Because It's Happy Engagement Day for TEAM Bass!

25. A picture of your favorite day.

 

I'm not sure if it's my absolute favorite day or not, but it's WAY up there, it was pretty awesome, and it happened a year ago today! The photos are from the dinner he planned with our families for had after he popped that incredible question, including the photo of the ring on my hand we sent out from my phone to announce the engagement. And here's the story, as we wrote it together for our wedding website:

 

"I might have something really cool to show you after work, but I'll have to update you later as to if it's in my possession by then. Have a great day! I love you so much!"

Elizabeth received this text message at 8:53 a.m. on June 16, 2010 from Alec. Elizabeth thought it might be a motorcycle helmet. Turns out it was an engagement ring. Here's how it went down:

After receiving that message, Elizabeth was slightly suspicious of Alec's "something really cool," so she consulted with her coworkers at lunch, who all assured it was no big deal, it was just an engagement ring. She scoffed at them, and told them there was no way he'd send a text message about an engagement ring. To this, one of her guy coworkers replied, "Is he a guy? He'd send a text about a ring."

When Alec and Elizabeth talked on the phone later that afternoon, he told her he was going to leave work early (meaning: at 5 p.m.) that afternoon to race her home and then he'd take her to dinner before her church orchestra rehearsal that evening. So, Elizabeth left the History Center promptly at 5 to head home.

What Alec had actually done was leave work at 4:30 p.m., go to Elizabeth's house, lock the door, spread some rose petals on the floor, shut Daphne the cat in the bedroom to keep her from eating the rose petals, decide he didn't like the way the rose petals looked, sweep up the rose petals and put them in the trash, and spend the rest of the time waiting for Elizabeth while pacing.

Elizabeth finally arrived home. And then her neighbor came across the street to talk about his camper that had been parked in her driveway for several days since a garage sale the neighbor had the weekend previous. Yes neighbor, you need to move the camper. With that taken care of, Elizabeth went to the door. Why is it locked? She started opening it and Alec finished unlocking it from the other side.

The door opened to Alec standing there with three roses in his hand. He started saying all sorts of wonderful things, and Elizabeth realized her coworkers were right. Then he got down on one knee.

"Elizabeth Mahala Baxter, will you marry me?"

"Of course I'll marry you!"

Hugs, kisses, the ring actually fit even though Elizabeth didn't really look at it for another ten minutes, and then it was time to decide where to go for dinner. Alec chose Charleston's, site of their first date. They loaded into the truck and headed that direction while Elizabeth attempted to call her parents. No answer. Frustration! They got to the restaurant and just as Elizabeth was about to ask for a table for two, Alec cut in with, "Reservation for Bass." Just past the hostess booth, Elizabeth could see the backs of her parents' and brother's heads. His family and her family were both present to celebrate the engagement.