A Griffith Observatory Proposal

Ruth & Justin

The Proposal

I knew my birthday was going to be special, but I had no idea it would be the best day of my life. I just returned home from a relaxing morning of manicures and pedicures with my mom, and was getting ready for the day. Justin made fantastic plans for my 29th birthday. He arranged for fifty of our friends and family to join us at a Los Angeles Dodgers’ game. As an extra birthday bonus he also arranged with his friend and former co-worker, Afton, to take us on a tour of the stadium before the game. I thought, “Wow, I have the most amazing boyfriend! I get to go behind the scenes of my favorite team!” I was a lifelong fan and I was so excited.

As we were getting ready to leave the house for the tour, Afton called Justin telling him she had been at Griffith Observatory for a conference and her car died. She asked if we could pick her up on our way to the stadium. Justin seemed annoyed at this inconvenience, but I explained to him that it wasn’t out of the way at all, and it was the least we could do since she was giving us a tour.

As our car trudged up the hill, we exchanged stories about our favorite memories of being at the observatory. Afton texted that she wasn’t quite ready for us. We decided to go walk around. Waiting for her, we casually walked toward the Observatory, and Justin led me around to a small clearing on a hill overlooking Los Angeles.

He said he wanted to give me my birthday present. Baffled, I said, “I told you, you can’t get me anything, the game and tour is more than enough!” I was also confused because I didn’t see any bags around that looked like gifts. He said, “No, I wrote you a poem.” We stood together on the clearing; he took my hands, and began spilling out a jumble of wonderfully sweet words.

Before I knew it, Justin’s left hand dropped from my right hand and slid toward his pocket. I began to tremble as I realized what was happening. He slowly pulled out a small black box, opened it, and said, “So, will you marry me?”. I frantically shook my head yes, and then finally squeaked out, “yes!” As my hands shook, Justin slipped the beautiful sparkling ring onto my finger.

The Engagement Party

While I was calling my mom, Justin’s hand led me towards the back of the Observatory. I looked up and in front of me appeared my sister, then Justin’s mom, and then my mom. They had been waiting back there the whole time! We hugged, took pictures, and I showed off the ring. I kept looking at Justin because I still couldn’t believe what was happening.

Justin came over and said jokingly, “Sorry, there’s no tour, is that okay? But we do have a champagne picnic waiting for us in the park.”

Finally, Justin explained to me that it was all part of this wonderful surprise, the tour, the calls and texts to Afton, all of it. I laughed and told him he had given me the best gift I could have ever asked for.

The Engagement Ring

The ring is a princess cut diamond surrounded by 12 smaller diamonds in an antique setting with detailing around a white gold band and under the setting. Justin designed the ring.

Photo Credit: Flickr, DeviantArt