Proposal
February 2016 looking back I should have seen the signs. The day it took place Edward seemed very distracted; he even offered to pay to have my nails done. In hindsight, I wish I had now, as I did have to send a lot of pictures of my hand. But I didn’t know he was going to propose, did I? We had arranged to go out for a meal in a quirky restaurant that I had been dying to go to, which was about half an hour’s drive from where we lived, so Edward suggested staying in a hotel, that way, we could both relax and have a drink. He said he would sort it and I was impressed by his choice. It was a beautiful eighteenth century hotel set in glorious gardens and only a few minutes’ drive from the restaurant perfect. He said he got a special offer and I wasn’t going to complain as I was so excited to stay there. When we arrived later that afternoon I felt like we were in a period drama as the grounds around were stunning. It was towards the end of the month, nearly the start of spring, and crocuses and daffodils had already started to bloom. The room was classically decorated in neutral colours and there was a massive marble bathroom with a rain shower big enough for three. When I emerged in just a towel with my hair wet, dripping down my back, I noticed rose petals on the bed. I thought, how romantic. but then realized it said the words ‘Marry Me’. Let’s just say getting engaged made me incredibly horny we didn’t end up making our dinner reservation ended up back in the shower but this time I wasn’t alone.
For all you lucky engaged people out there, one of the first things everyone asks other than to see the ring or ask how he/she proposed, is when’s the big day.
I was so lucky all my family adored Edward and his family liked me too, I think! So, everyone was ecstatic for us. The night of the proposal I hadn’t told anybody as I wanted to tell our families in person, so I could see their faces. The next day we travelled to the seaside to tell my family first. They were so happy, insisted on making a celebratory roast and even brought champagne. We then saw Edward’s parents on the way home, as they didn’t live far from us, to share the good news, and they were thrilled too and couldn’t believe it as Edward had always told them he would never get married. I called some friends. Spence was next on my list. He had tried calling me a few times in the early hours of the morning and I couldn’t make out the gargled voicemails; he must have been pissed yet again, seemed to be a regular occurrence lately. I would often get the odd drunk text at five a.m. or a missed call from him, He would come up with some excuse when I would question him about him saying it wasn’t meant for me or he must have pocket dialled. Here it goes. I was dreading it as I already knew what he would say: “You’re rushing into it. Are you sure this man is for you?” and I was right, he sounded fine at first but then it was like he couldn’t speak. He said he would call me back and ended the call abruptly. Why can’t he just be happy for me, I thought.
When me and Edward first started dating, Spence would always compare him to my exes, and not in a good way. We have been out on some double dates with him and his wife and they have always had a great laugh together, they even support the same shitty football team they had a lot in common and were very similar in some ways. But it was like Spence was a different person, though, when we spoke alone, to when we were all out together I couldn’t understand it. But then again, I remember thinking the exact same things when he introduced me to Sarah, with her long legs, curly red hair, green eyes and natural beauty. I just took it that he was trying to look out for me because he cared, although had a funny way of showing it sometimes. It didn’t matter what he thought, anyway. This was about me for once. This was the happiest I had been for a long time; not even Spence could bring me down.
Setting the date sets everything in stone and makes it more real. Being engaged, you are in a bit of a bubble thinking of castles, designer wedding dresses, twenty plus bridesmaids. But as soon as that date is set, that all goes out of the window as you realise weddings are not free or paid for by someone else, unless you have a wedding godmother or very rich family members. The reality is a bit bleaker. I’ve been looking at wedding dresses on online selling sites, not glamourous at all. I realised that I am not royalty and not loaded so a wedding in a castle was out of the question, unless it was made of sand, and possibly about three bridesmaids, and I could only really afford to pay for dresses, accessories not included.
Don’t you just hate people who know exactly where they want to get married even before they are engaged? They have it all planned out in their head—the venue, the dress, the honeymoon—just knowing that one day they will meet the right man and he will propose. Already have their folder full of cut outs
