When Addison proposed, I didn't know anyone was there. The photographer hid in the bushes. Photo by Nikki Lafaille

Every now and then I mention tidbits of my own proposal. Well given that March 29th will be the one-year anniversary for my engagement, I figured I’d share the details of my own since I can’t figure out any way to celebrate this special day except reminisce

My fiancé wanted our proposal to be absolutely perfect. Being the considerate Southern Gent he is, he asked if I wanted a public or private proposal.

Being a fickle, Italian girl, I couldn’t decide.

“Private—definitely private,” I said. “No wait! Public could be sweet.”

I honestly didn’t know. Finally I told him to decide because I obviously didn’t have the slightest clue about what I wanted. All I knew I wanted was him.

The day he proposed, I didn’t suspect a thing until I got a knock on my door. My friend DeeDee smiled and handed me a “clue.”  It turns out Addison had planned a long scavenger hunt to take me to places all across town where we had sweet memories. He even somehow got the guy who moved into his old apartment where we had our first kiss to hide a clue inside. Each step of the way, a different friend of ours greeted me to help escort me to the next clue. And when I finally did find Addison in our special spot, he was waiting with a beautiful, red rose. We were alone in the mountains, just us as he nervously fumbled with his words.

Or so I thought. When he got down on one knee and I nodded an enthusiastic YES—all of the sudden there were cheers from behind us.

Friends had been watching at a distance. I didn’t even know they were there!

Since I couldn’t make up my mind about what I wanted, he did both! Not only was it intimate, but he had a photographer follow me the whole way so I’d have pictures to remember forever. I guess I got my “perfect proposal” after all.

But now a year later, I’m knee deep in wedding plans as my wedding day is quickly approaching. Some people have long engagements. Others have really short ones. Since it seems like short engagements are in the majority, there’s never really been a guide available on how to celebrate this special day. In fact, I’ve never heard of anyone doing anything to commemorate the day they got engaged.

So what do you think? How should one celebrate their one-year proposal anniversary?

Nikki