Blake & Avalon

How They Met

Remarkably enough, Avalon and I officially met for the first time at a brewery. It was interesting for two reasons. First, because her dad is a Brew Master and second, because I didn’t like the taste of any beer at the time. We were both there for a mutual friend’s birthday and sat on the same end of the table across from each other.

Though our first conversation together might have been an exchange of two or three sentences the entire night, I knew I wanted her as a forever person in my life. We both started attending St. Ambrose University our Freshman year and even had a class together that same year, although it would be another two years before we found ourselves having that first brief conversation.

The Proposal

As I woke I remembered seeing two things. The darkness of the early morning and the repeated words from the night before. Best Friend. Wonderful. Amazing. Falling. Marry. I fell asleep with the fear that the half rehearsed/half impromptu speech would be spoken aloud and heard in my sleep. I knew exactly what I wanted to say and at the same moment wanted to speak from the heart with every emotion I had felt for the past three hundred and seventy-two days.

I didn’t have time to question whether I spoiled the surprise for the day, so instead I woke her with the characteristic three kisses and told her it was time to wake and that I was going to go shower. The morning was a blur. I distinctly remember carefully placing the small box in our shared bag and lacing up our hiking boots. A step outside and our breath was as visible as the mild morning fog. My mind was racing as our feet moved at a moderate pace towards the Pike Place Starbucks. We both ordered a Pike Place roast coffee, black. Our pace quickened as we raced to rent our first car together, an imagining of forest and pinecone besieged trails at the forefront of our minds. I missed a step and spilt my drink onto my hand at the corner of Pine and 5th. Frustration set in as we both had problems reserving a vehicle in either of our names. An hour later and behind schedule we were on our way.

Once our boots left the gravel of the parking lot, we walked slowly, appreciating the green of the forest, the sound of the babbling water, and the resolve of the ambitious trail runner. It was not before long we were confronted with a weighty decision. Left for Lake Serene or right for Bridal Veil Falls. Ultimately, we decided to lengthen the trip with visiting the falls before the lake. The hike tested our tremulous legs as we took step after step towards the sound of the falling water, a tease of the Seattle rainfall we had not yet experienced. We reached the top in awe of the suspended water and the weathered rocks that laid beneath. Speechless as the trees parted and allowed our eyes an outward view of the landscape of the foothill.

Together we braved the current and stood upon the largest rock of the mountain we could find. Some dialogue passed and I kindly offered a drink of water. She turned around to find me level with her waist. My left knee growing cold and damp as our eyes locked and her hands met her face. From the moment, we were in love I could not wait to get the words off my mind and spoken on my breath. “Avalon, you have become my best friend, and are the most wonderful woman and amazing person that I have ever met. Ever since I have gotten to know you, I have been falling for you again and again. Will you marry me?” My words and feelings true, as concise as they were. She answered with an impatient “yes”, as if she were waiting ever since the plane had landed two days earlier. The rushing water made me reluctant to pull the ring from the safety of its firm fitting but somehow, she convinced me. With a new ring on her finger and smile on her face, we responded to the boy’s shouting from the trees. They had been watching the whole time!

The Engagement Ring

Avalon’s engagement ring is from the Maple Leaf Diamonds™ Tides of Love collection. Her ring is an 18K yellow gold and palladium halo engagement ring featuring 1 round brilliant cut Canadian diamond weighing approximately 1/3 ct. tw. and 38 round brilliant cut diamonds weighing approximately 5/8 ct. tw.

Photo Credit: Melissa Cervantes Photography