Our Engagement Story
HE PROPOSED!!! On August 11, 2023, the man I have been praying over my whole life asked me to become his future wife. As I am writing this post I am still getting butterflies in my stomach. I am just blown away by God’s faithfulness. My mom, dad, sister, and brother-in-law all decided to go to Vegas for the weekend for a little getaway trip. We arrived in Vegas and stayed at the Hotel Bellagio. It is such a gorgeous hotel with beautiful gardens that has fresh roses everywhere. We all got settled in and were ready to grab some dinner for the night. We ate at Noodles which was delicious. I remember sitting at the table and wondering why Nick wasn’t eating. He told me he was just a little stressed with “work” (little did I know). After a long day of traveling, we were ready to get our sleep and hit the ground running tomorrow. Nick walked me to my room and told me goodnight, but before I went to sleep he told me he had a little something for me. He told me since he won’t be able to pop the question just yet; he pulled out some little diamond earrings. My heart melted; they were so pretty and it was so so sweet of him! I reminded him that when the timing is right he will know. I went to bed early because I had a scheduled photoshoot in the morning for my rental gowns. I brought this big beautiful red gown to shoot at the gorgeous hotel. It needed its own suitcase cause it was that big! All glammed up shooting beautiful pictures near the fountains I texted Nick asking him if he could come down. I just wanted to squeeze in one picture together. While I was busy modeling the dress; my mom called Nick on the phone. Nick had been planning out where to propose weeks before while bouncing some ideas off from my family. Nothing though jumped out to him. My mom calls Nick and tells him “This is so Arika!” She is all glammed up and you couldn’t have asked for a more romantic spot. Nick looking down from his hotel room and seeing me knew that this was the moment to capture. He put on his watch and his white button-down and headed down stairs to meet me. I remember the photographer posing us by the fountain standing facing each other holding his hands. My eyes locked with his and in the moment I saw the tears rolling down his face as he his bending down on one knee. He looked up at me and asked “Will you marry me?”. My heart fills up with love and excitement knowing that I am staring at the man I had been praying over my whole life. I said…..” YES”!
