So.. I’m engaged!

I still find myself in a state of disbelief as I type this but yes, I AM ENGAGED!!

I know, what a difference six months makes huh? lol

So many of you have reached out to me to send the sweetest messages of encouragement, excitement, and love once Cecilio and I shared the good news on our social media and it’s meant the world to us, but especially me. It’s been a long journey to get to this point, and I feel so many things as I travel into this unchartered territory called engagement and marriage.

I’m grateful: I am overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude. For all the experiences, good and bad, that taught me about myself; for the therapy that’s helped me fully enjoy this moment and focus on all the wonderful people, places, and things that reside in my life instead of focusing on the things I lack; for love and patience; for God’s grace and perfect timing.

I’m excited: Every time an event planner gets engaged, an angel gets its wings! lol but seriously, this is the stuff I’ve been creating Pinterest boards about for years, the stuff I’ve helped several of my married friends navigate when they planned their weddings, and now I get to do it for my own wedding! I have a lot of ideas swirling in my head, but the great part is that my fiancée and I are on the same page about how we want our day to feel, and any of the things that I’m particular about (like the venue having exposed brick and wooden beams in the ceiling) he’s letting me decide! :)

Most of all, I’m happy. I can honestly say I’ve never felt love like this before. It took a little getting used to, the whole non-toxic vibe that he has going for himself lol. I had to learn how to just receive love, and trust that he had the best of intentions for me. And he has. And I do. He told me when he proposed that I’ve helped him become a better man but he’s also helped me grow as well. I like who I am when I’m with him. I care about myself more because I’m no longer out here living for just me. My decisions impact him as well. I think about him in nearly all the moves I make. It’s not been a cakewalk every day, but the challenges that have arisen have helped us get closer and love each other more as we worked through our differences. I really have found my person.

Now that that’s out of the way.. STORY TIME! #TheProposal

Two days before he proposed, Cecilio surprised me and shared that for our anniversary he booked a couple’s photoshoot near the restaurant we were going to eat at that day. I was shooketh. I didn’t feel like I had clothes or the makeup skills worthy of a photo shoot but I gave it my best, and pulled something from the closet and made it work!

It was a race to dodge the rain that day, but I snapped this on the way to the photoshoot at a stoplight. In my head we were celebrating the completion of my leadership program, a successful benefit season at work, his hiring to a basketball camp at Duke, AND our anniversary! Didn’t know he had more in store!

So we finally arrived to the spot that he and the photographer agreed on, Liberty State Park in NJ. At first the photographer asked us to take a few shots, then he asked us to face each other for some more pics. Cecilio then said, “I love you so much.” And I, being a dork and awkward about direct eye contact, was like “Love you too babe,” like it was nothing lol. Then he said, “You know I’m not one for speeches…” and proceeds to take a box out of his pocket and get down on one knee.

Let the ugly crying commence!

Obviously I said yes!

Still in emotional shock that this was all happening! lol it also started to rain again, so some of that water on my dress is rain, but there’s definitely my tears mixed in.

Don’t really know how to describe this picture, other than love. I just love this man so damn much!

And there it is! Officially engaged!!

So of course once we got to the restaurant I called my close friends on Facetime looking much like this when they answered lol

After dinner, we went outside to the promenade since the sun came back out! Then I had to do a Tik Tok for y’all!!

Had to give you a ring shot! For years I thought diamonds were too expensive but after seeing some alternatives that I thought I would like, as well as learning more about diamond pricing, we realized this was actually more affordable than the amethyst I was considering!

After dinner, we came back to the Bronx, changed clothes, and went to Sangria Cafe for drinks and dessert. This Co-Op City neighborhood restaurant was where we had our first date. Once I told the bartender we just got engaged and that we had our first date there, she told the DJ and he gave us a shout out! Then the bartender gave us a free round of drinks, and two other customers at the bar also bought us drinks. Then to top it off, they wrote this on our dessert plate. It was awesome!

Needless to say we had an amazing day. May 28th will go down in history as one of the best days of my life!