We were going to France!  It was the perfect time and place for proposals.  Months before I had decided that I wanted our engagement to be 'us'.  We have a neat mix of traditional and unique in our dynamic  so I wanted to do something unique for the proposal.  I wanted to propose to him too!  So I ordered a ring. 

It was a reproduction posey ring from the 1400's.  In late medieval times lovers would give each other rings with loving engravings on them like "Onli Yovrs".  They would wear them on their left hand ring finger because it was believed that there was a vein in that finger that led straight to the heart, making the power of the the message stronger and leading directly to their hearts.  From this tradition we get the wedding ring.  I chose a posey ring that said, in old French, A Vila Moii (heart shape) Gardi Le Mo, "here is my heart guard it well".  I recieved it in late February and almost didn't keep it a secret (cause I suck at secrets!)  Almost everyone around knew, except Cory!  So I busyed myself crocheting a bag to keep it in, just in case he saw it in my bag!  I was determined to ask him to marry me when he asked me.  My lovely Maid of Honour asked if I couldn't just cry... I answered no, that just wouldn't be me! 

On April 29th 2013 we left Calgary for Paris, France.  I had a list of places I thought Cory would propose at so I could be ready.  I was so on edge about being ready, since I didn't know when he was going to ask or where or how, I was getting to be a nervous wreck!  Several times I almost proposed to him just out of sheer impatience (must have been the jet lag)!  But I persevered!  At the end of our first week we went through our day at Disneyland Paris (where I almost proposed to him at least twice) and we had just watched the beautiful evening fireworks.  I had given up on it being here and today.  We were sitting at a fountan waiting for the crowd to disperse when I ask, "Penny for your thought?"  He gave me the 'one sec' and... well, see below...

One of our worst-kept secrets was that I was going to propose to Ashey on our trip to France in May of 2013. All of our coworkers were asking if I was going to, and when I told my parents, my mother laughed and shouted "I knew it!" Ashley did the favour of already picking out her ring, and all that was left to me was deciding when I would ask the most important question I've ever asked in my life.

Trying to plan a proposal in a foreign country is not an easy thing, prohibiting elaborate preparations. I just knew that I would know when the right time came. I had a few options in mind, like the belltowers of Notre Dame de Paris or the chateaux of the Loire Valley, but the right moment came at Disneyland Paris.

It was the end of the evening, right after the fireworks. Disney being Disney, we were already well-manipulated emotionally. As we sat on the edge of the fountain looking out over the castle, with a lovely Victorian-style restaurant behind us, waiting for the crowds to disperse, our conversation took a turn that made me realize this was the moment. This was it... Oh God, this was it!...

I reached into my shoulder bag and pulled out the small pumpkin carriage ring box I placed her engagement ring in and slipped down to one knee. I told her that she was my fairy tale princess come true, the love of my life, and my best friend, and asked if she would marry me. I had intended to finish with "and live happily ever after," but she told me to "hang on a second"!! [He took a breath and I thought here is my chance! - Ashley]

Gobsmacked, I waited while she pulled out the ring she bought for me. In the end, we proposed to each other.