One of the best stories from Ryan's and my courtship is how it ended. I wouldn't want to deprive you of its greatness! For full effect, I will tell it from Ryan's and my point of view simultaneously. Ryan's point of view has not been embellished... Try to keep up!
Ryan: While I was in San Diego with Hilde and Gina, I had some time to window shop on my last day there. Chantal and I had looked at rings in Fort Collins a bit, so I had a pretty good idea of what she might like. I happened to go into a jewelry store, and found it. The most perfect ring for the most perfect girl. Since I had gone to a temple almost everyday in California, I didn't have to wonder anymore if Chantal was going to make me happy for the rest of my life. I inquired about the ring, heard what I wanted, and bought it. Her finger is teeny tiny so I had to have it sized, and was told that I would receive it in the mail by the following Tuesday.
The following week (I'm back home now), I ended up giving Chantal a ride to her Relief Society meeting. I took this grand opportunity to go to her parents' house and have a chat with her dad. That man loves his daughter - quite clearly - and made sure that I knew it. He decided that I would take good care of her, and gave me permission to ask her to marry me.
The next Thursday I called Chantal at work and told her to get off early. We needed to go out on a date and I had something planned!
Chantal: I got off work a couple of hours earlier than normal and headed home to get pretty. I was so excited to go out with Ryan on an official date! We had both been so busy with school until recently that it wasn't something we had done in a while. Ryan picked me up at about 5 and had a beautiful bouquet of stargazer lilies for me. The last time he had brought me flowers was for my birthday, so I knew this was something special. We got in the car and he told me, "I hope you aren't too hungry; we have a bit of a drive."
Ryan: There is an amazing Italian restaurant in Estes Park called Mama Rosa's. I had taken Chantal there for her birthday at the beginning of our relationship, and chose it for this night to "book-end" our courtship. I had called ahead to make a reservation and requested a special table.
Chantal: We got to Estes Park and I was so excited to eat at Mama Rosa's! It is so delicious. We were escorted to our table and I definitely noted the secludedness of it. It was very romantic. After we ate dinner, we ordered their chocolate cake to-go since we were both full already. We got back in the car and Ryan just started driving. We went up Trail Ridge Road. He pulled off at a trailhead and I thought, "Excuse me. I'm wearing heels and it's cold outside!"
Ryan: I'm a smart cookie. I do not overlook anything. Before we had left, I borrowed socks, hiking shoes, and a coat from my sister-in-law. I also brought my backpack with a blanket, champagne glasses, and sparkling cider. I was not messing around - this was going to be perfect.
Chantal: I could not believe how perfect this date was. I was most certainly not going to let myself think it was something it wasn't and end up being disappointed. So at this point, I still didn't think it was The Proposal. We walked up a short trail and stopped at a large rock. We laid out the blanket and watched the stars come out.
Ryan: I am a tradionalist, so I needed to be able to get Chantal standing up so that I could get down on one knee. I'm also very smooth. I took out my iPOD and put on "It Had To Be You" by Michael Buble. I asked Chantal to dance.
Chantal: Seriously, could this get any better?! We were dancing and once the song ended, Ryan began saying the most sweet things any woman has ever had the privilege to hear. So sweet, in fact, that I consider them sacred and hold them dear to my heart. Then he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Yes yes yes!!! Ryan opened the sparkling cider, and we toasted our relationship as we shared chocolate cake.
Ryan: She didn't even look at the ring.
Chantal: So you see, this was the perfect ending to our courtship and beginning of an eternity together. Even though Ryan and I had been discussing marriage for some time, this was still a total surprise to me, and there is not a single thing I would change about it.
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