Since we’ve checked in last, I’ve gotten ENGAGED! Such a fun time of life to float on Cloud 9 with your person and celebrate with loved ones. I’ve had many of you reach out and ask for the full proposal story, but I wanted to wait a couple weeks for the photos to come in. Well, here they are, and here is our story:

Growing up, my family spent summers in Seaside, Florida. A quaint little beach town that, back in the 90s, was much less popular than today! We stayed in the same house on the water, Southern Exposure, every year and set up camp for a long, relaxing week. We strolled the beach for shells in the morning, rode our bikes to breakfast at Modica Market for freshly baked bran muffins and orange juices swimming with pulp. In the afternoons, we went to town for ceramics painting, or I’d settle in for a game of cards at the kitchen table with my grandmother who we called “Shugie.” Margo and I lived in white, flowy dresses..I still do all these years later! Despite the trendy destination it has become, I still have a romanticized view of Seaside.

In the 10 years I have dated Chris, I have mentioned to him on countless occasions how special this place is to me; however, he had never been! This summer, we were at home in Dallas when we decided to book a trip for the two of us— no friends, no family, no weddings. Just a special getaway for two. In booking our house, we didn’t need Southern Exposure with all its bedrooms, so we chose a smaller cottage just down the road (Little Feet if anyone out there is reading this and wants a romantic vacation). Signed, sealed, delivered, we were good to go! I was ecstatic for Chris to see Seaside in person— especially in October’s off-season so it could feel empty like it used to.

We drove down 30A into Seaside at midnight on a Thursday. First thing we did after unpacking was go for a night walk on the beach and find Southern Exposure in the dark so we could both see it for ourselves. I could tell Chris was already enamored with this place—its sandy paths illuminated by white lights—and he hadn’t even seen it in the daylight yet. We turned in after that.

The next morning, we had breakfast and coffees at the market while we decided what we wanted the day to look like. (At the time, I didn’t know Chris already had a lot of it planned out!) We reserved two beach chairs for the weekend and a court for afternoon tennis, rented our bikes, and scouted which Air Stream we wanted to grab lunch from that day. We quickly settled into our spot in the sand so I could read the latest edition of The Seaside Times. I thought Chris was reading his Harvard Business Review, but as he would later tell me, he was staring at it blankly while silently reciting the proposal in his head ha! After tennis that afternoon, we headed home to get ready for dinner, which Chris said was at Bud & Alley’s— my favorite restaurant on the water. He looked up the time of sunset, and suggested we get ready a little earlier and go catch it on the beach before walking to dinner.

Fastforward a couple hours later, and we’re walking down the shore—taking in the views and all the glory that is vacation. Chris started to go into a monologue of really kind things about us, our long distance relationship, his pride in my career, etc. I thought to myself, this MUST be it. And what do you know…The boy got down on one knee and asked me for forever! If you know me, it’s needless to say the ugly tears came without cease. After hugging, he told me to look up—not only at the surprise photographer he had on the beach, but also at the beach house right above us. And there, on the balcony of Southern Exposure where I had spent my summers growing up as a little girl, were his family and mine… Jumping for joy with balloons, ready to celebrate us! I have never felt so much love.

Chris’ last surprise wasn’t dinner at the restaurant, but rather dinner inside the house. He found a chef in Seaside to come cook dinner so we could sit around that old kitchen table and celebrate! That’s where our families stayed for the weekend, and my heart could have burst with happiness and nostalgia. The rest of the weekend was spent relaxing, going on family bike rides, reading books and eating my share of friend pickles from the local burger shack. It was pure bliss— sad to see that weekend come to a close, but so very excited for all the new memories ahead. And more than anything, the luck and gratitude I feel for finding someone who cares for me in the way Chris does— it’s something that, in my lifetime, I’ll never get over. Thank you all for the love and well wishes you have sent my way the past few weeks. I am in pure, betrothed bliss!

xo,
MM

(Special shoutout to Seaside photographer Amanda Eubank for being there to capture the moment! Still tearing up over these pictures.)

Looking up to see the surprise photographer! Think I’m happy?!

Realizing we had a surprise audience in my favorite house…Our families!

Margo flew in from DC—I couldn’t believe it! She kept saying, “I finally get a brother!”

My favorite father-daughter picture to date. Both in tears here!