Proposal Story: Jennifer + Scott
From Jennifer:
“It's hard to know where to start our proposal story, because somehow from that moment at ACL in 2017 I knew Scott was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with and so for me it all started there. But for the purposes of this blog post, I'll start in March of 2019, and not when we first met in our dormitory Aston Hall in 2009 at Texas A&M University. Scott and I were dating long distance and I luckily had the chance to move to Dallas to be with Scott but with one caveat: I would only live with him for a year before we had to either move forward or break up (gasp!); thank god we were both on the same page and we moved in March 23rd of 2018.
Fast forward to October 2019, one little mini dachshund and months of living together later, Scott and I find ourselves with his family jeweler in Dallas, shout out Theo Schaars at Anschar Diamonds, and we are picking out stones for my engagement ring. I remember experiencing a mix between shock, awe and pure excitement as Scott and I picked out the stones that would become my forever ring. He reminded me, "I still have until March 23rd of 2020 to do it" with a coy wink. It was true, that would be the one year anniversary of us moving in together, and I could barely wait. I tried to make him promise me he wouldn't wait until the verrrry last day, but "no promises babe" was his only response.
As we neared February 2020, I knew we had a trip coming up to go skiing with his family in Park City. We had gone skiing with his sister in Park City in 2018 and so I knew this could be an opportunity for the big ask to happen. I was so excited, I ordered extra rent the runway spots for warm sweaters and cute dresses to pack. The night before we went, together we went through our bags, and I showed him these special outfits with the explanation of "ya know.. just in case sweetie" reminding him that this year was a leap year, and I technically could ask HIM to marry ME on the 29th of February, Leap Day. Scott's response verbatim: "Sure...you don't need those! Pack something warm for skiing instead" plus an exaggerated eye roll. I thought to myself ok, fine, pouted and repacked, ready to fly out the next day. The next travel day I was incredibly crabby, was not feeling well and after arriving at the condo with Scott and his parents, insisted I lie down for the afternoon which I did and somehow turned into a hours long nap. I was admittedly was a wet blanket during our travel day, completely oblivious to any potential proposal whatsoever.
The next day was our first ski day, February 28th, the day before Leap Day. The day's weather was absolutely perfect and even better, so was my attitude! The nap I had taken the day before had done wonders for me, and I was ready to take on the first ski day with my cool rented ski jacket and show off my ski skills to his parents who are very well-skied, if there is such a thing. We skied a few intense hours and rested for lunch at Tombstone BBQ (delicious loaded tater tots and wings if you go, you have to order!). I took a few photos to send to my Morning Toaster Ski Club Friends (HEY LADIES!!) who of course asked about the ring status of which I replied "NO RING *YET*", little did I know.
After lunch, Scott and I parted ways with his family to ski to the other side of the mountain. I asked him on the way up the lift, an ask I have asked so many times before, "babe I just want ONE good photo and then I promise, I wont make you take anymore, pleeeeaseeee". And I should have known then from his response but I didn't catch it, "yeah that sounds great". What I didn't know, was Scott had been trying to get us onto this lift, to this specific part of the mountain all day. He had been skiing with the ring box and ring, and knew there was a photographer at the top of this specific lift that he had arranged with to take our pictures professionally.
At the top of the lift, we jump off and ski over to the side. I tell him to find someone to take our picture, and for some reason he asks the photographer instead of a fellow skier. And again, I should have known, but for some reason, I didn't register it. I guess I thought he figured if we liked the professional one, we would buy it and if not, we could get another one the next ski lift ride up. We take off our skis, and still I should have realized it but I didn't, which is evidenced by the fact I left my ski helmet on during the rest of what was about to happen, the proposal.
We snap a few photos, and just like that he turns to me and starts to take his gloves off. I'm still not realizing what is happening. As Scott kneels and pulls out a ring box he asks me the most precious words that have ever fallen upon my ears, "Jennifer Jaclyn Harding, I love you with all my heart. You are forever the apple of my eye. Will you marry me?". I was so shocked (yes my hemet was still on lol) that I looked around and asked if he was serious and kept asking until he answered back yes, after all he had told me I didn't need those cute outfits when packing! I said "yes I will! Yes of course", which made it the easiest decision of my entire life. I have to add, he had told me in 2017 that I was the apple of his eye casually over sushi and he kept saying it periodically, possibly the most sincere and sweet phrase anyone has ever said to me. That made it all the more special when he said the same sweet words to me in our proposal and then pointed out to me the apple he had Theo put in the underside of my ring, and the band inscribed with forever the apple of my eye.
We skied anywhere from a dozen or more ski runs just him and me, on the back side of the mountain with clear blue skies above us, and my left ring finger now decorated by the most beautiful emerald cut diamond my eyes had ever set upon, somehow far better than in October of 2019. Years from now when I recount this story to our children, I will tell them of the ski runs after the proposal, where it was just him and me on the back runs, not a soul in sight, and how I skied down the runs, tears streaming under my googles, hands and ski poles in the air, screaming at the top of my lungs "I get to marry Scott Miller, I get to marry my best friend! I'm engaged! I love you Scott!".”
Jennifer and Scott are getting married in Cabo in December! Make sure you are following Sistered States on Instagram to follow along on their wedding planning journey and big day!
