I think it’s important to come out firmly against doing things because “you’re supposed to.” It’s fine for some aspects of life. Pay your taxes because you’re supposed to. Refrain from speeding or stealing because you’re supposed to. Hell, brush your teeth because you’re supposed to. But don’t propose to your girlfriend because you’re supposed to. Don’t spend 1 month’s salary (or whatever it is) on an engagement ring because you’re supposed to. Don’t create a romantic proposal at a fancy restaurant because you’re supposed to. Do what you want.
I absolutely think that, if it’s what you and your girlfriend/boyfriend want, you should do a traditional proposal with a diamond ring and all the works. But you should want that. No one expects it of you. And if they do, screw ‘em. Weddings are personal. Society doesn’t dictate what you should or shouldn’t do to express your love for someone.
Shannon and I want to get married, so we got engaged. We wanted to wear rings to symbolize our commitment to each other, so we went shopping. We wanted to share our lives together (and with you all), so we started this blog to document and commemorate the year that will culminate in our wedding. For us, the typical proposal over dinner with the ring covertly stashed in my pocket wasn’t reality. I would’ve felt silly, and Shannon might have said no, because it’s not the proposal she would’ve wanted. Either that, or I missed a golden opportunity and this blog will finally reveal this to her…and she’ll be pissed. But more likely, we just started talking about our wedding and realized, “holy shit, we’re engaged.” We are doing things the way we want to do them. You might see this theme come up again.
shanandmike
Shannon
Mike
