Give us the proposal details! When? Where? How?
My experience at South Bend, Indiana started off awful. It was raining all day and night; it was cold. We were outside tailgating, watching a football game in the pouring rain, and I wasn’t wearing the right shoes. At one point, I suggested that pouring hot cocoa on our feet was a good idea. I was excited to be visiting Robbin’s alma mater, Notre Dame University, for the first time as I knew how much the place meant to him. Besides, it was the Navy vs. Notre Dame game and as active duty naval officer, Robbin was hyped to support the two biggest organizations in his life! I loved that he wanted to share the memories with me, I just didn’t expect the weekend to be that cold and wet! After the game, we headed for a beer brewhouse where we ordered flights of beer & entrees for a party of ten. I was realizing at that moment that I’d have been miserable the whole time if it wasn’t for Robbin. The next morning, we packed our bags and headed for a Sunday mass at the Notre Dame Basilica for our last stop. The rain had stopped and the remaining fall colors on the campus were vivid and still. Robbin directed us around the basilica to a grotto to share a prayer, then to the lake across the street. It was still freezing cold so I was clinging onto him close and tight. Just as we stopped to gaze over the view, I turned to hug him and saw a camera lens pointing our way. I whispered to him, “Don’t be alarmed but there is a person taking pictures of us.” He calmly responded, “She’s here for us.” He then got down on his knee and opened up a glossy red ring box to my direction asking, “Will you marry me?”.
Natalia Drause
What has been your favorite experience planning the wedding?
Definitely the food tasting. We both love food and believe a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach 🙂 Everyone remembers a good wedding meal.
How do you stay sane under the pressures of wedding planning?
Lots of bubble baths and a reminder to myself that this journey should be joyful. I could not do all this planning by myself. My family and friends have all been so supportive!
Natalia Drause
What is your favorite part of using Joy for your wedding?
We love that the website can be accessed on the Joy app and the guests can share photos in real time!
What piece of advice would you give couples to ensure that they use Joy to its fullest potential?
I’ve done my share of research on the best wedding websites, and Joy was the one! Don’t hesitate to sign up and explore all of the features. Seeing it come to life will make it feel that much more real and exciting.
Natalia Drause
At Joy we believe that even though a wedding lasts a day, joy lasts forever. What does that mean to you?
That’s beautiful. We put so much energy into planning the perfect day that we forget our new chapter doesn’t begin and end with our wedding day. It’s only the beginning!
