Give us the proposal details! When? Where? How?
For Christmas Jan had bought me a really cute, rustic snowshoe ornament and hid it on the tree. Once I found it, he brought out a pair of snowshoes he had bought for me (I had never gone before but kept mentioning it all the time). The holidays passed and at the end of the week, we had plans to drive up north to spend the New Years weekend with his family. This included a day to ourselves at his family cabin hidden in the woods, and you bet I had plans to break out my new snowshoes! The day prior, I had to call in sick to work for the first time ever. I had a terrible cold, so I definitely wasn’t feeling very up to par for our next holiday weekend. When we arrived at the cabin, Jan had sent me in with a few items to unload but the rest he made sure to do on his own (I assumed because I was sick or he was being gentlemanly). Once we unpacked he excitedly wanted to get ready to go out for a snowshoe while we still had daylight. We bundled up and headed out to the trails, worked up a good sweat, took in some beautiful views, and enjoyed the outdoors together. As we neared the end of the trail we were up on a hill that looked back through the trees to his family cabin. It was so picturesque, just like a postcard! Jan asked to just stop and take in the view. We stood, took pictures, and had small talk. I was ready to go get some hot chocolate but Jan stalled and that’s when he started acting really strange.
Jan kept saying nice things, smiling at me, telling me how much he loved me and how happy he was we were together. His body language became awkward and hesitant. I thought (being a nurse) maybe something was wrong and he wasn’t feeling well! Maybe he caught what I had? I started to hear some shuffles in the woods and got a bit freaked out and by this point, I was really pushing to go back to the cabin. Jan took off my gloves (I thought, huh? It’s cold man!). He started babbling about all the things he loved about me and saying that he didn’t want to go one more day without knowing I was his forever. Suddenly he was down on one knee (and snowshoe) asking me to marry him! I couldn’t contain myself. I was laughing and crying and in disbelief that this was real. The ring was a stunning vintage band with a beautiful solitaire diamond. We embraced, celebrated, it was the best moment ever, a feeling of pure elation and happiness! We rushed back to the cabin with frozen hands and smiles. Jan set up a little lunch with all my favorite items, he had pulled out a bottle of some bubbly and had a beautiful bouquet of roses hiding in the trunk of my car. Later that night he asked me to wait inside and only come out when he called me. He had set up a Chinese lantern with the date and our initials on it. We made some wishes and sent it up into the sky. It was a beautiful day and an amazing start to our new life together. If you ask him, nothing had gone to plan but I couldn’t tell the difference!
What has been your favorite experience planning the wedding?
Collecting and making all of the decor! We are using different online groups to source secondhand/used decor to help cut our costs but also up-cycle other bride and grooms DIY material. Although we are going for a wholesome look, it’s like curating our own little collection of wonderful pieces. We have had some fun crafting our own wood burned table numbers and self-cut candle holders made from a birch tree we cut down at his parent’s cabin in the woods!
How do you stay sane under the pressures of wedding planning?
I don’t! Haha. Every once in awhile after all my list making and completing, I reach a point where one detail triggers a bunch of unknowns that are still to be determined. I get overwhelmed and have a good cry. I’d have to say using your partner for exactly what they are there for…support! Talking it out and letting it flow out of your brain into the open really helps, as well as a good kiss and some cuddles.
What is your favorite part of using Joy for your wedding?
Joy is so easy to use and it has all of the key information I need. It takes so much stress off my mind!
What piece of advice would you give couples to ensure that they use Joy to its fullest potential?
Definitely, check out sample sites for inspiration, there are always ideas to go around! Be sure to play with the different layouts to see what you feel is most user-friendly for your guests.
At Joy we believe that even though a wedding lasts a day, joy lasts forever. What does that mean to you?
Always hold fast to the memories of what got you to where you are today. Celebrate life’s little triumph’s, continue choosing to love one another, and create the happiness that you want in your life!
