“Hunny, I’ve been researching for days on where I could take you for vacation as a surprise for your birthday. But the only thing I found that’s even remotely feasible is Napa, CA and I can’t make these kinds of decisions without running them past you first,” I ranted to Boyfriend. “So… happy birthday! You’re getting a food dehydrator instead.” 
“Well, did you find anything like… coming up soon?” He asked cryptically. 

Internal monologue- we’re totally getting engaged. Holy shit! OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG.

Then we began packing. He packed everything in front of me. Not one slightly out of place move. Then when his bag got searched at the airport and he didn’t flinch- my heart sank. It’s not happening. WTF?! But I thought… No Meg. It’s fine. You’re in love, everything is great, it will happen when it happens. You’re going on a vacation to an amazing location and you’re going to have an amazing time. 

And an amazing time it was. We were drinking wine, going to fabulous restaurants, and completely and totally blissfully happy. Engagement or not, It was the stuff cheesy romantic comedies are made of. Cue the sappy music and dovey eyes. Even in the rainy, chilly Northern California weather. 

On Friday the 13th, we woke up really early, still jet-lagged, and taking advantage of the beautifully sunny morning, we decided to go for a hike at a wilderness park just up the street from our hotel- Boyfriend’s idea clearly. If you knew him, you’d know this is a fairly typical activity for him to want to do. We start climbing the muddy trail. Boyfriend in nice shoes and myself in ballet flats, ready for a day touring vineyards and drinking wine, not just hiking up a mountain at 8 a.m.

With all ideas of seeing Boyfriend down on one knee completely out of my head, we kept hiking. The views were unbelievable. I was on a mission to see some wild pigs or mountain lions, which we were warned ran around the park but were seldom seen. Eventually, we get to apoint where we were tired, caffeine deprived and very high up the trail. Taking in the view, I snapped a few pictures on my iPhone and tried posting them to Twitter. Boyfriend asked me what I was doing and I told him and he waited patiently. It was so peaceful and quiet so I figured he was just taking in the moment. I put my phone away and asked him if he was ready to start our trek back down and find some coffee. He said yes, but stalled.”Before we go… this is probably the only time we’ll be alone the whole trip and I just can’t wait…” he got down on one knee on top of that muddy mountain and pulled out the most gorgeous ring I could have ever imagined tied to a scarlet ribbon. He said a few more things that I tried my hardest to listen to through pure shock and tears and he asked me with the largest grin on his face that I’d ever seen him have- if I’d marry him.

It was perfect. Everything. I put the amazing ring on my finger and hugged Fiance (ha!) for as long as it took both of us to stop shaking! We set the camera up on the rocks and took some pictures. I called my immediate family- who all knew already of course because he’d made a special trip home to ask them. (Yes, he really is that perfect.) And then we celebrated all day. Free champagne, free wine tastings, free reserve pours, free chocolate- everyone wanted to celebrate with us! I got a little drunk due to all the generous pours, called the rest of my family, a few friends, and even some of Fiance’s long lost friends too- Ahh the drunk dial when you’re also high on love and diamonds! Napa is the greatest place EVER to get engaged- seriously– it’s highly recommended. And by far the most incredible, romantic, wonderful, amazing, beautiful vacation I could have ever hoped for.