Weddingbee Blog

After some minor mishaps, including lost luggage, Mr. Candy Apple and I took the train to Basel, where Daddy and Step-Mom CA met us at the train station. We went on a hike to an old castle, which was awesome.

I love traveling, and I love the history in Europe! Everywhere you go there are super-old, crumbly buildings. Daddy CA was, of course, bursting to tell me. Since he frequently tells me what my Christmas gift is before I actually receive the gift, I am VERY impressed that he kept the secret. He was talking about weddings while we were hiking (of course), but I guess I wasn’t paying attention. Mr. Candy Apple, on the other hand, was having a panic attack, worrying that I would suspect. Luckily, his then-girlfriend, now-fiance, is quite dense and doesn’t notice obvious signs.

On Sunday, May 9, 2010 (Mother’s Day!), we woke up fairly early, packed a fabulous picnic lunch that included a nice bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, grabbed our backpacks, and headed out on our scenic train ride to Interlaken. But not before Daddy CA gave me an unusually long hug and said, “You guys should just take your time! Stay two days! Maybe longer! Enjoy your time together! My beautiful daughter!” HOW DID I NOT SEE THIS COMING?!

The ride was beautiful, and I love traveling with Mr. Candy Apple. I distinctly remember thinking on the train, hopefully we will be able to travel like this as a married couple, someday. When we got to Interlaken, we decided to check in at our hotel and drop off one of our backpacks before heading up to Murren. When we checked in, the woman referred to me as Mrs. Candy Apple, which at the time I thought was incredibly ironic and slightly sad because I thought Mr. Candy Apple wasn’t going to propose, since I “knew” he wasn’t at the same place emotionally that I was. He, of course, must have been dying from holding his laughter in.

We got to our room and unpacked one of the backpacks. Now, I have a confession to make. Ever since I was little, I’ve been a bit of a snoop. I always found my Christmas presents early because I hate surprises. (Sorry, Mom and Dad!) It’s a good thing Mr. Candy Apple knows me so well. I have to say this now—I really really was not expecting him to propose. However, I wanted him to propose—-I kept thinking, If he’s ever going to propose, Murren would definitely be the perfect place. I just didn’t think he would. At all. Even so, I needed to convince myself that he wasn’t. I know it’s horrible but, while he was in the bathroom, I might have done a quick reconnaissance of the backpack we were taking up to Murren. Maybe. I didn’t find anything (OF COURSE, since he is smart and kept the ring nestled in that floss box!), which “confirmed” that he was not going to propose and made me sad. But, as I said, I really wasn’t expecting him to, so it didn’t dampen my spirits too much. I was just excited to be out traveling and hiking around with him!

To get to Murren from Interlaken, you have to take a train, then a gondola, then another cogwheel train. It’s a beautiful little trip, and it’s so fun going up the mountain. We got up to the village and it was a bit cloudy, so we decided to not go up to the Schilthorn, which is at the tip top of the mountain. (Side note: Mr. Candy Apple had tried calling ahead to see if he could rent out one of the gondola compartments so that we could have it to ourselves while he proposed, but no dice.) Instead, we decided hike up above Murren a bit and find a good place to eat our picnic because it was around lunchtime and I was starving (and maybe a little cranky that he wasn’t going to propose).

While we were in the village, we stopped and ducked into the adorable church. (You can see the church in this post—a picture I actually took while abroad in 2005.) Inside, I said a quick prayer, asking for Mr. Candy Apple to propose. I still didn’t think it would happen at that point, but I really wanted it to! No harm in asking, right?

So, we got up above the village and, after some hiking, noticed a perfect little bench perched alongside the trail, overlooking Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau. We reached the bench and dropped the backpack. (I was, of course, red faced from hiking and may or may not have been breathing heavily—totally sexy and composed.) Mr. Candy Apple somehow managed to get the ring out of the floss box without me noticing, put his arm around me, and while I was taking in the beautiful view, got down on his knee in the mud and asked me to marry him. I believe the first words out of my mouth were, “Are you serious?!” I was just so surprised!! Of course after that I said yes, and we enjoyed the perfect picnic lunch. It was really sunny and beautiful—we couldn’t have asked for more beautiful weather, and I couldn’t have planned a more perfect proposal.

Did your fiance/husband manage to surprise you with a proposal? Or did you see it coming? If you’re like me and can’t stand surprises, did you snoop around at all? Did you find the ring ahead of time?? I want stories!

All photographs are my own.