Our Married Life

Last night I was thinking about dates for the big day. I suggested either September 2, 2006 or September 16, 2006. I wanted some lead time as well as have a fall wedding. Summertime in Texas can be brutal as you all know. The moment I mentioned those dates, Brian got up and left the room. Later I found out why he got up…he was checking to see who UT was playing on those dates. Are you kidding me?! Luckily they’re playing UNT and Rice, so those two dates are OK with him.

Target.com just simply won’t let you set up a registry without a city, state, and date for the wedding. I know it’s so people can actually find the registry when they go to the store, but I just want to set it up so I can start adding things to it if I find something. I’m strange in that when I’m in a store I always see things I’d like, but then if anyone ever asks I always say I can’t think of anything. I’d like to put the stuff on there now, instead of telling Christina to remind me about it. There’s no chance she’ll remember either.

What if plans changed and you needed to change the information? Would it let you?

Edit: We’ve got one now, check it out here. (10/24/2005)

It’s so weeeeeeeeeeeeird!!! Ok not really, just exciting. I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s just crazy. I still feel like I’m on cloud 9. I am uber happy though, and can’t wait for the next several months.

Everyone I work with pretty much knows as well as my sister. We have yet to tell our parents. The plan is to go to my parents this weekend, and then down to New Braunfels next weekend.

Now usually it works a little differently with my parents. There’s the whole traditional “Groom’s gotta ask permission” stuff which of course didn’t happen. I don’t care too much for tradition in that regards…it’s just too silly and ooogy, for me at least. Anyway, we’re going to attempt to at least respect the tradition with my family, unfortunately though, I don’t even know what it is. We’ll just bring gifts to compensate ;-)

As far as the wedding goes, I think we’re going to let this settle in the next couple months before we begin any real planning. Currently I’m just envisioning the event, who will I ask to be my bridesmaids, location, and cost/savings.

After several wrenches were thrown in my several of my original plans, Christina and I were eventually engaged on the second floor of Tiffany and Co. on Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Here’s a photo of us together about thirty minutes after it happened, and about one minute after Christina has finally calmed down enough to think straight.

I’m pretty sure everyone wants to know the details of our engagement. Some of it is pretty intimate, but I will share my side of the story. Who knows what Brian was feeling at the time…much more nervous than I was, I’m sure.

It was Monday afternoon around 3. We just got off the Circle Line cruise in NYC. We went back to the hotel and had lunch and warmed up a bit. Finally we decided to take the subway down to 5th Avenue and Madison to FAO Schwartz. On the way there, I was cold, so we stopped at street vendor to buy a 5 dollar pashmina. Dirt cheap, I know. Somehow, we stumbled upon Tiffany and Co. I had to stop and go in because it’s one of the landmarks. I also wanted to show Brian the ring I tried on the week before. After walking 4 stories of stairs, we got to the second floor. Yes, it was 4 stories…or so it seemed. We walked around, and of course no one wanted to service us; we’re just a couple of tourists. Finally I stopped. I was tired, and at that moment I didn’t really care anymore…I just wanted hug Brian. As I leaned against him, I felt his heart pounding. At that moment, I felt nothing else mattered. It was just the two of us. I actually thought he was tired from the walk or something, so I looked up and asked if he was tired and feeling ok. All of a sudden, he said something like “Here try this on”. I looked down and saw a ring in his hands. He got down on his knees and said “I love you, will you marry me?” At that moment, I didn’t know what to think. For a split second I actually thought he went to one of the sales person and asked for a ring for us to try on…but then I knew better. I grabbed him, wrapped my arms around and mumbled something like “Oh my God.” I was shocked (in a good way). It was totally random. I didn’t even say yes, until he whispered the question again. I finally realized we were in the middle of the store, and grabbed his hands so we can leave.

On the way down, I realized the ring didn’t fit, so we went back upstairs to customer service. At this moment, the ring is still being resized. I can’t wait to get it back. But most importantly, I am engaged to Brian Behrend, the man I love. I promise to make you the happiest man alive, just as you have to me. Ok enough cheese, I think I’m embarrassing him.

Of course I’ll let Brian tell you the whole story about his original plans of proposing.

Note: Brian didn’t get the ring there…although it is a Tiffany’s ring, he got it a month before the trip. Totally surprised me, since we never shopped for rings together…

:-)