Our Proposal Story
I roll over to stop the humming of my 8 AM alarm, each note reminding me that today is the day, our mini-vacation from the city. A shocking glance in the mirror reminds me that my third-day hair desperately needs a wash before our 7.5 hour drive. I wash my hair, throw on my athletic clothes, gather the air mattress for our stay at Joe’s apartment into the trunk and tuck away our suitcases, eagerly waiting for Peter to finish getting ready.
“Katie, be honest, do you like my shirt?”
“Yes, Peter!”
“No really, what do you think of my shirt?”
“Peter, I like your shirt!”
Man, he’s weird sometimes.
By 8:30 AM we are in route to Asheville, NC, more specifically to Point Lookout Vineyards. Memories of our previous year living in South Carolina flood my mind, the several visits to Point Lookout where I danced tipsily in the darkness with my best friend Maly, the same place that I drank chocolate wine beside Peter’s parents in the summer sun. I can hardly wait to be back.
“Peter, you know who would be funny to see at Point Lookout? Julia.” A flash of Julia, a photographer we had shot with last summer came to mind. She lives near the winery and is probably the only person we know that we could realistically see there. He smiles and nods.
My indie playlist guides us as we pass the hillsides to the south, only stopping for gas and BBQ at Smithfield’s, which is overall, a decent lunch spot.
“July 10th… What a day!”, Peter breaks his food-coma silence. How he knows the date is weird, especially considering how the days seem to be blending together during this pandemic.
By 2 PM, I am behind the wheel so Peter can give his eyes a break from the road. Normally he would drive the entire way, but today he wants a break to rest, and I give him just that. His phone is constantly buzzing. It’s his college buddies in a group message, he assures me. I continue the drive, singing along to my playlist.
After a couple more hours of driving, I am ready to reclaim my spot in shotgun. Staring at the road for too long sometimes gives me headaches, and I truthfully prefer staring out the window. Back to my normal spot I go. I gaze in amazement as we finally approach the mountains of North Carolina. Why did we ever move away?
The map offered us two routes to the winery, one through Asheville and the other through Chimney Rock. Considering I have never been to Chimney Rock, I suggest the ladder as a chance to see something new. Clouds begin to pour into the mountains as we approach this small town, a sure sign we were in the Blue Ridge Mountains after a nearly cloudless day.
Our trek to Point Lookout is short but intense as our wipers chase the raindrops pelting the window. Please God, please lighten the rain. There’s no way we can go to an outdoor winery like this.
The Point Lookout sign guides us to the lush green rows of vineyards, a familiar sight that is making my heart beat fast. We made it.
We pull into a parking spot at the top of the hill, and Peter suggests we wait out the rain. He is busy on his phone, texting his buddies I assume, while I sit in peace, hoping this rain will eventually calm. I glance over at the venue and think about the guests inside, likely sporting southern-casual fashion, tempting me to stay in the crop top and athletic shorts I am wearing.
“Peter, do you think I could just throw a hoodie over this?”
“Ummm… I don’t know, why don’t you wear one of the outfits you packed?”
I glance towards the backseat. A tight plaid dress and a pink skirt lay across the seats, a pair of new white sandals on the ground. Peter had helped me pick out an outfit the night before, suggesting the plaid dress.
“Uhhhh I just want to be comfortable…”
“Katie, you should wear an outfit you packed, it’ll be cute!”
Like a disappointed teenager, I reach for the skirt in the back, sliding it over my outfit for a quick in-car change. The only thing even remotely making me put this outfit on is the thought of a good photo with the mountains and a glass of wine.
Ten minutes pass and the rain appears to be lightening. I slowly open the door as Peter stands with an umbrella over my head, always such a gentleman. The muddy pathway towards the winery has me slipping as I tightly grab onto his arm, a cute sight in the reflection of the windows. Locals smile as we walk in, offering some of that southern charm that had us longing to visit in the first place.
A woman with a bedazzled mask greets us at the wine table, kindly offering us samples. I scan the list for our favorite, Javine, a wine that tastes like it was made in a chocolate factory, or perhaps even Heaven. I double-scan. Dang, it’s not on here. As the woman informs us that COVID has delayed the release of Javine for the summer, I quickly search for something new and just sweet enough for me to enjoy. Rosé.
With our wine glasses in hand, we begin to walk towards the outside of the venue, all the tables inside packed with locals. I have never seen this place so busy. A barrel in the corner catches my eye, and I begin to make my way across the room, DSLR in tow. I hardly go anywhere photo-worthy without that big boy.
Peter grins from ear to ear as we slowly sip our wine. It feels so good to be back.
