When She Said Yes: Elyse and Mark

It was a chilly January day when I was on Elyse’s family farm helping her feed her horse.  While I was watching her, I had this powerful feeling come over me… Elyse was the one I would do anything for, who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.  Well the weeks went by and as our birthday approached, I couldn’t think of a better day to ask.  Elyse and I met on our birthday, July 10th, a year before while we were out celebrating with friends in Raleigh.

We have the same taste in everything, so I knew whatever ring I picked she would love.  I searched online but nothing stood out to me.  The first jewelry store I visited was Joint Venture.  I walked right in and was pleasantly greeted by their staff.  A few simple questions and some looking and I found exactly what I wanted for Elyse. It was like the ring was waiting there for me the whole time. Once I had her parent’s blessing I started to think about how I was going to ask her.  It dawned on me that since I was asking on our birthday, I could incorporate a birthday cake into my plan.

Finally the time had come.  Since Elyse has many special memories in the "little house" on her family's farm (her grandfather’s old outdoor kitchen they restored), I couldn’t think of a better place to ask her to marry me.  Everyone was in the little house excited and waiting for me to pop the question as Elyse laughed and carried on...clueless to what was about to take place.  We began exchanging gifts and about two or three gifts later, I knew the time had come.  I grabbed that special cake box and walked over to where she was sitting.  The room got very quiet.  I told her all the reasons why I love her, opened up the box, and lowered my knee to the ground.  The cake read “Will you marry me?” and beside those words was a little heart that I gently placed her ring in.

She paused for a minute to take it all in then jumped out of her chair and gave me the best hug and kiss and said "yes!" with tear filled eyes.  I truly am blessed to have such a wonderful person to soon call my wife.  Thanks JVJ!