I didn't know this at the time, but it turns out Jacob had been a busy bee for the few previous days of our getaway, planning this big surprise and somehow managed to make travel arrangements for both our parents and one of his best friends, Julian from Julian Rinaldi Photography. 

The day of the proposal

Jacob had been making strange requests all of Friday, our last day of our holiday. In the morning, after breakfast, he asked me to wait by the pool and not to sit in the cabana until the staff had prepared it for us. This was his strategy to get our parents and Julian through the front doors, checked and settled into the hotel without me noticing.

While we relaxed in the cabana, our parents went off to explore Magnetic Island while Julian got to work behind his lens. His subject, Jacob and I.

When it was all clear, we went back to the hotel and swam in the pool a little longer. A few cocktails later, and we decided to go up to our room and get ready for our evening plans; a picnic which was disguised as an "inclusion of our hotel stay". 

Moments before the proposal

Just before sunset, we made our way down to the picnic site on the grounds of the resort, It was an oddly windy summers evening. Luxury Bespoke Picnics had managed a beautiful setup; a basket full of goodies, pillows, flowers. A low table stood on one end of the blanket, it held candles, wine and wine glasses and more flowers. Dreamy fairy lights were hanging off of two bamboo beams and, all overlooking the Coral Sea. It couldn’t be more perfect.

Jacob and I sat on the blanket, poured ourselves some wine while music played along in the background. He took my hand and began to tell how much he loved me. He told me that I was the most important person in his life and that he could not imagine life without me in it.

He got me to stand and distracted me while he took the ring out of (down) his pants. As I turned to face him, he began to get down on one knee. Suddenly, the world around us faded into complete silence. In that moment, there was just he and I and the loud thumping of my heart. It felt like time stood still.

He asked, “Will you marry me?” Tears had started to pour down my face, I thought I was dreaming – you could’ve pinched me but I wouldn’t have felt it.  

After a few breaths, I said “yes!” He got off his knee and placed the most beautiful ring on my finger. We were officially engaged. 

It took a while for the world around us to come to life again. When it seemed like it had, Jacob asked me to look over to my right, and there I saw our parents, and Julian, behind his long lenses smiling, capturing it all on camera. I couldn’t believe it! 

Our parents came running towards us, arms open, happiness written all over their faces and embraced us. Love most definitely filled the air, and together we all soaked up in the joy of our engagement.

We called the rest of our family and closest friends to share our magical news with them, and we were completely overwhelmed with the amount of love we received from everyone who knows us. To end our perfect evening, we had dinner on the rooftop with our parents at Miss Songs, with champagne and love stories flowing throughout the night.

Thank you to my fiancé for being so thoughtful and spoiling me on this day - a day I will cherish forever. I can’t wait to marry you!