The Engagement
A special day.
Our engagement was very special. For those of you who haven’t heard the story (or for those of you who would like to hear it again), please read on…
The summer of 2006 was a busy one for Michael and Heather. They were getting used to their new lives in Penticton, doing lots of work on their new house, and entertaining many visitors. In addition, Michael was completing University coursework while also working from home designing websites for different clients. At the same time, Heather was working two part-time jobs as a Speech-Language Pathologist for Interior Health and getting ready to start a new position with School District 67 that September.
In mid-August, Michael mentioned to Heather that it was his grandmother Epp’s birthday at the beginning of September and wondered if they could make a trip to the coast to celebrate with her. They planned to leave for Chilliwack on Friday, September 1st. What Heather didn’t know was that in addition to visiting his grandmother, Michael had planned an elaborate engagement!
After work on September 1st, they got into their car and left for the coast. Michael was driving very quickly and Heather kept asking him to slow down. Michael explained that he had promised his father, Dan (who has an advertising company), they would stop at a hotel in Harrison on their way to Chilliwack to pick up some promotional materials he needed for a client. They had to meet this person by 8:30pm and Michael was worried about missing them. When they got to the Harrison Hot Springs Hotel (at approximately twenty after eight), Michael left Heather in the car. Several minutes later, he tapped on Heather’s window and asked if she would come inside to help him carry the materials to the car since there were more than he had anticipated. They made their way inside the hotel and towards the elevators. Heather began to wonder as the elevator made its way to the seventh floor…
As they got out of the elevator, Michael passed Heather a hotel key and she knew something was up. Using the key, she opened the door to a beautiful suite complete with a dozen red roses, champagne, and chocolate covered strawberries waiting on the table. Heather looked at Michael and he smiled and told her it was a surprise to celebrate her new job (and also a much needed getaway after such a busy summer!). Next, he told Heather they needed to hurry because he had made dinner reservations at the Copper Room, which was a restaurant in the hotel that had ballroom dancing and live music.
Before Heather could tell Michael that she hadn’t packed anything to wear for dinner and dancing, he pulled several of her dresses (that he had secretly packed) from his suitcase. He had also remembered her high heels!
Click on image to enlarge.
The Copper Room was quite the restaurant and the live band playing was great. Michael and Heather ordered some wine at their table and watched different couples dancing on the dance floor. After a few minutes, the band announced it was taking a break and would be back in fifteen minutes. Michael looked at Heather and said he wanted to go up to request a song. When he came back, they ordered their meal, and as they were waiting, the band suddenly made its way over to where they were sitting. All of a sudden there was also a spotlight on their table and the band began to serenade them with "Bella Notte". Needless to say, Heather was very overwhelmed!
Near the end of the song, Michael went down on one knee and proposed to Heather … and she said yes!!! Heather couldn’t have asked for (or imagined) a more thoughtful and romantic proposal in her wildest dreams.