People have asked me whether or not I was surprised by the proposal…and the answer is yes and no.
We had talked about being married quite often, but in the vague future “at some point in life” kind of way. I knew it would happen eventually, so I was never very stressed about the timing. Also, I had several good friends get engaged and married within months of each other, and for the most part, I felt so involved in their nuptials that the possibility of my own wasn’t necessarily something I was actively wishing for. No offense to Wolfman or anything.
Us enjoying MOH Gray Wolf’s wedding (image via Kristen Gardner)
Then, when all those weddings wound down, I did think of it it a little more. I think it was a mixture of no longer having a wedding to talk about, and also seeing those friends in their marriages. There was something about that relationship status that was comforting, and I felt more and more that I was ready and the timing was right. I sensed a shift in Wolfman’s mindset too…and paired with a few more hints about rings and that vague future we kept referencing, it felt imminent.
So, I wasn’t surprised by the proposal in general…but I was surprised at the moment. To set the scene, Wolfman’s parents were visiting us over a long weekend, and we were getting ready to head to our favorite restaurant. We were in our room, getting dressed, and he kept starting these weird tangential conversations—I couldn’t tell what was happening or why he was trying to have a romantic conversation when we had reservations to make. I kept trying to put on shoes and try on necklaces and he was asking me whether or not I wanted to wear a ring to dinner. Super confusing! In hindsight, I see what he was doing, but it wasn’t until he reached under our bed for a box that I realized something COMPLETELY different was going on. He got down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him in our little bedroom, in the presence of our dog, Tonks. I kind of blacked out from there, but we spent a few quiet moments processing the information and telling the puppy that we were going to be proud to make her a legitimate child.
Right after the big moment: Overwhelmed, trying to do the “get the ring in the shot” pose (personal photo)
Later he would tell me that he had grander plans for popping the question. He had ordered the ring (more on that later) weeks previously, and was assured it would arrive in time for my birthday (November 5). He planned to take me to one of my favorite museums (The Phillips Collection) and ask in front of my favorite artist’s work (Mark Rothko). I had a bunch of friends coming into town that night, and he thought it perfect so they could celebrate both my 26th and our engagement (and, he admitted, avoid having to get me a proper birthday present).
But the ring wasn’t ready in time, so that plan had been changed. Still, he thought he might do the same thing, just a different day…but then he got the ring in the mail and said he literally could not have waited one more second. I’m glad he didn’t!
Did anyone else’s fiance have a proposal plan that got scrapped? Did you care that you didn’t get to experience the original idea?
What a sweet proposal! I’ve always enjoyed the thought of a proposal in private. The act itself counts much more than the setting – though it can of course add something. 
I was proposed to this past weekend after my fiance’s original plan also had to get scrapped. I had known an engagement was coming after he asked me to send him pictures of rings that i liked. Then came the series of fake outs. Since I knew he had bought a ring or was going to buy a ring, he decided to tease me.
The first time we were getting ready for a friend’s birthday party when he pulled out a ring box and simply told me “I don’t want you to go in there with out this” and inside was a brilliant pair of earrings. I was happy, but it was a ring box, not an earring box! Where was the ring?!!?
The next time, we had just arrived at our hotel for a mutual friends wedding. We were in the room when the box was pulled out again. . . ” I want to start this weekend off properly . . ” This time, a brand new shiny diamond charm for my Pandora bracelet. A wonderful gift.. but again.. it’s a ring box … where’s the ring! And now I’m getting impatient.
Turns out the ring had been left at home, in the second ring box awaiting for all of the teasers to be over. So, a Pandora bead was in it’s place. He had his best friend pick up the ring and bring it to the ceremony. I was woken up the next morning to a wonder ring box sitting on the bed next to me, followed by a brilliant proposal.
Even though it didn’t go as he had planned. I’m glad he waited until the wedding was over to propose. Didn’t want to take away from the couple’s day!
That’s so cute!
I was completely surprised by the proposal– I thought it would come this fall at the earliest. He had purchased a ring and picked it up from having it sized on 2/11/2012. His plan was to propose at his house during our low-key grab-something-as takeout-and-have-dinner Valentine’s Day. We had tickets to see Wicked the next Saturday, so that was the “official” V-day celebration as far as we were concerned. I was on my way to visit my family and do a newborn photo session for my cousin on 2/11 and was run off of the road/interstate and ended up totaling my car. Fortunately, my dog and I were safe and sound (yay Toyota Corolla!). A. met me at the accident scene to drive me home. He ended up proposing that evening at my house, after swinging by his house on the way to take me home to check on the dogs (aka- to grab the ring). He says he wanted me to remember that as the day we got engaged, not the day I had a wreck. It was an odd day, but a perfect ending;)
I LOVE intimate, private proposals like this! My story is fairly similar…Mr. A proposed in an everyday setting the day he got the ring in the mail. Silly guys just get too excited and antsy to wait! 
