After Bridget woke up on October 9th, I told her to get ready and that I had something planned but couldn’t tell her where we were going. We caught an Uber and I handed her a printed out stack of 8.5” x 11” white paper. In the packet, I had screenshots of some of the highlights of our early text history. The first packet led up to the moment where we had our first in-depth conversation. We stopped there and reminisced. There were two more spots in San Francisco: the first place that we met up one-on-one and a restaurant where I first realized I was developing feelings for Bridget. Each Uber ride had another packet of text screenshots leading up to that event.

Once we got back to the apartment, I told her to pack an overnight bag for one night. We were heading to Carmel, the first place that we said I love you to each other. Along the way, we stopped by Gray Whale Cove Trail near Pacifica with great views of the Pacific Ocean. That’s where I popped the question. I had a short speech prepared but I was pretty nervous so I’m not sure how much of it I made it through.

There was another printout of cute moments from our text history that I had planned for Bridget to read on the rest of the ride down to Carmel, but she was too excited to tell everyone that she didn’t get to read the rest of my packet until the next day. Later that day I also provided her with an official calendar of our relationship that combined important anniversaries like our first chicken pot pie and first beef stroganoff, some of our favorite meals growing up. The night wrapped up with a late-night stop at a Spanish restaurant.

Double Dutch, where we had our first in-depth conversation.

Where we hung out one-on-one for the first time!

Where John realized he was developing feelings for Bridget.

Gray Whale Cove Trail where the proposal happened.

Dinner on the night of the proposal in Carmel.