I adjust my camera settings, snapping pictures of the hillside, and Peter offers to take some of me. I have him well-trained. I set up the shot, prep him on the focus function and smile as he captures this moment. These will be perfect for a future blog on this place. The sound of the shutter clicks for what be the 50th time when a man approaches us, asking about my camera and if he could take our photo. I can feel the rosé flowing through my blood as I hand off my most expensive piece of equipment to this stranger, thankful for a photo together. Okay Katie, enough pictures.
I glance over to Peter as I’m settling my gear back into my bag. He’s enjoying this view just as much as me.
“Hey uh, I’m gonna run to the bathroom quick and then grab a sweatshirt from the car!”, he says excitedly.
“Okay, sounds good.”
“Will you be here? Like stay here?”
An odd question, but then again, I can tell he’s just excited to be here.
“Yeah I’ll stay here!”
“Okay, be right back!”
I watch as he quickly races towards the bathroom while I continue to stand at the barrel as he requested. The band inside begins to play some rock music from the 80’s(?) and I glance through the crowd at all the unfamiliar faces. There is something so captivating about the energy here, it makes me feel like time has stopped. Against my previous judgement, I reach for my camera, this time to shoot B-roll of the venue as the rain stops and the clouds begin to part. It seems almost slow-motion as the clouds creep over the tree-tops and beams of light pierce through.
Peter’s grin stretching from cheek to cheek catches my eye as he walks towards me ten minutes later. That’s something I’ve always loved about him, the smile he gets when he is experiencing pure joy. It’s different than the one’s when he’s happy. This smile is sacred, it’s an extension of joy pouring out from his heart that can’t be contained by his lips.
“Hey there smiley! Why you so smiley?!”
“Ahhh, just happy to be here!”, he grins.
He grabs my hand and leads us towards the mountainside where we sat alongside his parents a year ago. I, naturally, begin to snap photos of the mountains, captivated by their beauty. After a couple pictures, Peter redirects us towards the other side of the venue where we can get a better view. Hand in hand, we are walking towards the vineyards, a beautiful green to contrast the now slate blue sky. I feel a release of my fingers as Peter begins to skip and bounce around like a child who drank too many Pixie Sticks. I laugh and enjoy the moment, he is really giddy.
Before starting our ascent up the small hill towards the vineyards, Peter suggests I drop off my bag at the car. I can just bring my camera to capture photos, I won’t need my backpack anymore. I toss it in the trunk.
Peter grabs my hand and offers to help me walk up the muddy hillside towards a rock-pile that he spotted earlier.
How did he know there was a rock-pile up there? I’ve never once noticed that before.
The muddy grass has us sliding and laughing as we slowly approach the rows of green. A stunning rainbow drapes over the sky, illuminating color across what was previously a darkened sky.
“Let’s take a selfie!!!”, Peter excitedly suggests.
Within seconds, he grabs his phone out of his pocket, and props it slightly above our heads, capturing the rainbow behind us. I watch as he swiftly drops his phone into his chest-pocket, something I’ve never seen him do before, and smile towards me. Just behind Peter’s right shoulder, about 10 yards back, I notice a photographer in a hat shooting photos of the vineyards as well. I bet she’s getting artsy photos of the rainbow.
My attention quickly refocuses to Peter, who is now fumbling for something in his pocket. He pulls a yellow Post-it note out and gives me a smile.
“Question for you…do you know what this is?”
“No”
“Have you ever seen it before?”
Oh my God. Is there…is something…what the…
“No, what is it?”
I feel my heart-rate escalating. There’s no way this is happening. My mind flashes back to a conversation two weeks ago when Peter said we should go ring shopping next weekend, we had plans to go to Georgetown and make a day of it. And what about the time that he asked how many more years we could go without being engaged? He always says we’re on the 10-year track to engagement, which means I still have another year of waiting. Or how about in the car, when he mentioned that getting engaged then staying the night at Joe’s would just be weird. Katie, there’s no way this is happening.
“So I’ve always loved you, and I’ve always known that. The day after our Nashville trip, I wrote on this Post-it note that it was time, and that I knew you were absolutely the one for me. I love you more than anybody in this world.”
All control of any muscle in my body is suddenly surrendered to adrenaline. An extreme rush of excitement and shock, quaking every part of my body. The familiar sound of a shutter clicking reminds me that there is a photographer capturing this moment. This moment that I dreamed of as a little girl. This moment that I have been hoping and praying for. I wish I could freeze time in this moment.
Peter’s leg begins to bend as I begin to squeal. This is not real. There is no way this is real. Katie, focus. Remember this moment.
