We met in college...
For me it was just another August day in Malibu, California. The breeze was just on the verge of becoming a harsh Santa Ana gust and and the ocean was the shade of deep blue I loved most (for any non-Pepperdiners reading this: yes, I am playing this up…but not really). I walked down the steps of Pepperdine Plaza headed to the caf and was intercepted by a friend who wanted to introduce me to a Sophomore who was preparing to head out for a year abroad in Heidelberg, Germany. I remember meeting Sam and thinking "too bad he'll be gone this year."
Normally one would be ashamed to admit social media played a major role in their love story, but you'd all know we were lying if we didn't. About 3 months after Sam left, I got a snapchat from him of a bar that I loved in Heidelberg. I responded with a "look I'm sporty" snapchat from a Pepperdine basketball game and recommended he check out Le Consulat on his upcoming weekend trip to Paris. When he tagged me in an Instagram from Le Consulat just a few days later, I thought, "hm, this could be fun." Yes, we were 6,000 miles apart, but he was cute, charming, and willing to let me re-live my study abroad glory days through his travels. Why wouldn't I take him up on that Skype date next week? (That Skype date ended up lasting 5 hours)
9 months later, Sam was coming back to Malibu and I was having a heart attack. We were both going to be at a party on Stunt Road and I had no idea what to expect after getting to know each other so well from behind a screen. Naturally, beer pong seemed like a good place to start. That's when Sam asked me if I would go on a "date" with him the next day.
In true college fashion, we picked up a 6-pack of Coronitas and watched Tommy Boy together. Romantic. We've since had that beach picnic, as well as weekends in Napa, nights on Broadway, and many other more "traditional" dates. But those Coronitas are still my favorite.
5 years, 3 cities, and so many more humiliating and hilarious moments later, here we are. Engaged. And I couldn't be happier.
HE PROPOSED
A surprise proposal…
I worked for months finding the perfect ring for Cassie. Once it finally arrived, I chose May 4 as the day I was going to as her to marry me.
I could tell Cassie knew I was about to propose, so I wanted to make sure I surprised her. I got permission to work from home that day, and started laying everything out.
I ordered 100 roses to our apartment, set up two bouquets on the counter, flanking the ring box, and sprinkled the petals from the third bouquet on the floor, counter, all around the apartment. I put on the suit that I knew was Cassie's favorite, lit every candle I could find, and I waited.
About 30 minutes later I heard someone rummaging around in the apartment lobby, and then a knock on the door. When I opened it, it was Cassie, and after looking confused by me wearing a suit when I was working from home that day, she immediately knew what was happening. I grabbed her hand, walked her to the counter, where I had the ring, and asked her to be my wife.
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But the night was not over
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Although the proposal was simple, we always wanted to do something grand for our first night as an engaged couple. Cassie loves 'Old School New York' places, so I got us a suite in the towers at the Palace Hotel for the night.
We got in a car, drove up, and when we walked in they have laid out rose petals throughout the suite, chocolate covered strawberries and champagne on the dining room table, overlooking St. Patrick's Cathedral.
We took our first photos together, called all of our friends and family, and in typical Cassie fashion, started planning the wedding about 90 minutes later.