Jennifer and Justin

Posted Monday, August 24, 2009 2:42 PM

Justin and I met in high school and we've been dating for over five years.

Last fall (2008), I went away on an exchange program. I was so happy when he flew over to visit me for a week. It was during that time I really knew I wanted to be with him forever.

The proposal for us was never a huge secret. We talked about marriage and what it’d be like. When I got home, we went ring "looking." I fell in love with the first one I tried on. I had a hair appointment after that, and Justin, well, he just went away for the hour, and I never asked where he went!

We decided to look ahead until May before getting engaged. I would’ve graduated, and we’d be in Europe. It seemed like a perfect place to get engaged. We were going to be traveling with much of my family and family-friends. Despite the fact that it was no secret to me that he was going to propose, I was nervous and excited to go on the trip!

When you're traveling with 30 people, five minutes alone outside your hotel room is hard to come by. We traveled all through Central Europe (Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic). It was practically a prewedding honeymoon! One of the places we visited was Engelberg, meaning Angel Mountain, in Switzerland. I'll admit, I couldn't take waiting anymore, so after dinner one evening, I suggested to Justin we go take a walk together. The town was so small and quiet. We walked along the streets, looking at the old buildings and the beautiful Alps in the background.

We found a park and Justin asked me if I thought the place was perfect. I said yes, and he took me over to a bench and sat me down. He got down on one knee and said, "Jennifer, I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?" Of course I said yes!

It may not have been a secret, but I couldn't have asked for a more perfect, more romantic proposal.