“Katherine Ann Forsha, I want to know and ask you, if you’ll marry me?” He opens a red ring box holding the most beautiful sparkling diamond ring I have ever laid eyes on.
“YES”, I gasp with all my might. Lightning bolts of energy surge throughout my body as I grab for Peter. I feel as if I can see into his soul, I can feel his heart. I know I should be crying, I’ve thought about this moment for years, I should be sobbing, but the complete shock has me shrieking at a pitch higher than I knew I could make.
I instinctually lunge towards him, kissing the man who just asked me the most important question of my life.
He stands up and I quickly grab the ring out of the box, the tradition of the man sliding it on the woman’s finger now out the window. It slides onto my finger like it was perfectly created for me. Each diamond shining in the sunlight.
I squeeze his hands, fingers interlocked with mine, “I can’t believe it!”.
We rotate hugging and kissing, for what feels like hours, over the next 30 seconds. “Ahhh you guys are engaged!”, I hear a familiar voice. I look over as the photographer removes her sunglasses and mask.
“Julia!?”
I run towards her for a hug. I can not believe this. I squeeze her tight, realizing that I just got engaged and had the most talented photographer documenting all of it.
Julia directs us to run through the vineyards, which we gleefully do, hand in hand as fiancees. Photos snap as I hold him tight, finally allowing my brain to catch up with the adrenaline coursing through my veins. Katie, you are engaged. THIS JUST HAPPENED. Without thinking, I wrap my arms around Pete’s neck, clinging to him as tears roll down my face.
The next few minutes are a blur as we take a few more photos, with the most intense joy spread across our faces. Julia steps back and cues us to continue our celebration, while she, her fiancee and friend, who secretly shot videos of the proposal, head back to the winery.
I turn towards the man who just gave me the biggest surprise in the world. I need to know EVERYTHING.
Where did he hide the ring? When did he get it? When did he talk to my dad? Are we staying the night at Joe’s? Who knows he was doing this?
We stand squeezing hands for what must be 45 minutes, him unpacking his year-long planning as tears well in my eyes. As his words pour into my ears, a spiritual deep love fills my soul, a type of love that feels as close to holy as I’ve ever felt. If I could stay in this moment forever I would. I swear I can see into Peter’s soul, and him mine. The rainbow overhead serving as a physical reminder of this blessing, a smile from Heaven that no earthy-being could ever plan.
I am so in love.
The energy zooming through my body begins to slow ever so slightly and we begin our walk back towards the winery, this time with a stunning ring on my finger.
Mike, the owner of this incredible winery, stops us on our walk to offer his congratulations, and I can feel the most proud smile stretching across my cheeks. Suddenly this place seems so different, it feels sacred. Strangers stop us as we grab another glass of wine. I can feel my hand squeezing Peter’s but my body still seems to be floating above the ground. This can’t be real.
Time seems to freeze over the next hour as we sit with Julia and her crew, recapping Peter’s master plan and fawning over the perfect timing of it all. The five of us, and now several strangers, are the only one’s who know what just happened. The only one’s who witnessed the biggest moment in our relationship. It’s perfect.
Our new friends leave and I stare at Peter, then the ring, then back at Peter. Soak this in Katie.
A kind young woman brings over a bottle of white wine offering her congratulations and I feel my eyes warming, tears slowly trickling down. Random women come towards us and ask to see the ring, their eyes widening at its sparkle. “When’s the big day?”, they ask. Peter and I laugh.
The setting sun tells me it’s somewhere around 8:30 PM. We watch as the sky turns hues of pink over the mountains.
Part of my heart finds the lack of cell service to be a blessing, it’s allowing us to bask in the engagement for the first few hours, but, the other part of my heart is bursting to tell our families. First we Facetime my parents. They both share smiles as I raise my bling to the screen, simultaneously smiling and crying. “Welcome to the family!”. Wow we are about to be our own little family. Next up is his parents, who beam as we do the same. This is really happening, Katie.
We decide to call everyone else later, we will sit here and drink wine until this place closes, and that we do. I have never felt this intense of a joy, a love and peace that bursts through my soul.
This is the best day of my life.
XOXO
Katie
P.S. Stay tuned for a blog about our weekend in South Carolina after the engagement! Sneak peek: Peter surprised me with a hotel stay in our fav city :)
Details:
All these wonderful photos are courtesy of Julia Lindholm Photography.
Venue: Point Lookout Vineyards
Ring: James Allen Rings
Special S/O to everyone who kept this secret! I was completely shocked because of you, thank you.