Ryan proposed on November 17th, 2007.  We had planned earlier in the week to do something fun that Saturday night.  I love to dress up, so he thought it would be a good weekend before the holidays to go to a fancy restaurant.  We really didn't discuss engagment or rings much before that, although I gave him some subtle (or not so-subtle) hints.  One of my patients was a wholesale diamond distributor and, months earlier, had given me his sales pitch and his business card.  I decided that Ryan might need that in the future, so I slid it across the table one night while at dinner without saying a word :)  He put it in his pocket and, after doing his research, ended up meeting up with my patient to look at rings. 

So, I was dressed up, expecting to be going out to dinner.  When I arrived at Ryan's condo, I walked in to see a beautiful candlelit dinner.  This wasn't just any dinner, though.  This was the same exact dinner he made me on our first offical date more than a year before that.  Even down to the same bottle of wine!  After dinner, Ryan asked if I wanted to go out and get some dessert.  Of course!  Keep in mind that our usual routine for dessert was to go to White Hen and get some Ben & Jerry's.  Well, since I was all dressed up, I was expecting that we were going out somewhere.  Then Ryan suggested Ben & Jerry's from White Hen.  Ohh, and he had to return a flat bottle of Diet Coke he got from there yesterday (he grabbed a brown paper bag out of the fridge).  At this point, I'll admit, I was a little disappointed that I was all dressed up for the lady at White Hen. 

Well, we went downstairs only to find a 24-person Escalade stretch limo waiting outside for the two of us.  He was smiling and told me to get in.  He also was pleased that they decided to upgrade the limo for him (we could have fit an entire baseball team on the limo!!...).  It was beautiful.  Of course, I knew something was going on and I knew what it was.  We drove around for a while until the limo stopped in front of Adler Planetarium.  If any of you have been there, you know it has the most gorgeous view of the Chicago skyline.  This is the spot we would run to and just sit, taking in the amazing scenery each time.  We got out of the car and Ryan said some very meaningful words before getting down on his knee and asking me to marry him.  I said yes and just hugged him over and over again until, eventually, he asked, "So do you want to try this ring on???"  We got back in the limo and opened the champagne (or the "flat Diet Coke") and celebrated as we drove down Michigan Avenue to see the Christmas lights that were turned on just hours before at the Magnificent Mile parade. 

It was a wonderful night that we will never forget.  We chose to get married in the city because it means so much to both of us.

Please click on the link below to see our engagement movie. Our thanks to Eric O'Connor for capturing such unique and beautiful memories!