You guys make such a cute couple!
Aw that’s so sweet that he couldn’t wait a second longer! My FI is a pretty impatient guy, so I was so surprised to learn that he waited 2 months after he got the ring to propose on our trip to NYC, which we had planned before we talked about marriage and went ring-shopping. Men can sometimes be full of surprises!
November 5th is my birthday as well. Awe! What a sweet proposal. I am loving that you are finally making “Tonks” your legitimate child.
I had no idea my fiance was going to propose. Last Christmas was my first REAL Christmas tree and our first Christmas in our house. I was so excited to take our dog, go to the tree farm, search for the perfect one and chop it down! That’s where he orignally planned to propose, so romantic! Unfortunately the evening before we planned to go his grandmother passed away, so we ended up just going to a tree lot and getting the tree. About 2 weeks later we finally got around to decorating our tree and that’s when he proposed. I was completely caught off gaurd and like you was confused about why he wanted me to open this mysterious little box he put under the tree while I was downstairs. It seriously never crossed my mind that it was an engagement ring, I never once thought he had gone shopping for one! I was thinking they might be earrings and that he was a jerk for going over our said $50 limit! I think being surprised like that was just perfect! I’m glad you had a wonderful proposal!
We’ve been together for 7 years. The fiance was going to propose last Halloween at our friend’s bands show, in front of everyone. Then, last second, he decided not to because he felt like it would embarrass both of us shy people. He then kept bringing it up at the bar that same night. So, since he kept bringing it up, I said “well, when are you going to propose, buddy?” to which he replied “do you want to?” to my response of “do I want to what?” to his response of “do you want to marry me?”. Then he got down on one knee in the middle of a hole-in-the-wall bar, and proposed. Of course I said yes, and we proceed to drink in celebration. Seeing that we met at a bar, I think it was pretty appropriate.
That is so sweet that he couldn’t wait any longer.
We had a similar situation, just the 2 of us and our dog.. I love telling the dog “Daddy is finally marrying mom! We’ll be a real family now!”
I don’t think it could have been any more perfect. I love that he was able to surprise you a little
@Amanda26267: i really like your fiance! not only did you get an e-ring – you got some swag to go along with it!
@Merelymere: i think that’s so special that he wanted to change that memory for you. clearly e-day is a big one!
@X0JLYNN03: that’s exactly what we did!
@ersatzpnk: i like that story – brings it full circle. wolfman had mentioned that another idea he had was to go back to old town alexandria (where we met) and invite all my girlfriends who were there that night as surprise witnesses. that would have been cute too!
We also had a private proposal, just the two of us at home alone – with our kitties! I was far from surprised, but I still loved the moment.
For the record – I LOVE Wolfman’s original idea! So thoughtful!!
I love private proposals, so adorable! Its so cute that he couldn’t wait to ask. : ]
Awww such a cute intimate and private proposal! So adorable! My fiance had a few plans but he finally settled on they way he proposed which I was more than happy with!
Oh my gosh, what an adorable proposal!! I prefer quiet at home proposals any day, but that’s what Mr. Coyote did.. So I might be biased! Beautiful story. 
Mine was similar – FI had a plan to wait, but once he had the ring in hand, he just couldn’t. He did implement a new plan, using one of our cats, an engraved tag on the collar, and of course, the ring! He was acting funny and being very clingy when I got home from work and class for the day when I just wanted to veg. Little did I know, he was just full of giddy/nervous energy knowing what was coming! He put the cat on the bed as we were going to bed, and pulled out the ring after I read the tag and didn’t believe it. We had talked about it so I knew a proposal was coming (though I didn’t know he had gotten a ring), but I was completely shocked at the timing, which coincidentally was exactly one year after our biggest fight!
Mrs. Gray Wolf, Washington DC Age and Occupation: 26, Business Development Executive Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Research Scientist Engagement Date: November 11, 2011 Wedding Date: February 2013 Venue: Whittemore House About Me: I'm an ultra-organized, pun-loving, list-making, cheese-enthusiast bride-to-be. Although my day job is in cubicle land, I'm happiest in the modern art wing of a museum, having recently earned my Masters in Museum Studies. Shortly after a chance meeting five years ago, I moved in with Wolfman and haven't looked back since. We love music, movies, TV, and all things pop culture; we have an unspoken competition to be the first to share the latest YouTube sensation or indie song. Together, we've filled quite a few pages in our passports, but also love quiet nights in with a Game of Thrones marathon and our French Bulldog, Tonks (Harry Potter, anyone?). I'm planning a small, cozy winter wedding---think mercury glass and candle light---in the heart of DC. Our venue is a historic home with a lot of political charm, but needs a bit of work to be wedding-ready.
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