The Proposal - Kris's version

Around Christmas 2008 I knew that it was time for me to start planning the proposal. I had told Trish that I was not going to propose until after she graduated, and that day was fast approaching! I knew that Trish wanted her proposal to be in front of those she loved the most so I decided to plan a “graduation party” as a cover for popping the big question.

Trish was going to China for 10 days in late February-early March so I figured that I would be able to do some of the important things while she was half a world away. I asked her mom and dad (Dan & Mary Jo) to go to dinner at The Boathouse on the Friday after Trish left, knowing that she would have no way of knowing that we were out to dinner without her. I was more nervous than I expected waiting on them to arrive. Once they got there we had a few drinks, so when I finally got enough liquid courage in me to start the conversation about why we were there Mary Jo said “Kris, don’t say anything else…..Dan, you need to tell him.” I looked at Dan as he said “Kris, before you ask us what you’re going to ask, there are a few things about Trish that you need to know.”

In the back of my mind I’m thinking that this is a joke but Dan’s face is as serious as I’ve ever seen it. Right when he almost has me convinced that he’s being sincere I look at Mary Jo who is almost in convulsions from trying to hold her laughter in! We all share a good laugh, which definitely helped ease the tension for me. I proceeded to tell them how much I loved Trish and that I would like their blessing to ask her to marry me. They were overjoyed and quickly gave me their blessing (although Mary Jo tried to tell me that in exchange for Trish’s hand in marriage that I had to give her my Avalanche! Not a chance!!).

Now that the hard part was over I got in contact with Trish’s cousin (Debbie) who is a jewelry designer. Trish told me what she generally wanted in an engagement ring and so I did some research and gave Debbie some pictures of rings that I though Trish would like. While all of this is going on I started to plan the graduation party, knowing that I was going to propose to Trish that same day. My original plan was to take Trish to the site of our first date (Maggiano’s in Kenwood) for lunch, find the approximate place in the parking lot where we first kissed and propose there.

However, I got a little ahead of myself in inviting people to the party and Trish started to catch on to my plan (props to Erin for giving me the heads up)! I could not have Trish thinking that she was on to me so I had to change things up a few weeks before the actual graduation ceremony. I invited Trish’s close friends and family to the graduation ceremony, letting them know that I was planning on proposing that day. I showed the ring off to all of them before the ceremony and told them the general plan.

We met in front of the Musketeer statue outside of the Cintas Center after graduation (I've since been told that we can photoshop that out of the pictures). Everyone was standing in a circle when Trish walked up. She gave everyone a hug and once she go to me I hugged her tight and told her how proud I was of her. She kind of started to pull away but I wasn’t going to let her goquite yet. I told her that, just like when she started her MBA 4 years ago, never thinking she would get it done, that 4 years ago I would have never thought that I would ever get to ask anyone this question. I took a step back and got down on one knee. Trish said “Oh my God!” and raised her hands to her face just like Maculay Culkin in Home Alone! I held the ring up to her and asked “Will you marry me?” I will never forget the answer…….”YES…..THANK YOU!” It was, as Trish said, one of the best days ever!