I´m really happy for you and I mean it!

    I know it´s maybe little bit weird, but I really love your hairstyle and I decided to cut my hair to a simple short hairstyle, just like you have. If you have some pics where is well-captured your hairstyle, I would love to show it to my hairstylist! if you don´t mind, let me know, I would be very happy:) thanx!

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  32. word on the street here is that you two will be visiting hawaii

    that's good news for us

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  33. Janis, thanks for your comment! I´m happy to hear that you are flattered:) and I´m looking forward to receive an email with the pictures! :)

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  34. Awwwh this is the sweetest proposal ever. I love that all your friends and family knew and were watching the entire thing happen so sweet! xox

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  35. i can`t even express how happy i am for both of you!!! cooooongratulations! you two are the cutest! :)

    *hugshugshugs*

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  36. such a cute proposal story! congratulations!

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  37. hello sparklers! This all seems like magic!

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  38. Oh my gosh this is by far one of the cutest stories I've ever heard!!
    Congratulations!

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  39. Are you for real? haha. I have only read three posts on your blog and I am seriously obsessed already. You two have got to be THE CUTEST of all cute couples ever. Mike is so clever!! This is adorable!

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  40. Oh my, that's one of the most perfect proposals I've ever heard. & the video is so cute. The best of luck to both of you!

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  41. Oh my goodness! Sweetest cutesy proposal ever! The scrabble...wow. Straight out of a movie!

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  42. I am DYING.
    cutest thing I have ever seen in my life.
    ever.
    congratulations :)

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  43. This is such a sweet story and a great proposal idea! I love scrabble and I get quite competitive at it too. Congrats! It must have been extra special to have important people there to witness.

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  44. oh so very cute and romantic!
    congrats!!!

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  45. My goodness! This is what happens when I leave Blogger for a while! Congrats!!! What a heart-warming story; it defintely brought a happy tear to my eye! I am sure your wedding will be amazing and oh so vintage :)

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  46. this totally made my heart flutter. What a beautiful story

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  47. Awww I have just found your blog via Lacey in the city. love love love your proposal story! So thoughtful & sweet!

    M x www.whatwegandidnext.com

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thanks so much for writing! i love hearing from you!

xo