How it happened: It started on Valentine's Day this year. Because the holidays and both our birthdays occur right before Vday, we usually exchange cards and make dinner together. This year was no different, although Zach was very eager to give me his card. Right when he came over he said, let's do the cards. I thought it was a little odd because they were just cards, but agreed. He opened his first and it was sweet and mushy and everything it was supposed to be ;) As I opened his card, he apologized for it being homemade (which I actually thought was really cute). On the outside was a note that said he had always wanted to take me to a romantic weekend in a B&B and now that he was starting his job, he could afford to. I opened the folded paper and inside was a collage of pictures from a B&B called Tickle Pink Inn (yes, I know..weird name). It was breathtaking and so touching that he wanted to do that. Zach had purchased the gift certificate for a night there and it was just a matter of finding a good weekend to go.
After a couple weeks, we determined that one of the few free weekends was March 29th so Zach went ahead and booked it.
That morning was normal -- we finished a movie in bed, went to work out at a new gym and lifted weights, got ready separately, got our Starbucks and headed towards Carmel.
As we neared our location, we were already in awe at how beautiful it was (--we feel this way no matter how many times we go down there). We saw our turnoff and winded up the road and literally were laughing at how beautiful it was...we had no words. We turned into the parking lot of this cottage like inn perched atop the cliff side and yes it was pink! Walking into the lobby took our breath away: the view out the window was fantastic. Because we arrived early, we were able to just sit and enjoy the view while checking out local menus to see where we wanted to maybe eat that night.
A short while later, we were able to enter our room. Right as we closed the door, we heard a knock -- we were given complimentary Napa sparkling wine and chocolates! We took in the quaint decorations and nearly 270 degree view from our balcony. It was like a fairytale. We started taking some pictures and were just going to relax until the 430p Wine & Cheese Reception. Zach and I just laid on the chaise lounge soaking in the sun and marveling at the beautiful ocean. After a few moments, Zach said he thought he saw some sea lions by a far out rock. I didn't have my glasses on, meaning no vision, so I just ignored him. He got up and walked to the corner of the balcony (that had the broadest view) and told me I could see them from there. I went and looked, but wouldn't be able to tell a dot from a sea lion at that distance. So instead, we just looked out at the water. He was standing behind me rubbing my back and we were just 'being.' Then he said, "Can you turn around? I want to ask you something" As I started to turn, he was already bending down on one knee. Immediately, my hand flew up to my mouth and my eyes started to tear. Zach was just as emotional since he too started to cry. Sadly, I don't remember all his words because I was in such shock, but they were something to the effect of 'can't imagine spending my life without you...' Neither of us are 100% sure that he actually asked me to marry him (did he?). Nevertheless I said YES and kissed him and hugged him while down on his knee. He had a beautiful small antique box in hand and opened the box revealing a very pretty ring -- I was too overwhelmed to even look at it. We were just hugging and kissing. Before he stood, I asked him to put the ring on me and he did -- not before noting that, although he knows my ring size, it wasn't yet sized so it'd be too big. I put it on and we just kept hugging and kissing and saying I love you. During all this we had a witness -- a seagull! He was watching us intently and as the first person to know became our friend, who we named Howard :-P
Once it set in a bit, I asked him to tell me about my ring. He knew a lot...Zach had done his research! It's an Estate ring, nearly 100 years old, Edwardian in style, meaning all Platinum, a lot of filigree detail and a European cut center stone (which also happened to be the original). And though we had gone ring shopping together a few times, it was not one of the rings I picked out -- it was far more beautiful. It was "the ring" I was in quest of and he managed to find it.
What followed was a lot of tears, shaking, pinching, happiness, hugs, I love yous, kisses, and phone calls to family (by the way Zach called both my Mom and Dad asking for their blessing!). As we were on the phone, we popped open the champagne we had brought back from France last August to toast the best moment in our lives.
The rest of the weekend was perfect and joyous and filled with love. We will forever have fond memories of the Tickle Pink Inn and Carmel...
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