August 18th, 2024

One afternoon, Matthew surprised Katie with an invitation to a hot air balloon ride—an adventure she'd dreamt of for years. She had questions, of course: tethered or free? Just the two of them? Could they bring snacks? Matthew confirmed it would be a romantic sunrise flight for two—a work perk he was thrilled to share with her. Katie’s heart fluttered. Could this be it? But Matthew’s casual demeanor and a less-than-ideal ring discussion a few days prior tempered her hopes. A bracelet arrived as a pre-balloon gift, "that's it," Matthew said, "no more surprises," further convincing her that a proposal wasn’t in the cards. Heartbroken but determined to enjoy the experience, Katie pushed her hopes aside.

The morning arrived, and as they drove to the launch site, Katie checked Matthew's pockets—no ring box. "Just enjoy the morning," she told herself. The sunrise was breathtaking, and Matthew, ever-prepared, had even packed snacks, per Katie's request, using the picnic basket as the perfect hiding place for the ring. Unbeknownst to Katie, Matthew had spent the previous day crafting the perfect ring box, a rhinestone Cinderella carriage, and had entrusted it to one of the balloon company staff for safekeeping.

As they soared above Zachary, Louisiana, Matthew got down on one knee, revealing the Cinderella carriage and the most stunning ring she could imagine. She said "yes!" without hesitation.

After landing, they floated on cloud nine all day. They shared breakfast before Matthew whisked Katie off for a "just engaged" manicure. That afternoon, they snuggled up for a movie featuring Disney’s live-action Cinderella. Their perfect day concluded with church and dinner at their favorite restaurant.

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