Brett and I met on Match.com and had our first date on January 15th this year at Iberian Pig in Downtown Decatur. That date was magical and ended up lasting over seven hours... the rest is history.
Brett and I decided a few months into our relationship that we would try to wait until our one year anniversary to go back to Iberian Pig to keep it sacred and special but once the Christmas season was upon us, we knew we had to go soon. The mahogany bar and pork cheek tacos were singing their siren song and we couldn't resist! So, we decided a couple of weeks ago we could have our private Christmas there and enjoy a beautiful dinner together and exchange our Christmas cards before going home to open gifts together.
Because we live together, sometimes Brett leaves early to come back and either pick me up or will meet me at our date location... maybe that's a little cheesy but we think it's fun to meet up for dates ;). So, Brett left about an hour early while I got ready and we both walked over to the restaurant separately. I'm not going to lie, I actually had suspected that "Honeymas" would be the night Brett would propose but slowly over the past week, he definitely convinced me there was no chance that it would happen that night. He kept referring to Christmas at his dad's as "real Christmas" and seemed to keep "forgetting" about our date. He also seemed randomly distant and a little distracted the couple days leading up to the proposal... I know now that this was part of his strategy. I not only stopped thinking he would propose that night but actually started to think he didn't even want to go to dinner at all!
When I arrived, we hugged and sat down for a gorgeous meal. We ordered wine, tapas and split an unbelievable steak (FYI... Iberian Pig is one of the best restaurants in ATL- you must go!). We laughed and chatted normally, I did however mention that his hands looked shaky but he told me he was starving so I didn't make much of it. Our waitress Lane was awesome and we were visited a few times by the owners and managers... I just wrote this off as awesome service. It wasn't until after we finished our meal that our server told us that dessert was ready outside... "Outside???" I thought. This might be my inner fat kid but I secretly hoped they had a s'mores station set up outside! haha! I grabbed my coat and we walked out to find the most shocking and incredible proposal set-up I've ever seen!
I froze and tried to take it all in. There were tons of rose petals and candles leading up to a table for two right in the middle of Decatur square and a guitarist singing and playing our song "Le Vie en Rose". I wouldn't have taken another step if it wasn't for Brett putting his arm around me and walking me to the top. I was bawling like a baby and had even pulled my jacket collar up over my face trying to muffle my sobs. People around the square all looked on to watch the proposal and Brett looked me in the eye, told me how much he loved me and how he wants to go on adventures with me for the rest of our lives and to make him the happiest man in the world by being his wife. He knelt down and presented the ring... the PERFECT ring... and I held him and said "yes" in ever possible way I could. The crowd applauded and I turned to notice that people in the restaurant were clinging to the windows and some of the waiters and waitresses had come outside to watch. I couldn't bring myself to sit down for more than a minute to toast champagne before popping back up and hugging and kissing Brett again.
We decided to go back inside to warm up and enjoy our champagne and call our families. The restaurant applauded as we came in and I continued to cry tears of joy and SHOCK. He confessed to me that he had been planning this for weeks and had to act distant in order to throw me off the trail and that he did! Before we left, the owner presented us with a menu signed by the entire staff that helped make the amazing proposal possible and we walked home hand in hand smiling from ear to ear.
I cannot wait to be with Brett for the rest of my life. We love adventure, simple pleasures, our families and friends and their sheer outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming. It makes us feel incredible to know how much everyone around us wanted this to happen and just reaffirms our choice to be together forever. Brett is honestly my best friend, favorite person to do travel with, the best person to laugh with and the best bike riding, hiking and dancer partner I've ever had. We are so in love and I honestly couldn't feel happier. I cannot wait for our amazing families and friends to come together to celebrate our wedding and to continue having fun, learning and exploring the world with the best person I know. And, not to mention, I think I hit the jackpot with my in-laws! Thank you for all the love and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for me and the man of my dreams :) Below is a picture of the beautiful set of the proposal ;)
