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One of the most popular questions I receive is “How did you and Professor Lasertron get engaged?” It's a great story (although I'm biased), a common question, and I can easily write a long post about it!

One February night in 2007, I was up late at my apartment working on button flower orders. I was thinking about my boyfriend, and I thought “this is the man I want to marry.”

Always impatient and not one for sitting around, I decided that I ought to go after it and propose to Dave.

First, I began looking for an engagement ring. I found jeweler Kathryn Reichert through Etsy. We had previously purchased matching posey rings from her that said “Megan loves David/David loves Megan” on the inside of the band that we wore. We absolutely love them, so Kathryn was the obvious choice for David's engagement ring. She worked closely with me to create a custom piece that was perfect for him. Here they are in their unwashed glory.

I also created a little book that told the story of how we met. I illustrated each page with drawings of us.

Finally, I planned a trip to Chicago to see one of our favorite bands, VNV Nation, where I planned to pop the question. That is where I hit a snag–the trip was during David's Organic Chemistry final, and he really wanted to cancel the trip. I finally insisted and convinced him to go because I am selfish, hoping that he would be able to study on the plane and at the hotel to make up for lost time.

When we got to Chicago that April for our trip, it was so cold outside. We hadn't packed enough warm clothes and it rained every day–so miserable. I had planned to propose to him in Millennium Park, but I couldn't bear to go outside for a long walk and ended up asking him at The Chicago Diner, our favorite vegetarian restaurant.

We cried. We got free cake. Then we went to the concert. Then we came home. Then he took the Organic Chemistry final. Then he passed. Then we got married.

I hear more and more stories about women proposing to their significant others and I think it is great. Hinting around to your boyfriend about your ring size or leaving wedding magazines on the coffee table, longingly wishing that he'd get the message and propose already–that may be a dominant cultural image but it doesn't have to be your expectation in a relationship. I don't see it as an issue of feminism as much as an issue of logic–If you want something, make it happen. If you know that you and your partner are both ready for the commitment of marriage, ask already!

I was definitely scared when I asked Dave to marry me. I thought he might say no, he might hesitate, but I never thought that he'd be upset that I had asked him instead of the other way around. It's not for every couple–some people are more traditional and some men really would prefer to do the asking. But you know your partner best, and I knew that Dave would be comfortable with me taking that role.

xo

What's your engagement story? Make your own post about it on your blog, or leave a comment here!