As any good story would have it, a bit of mischief is involved. The groom had planned a trip to the Big Island of Hawaii in February 2022 to pop the question and by this time, Iulia was on high alert to uncover when and more importantly how this event would unfold. It turns out that her new “noise canceling” headphones did not filter out engagement plans since she could hear the vague proposal plans Edy was describing to his friend over the phone. Wise to the upcoming occasion the bride proceeded to be on her best behavior for the prior weeks before the trip. Of course this aroused some suspicion from the groom but he was easily distracted by Iulia’s fancy manicure and warm disposition. Once on the big island, they started their vacation in style. Waiting for them at the airport was a burnt orange BMW convertible they would use for the next seven days to explore the local cuisine an wondrous sights. The only plans set in stone were a night-time Manta Ray encounter on the second day of their vacation and a sunset cruise on the final day of the trip; with this vague itinerary in mind Edy came up with three options for the proposal:
Plan A: Propose on the boat after the Manta Ray encounter.
Everything was set in motion as the happy couple boarded the speed boat that would transport them to the Manta Ray feeding grounds. Once on site the crew flung specialized luminous flotation devices into the water which served two purposes: the guests would hold on to the flotation device while looking into the water and the light would attract phytoplankton to the surface which in turn would attract the elusive Manta Rays. However, this strategy did not pay off right away, and the group had to wait for more than forty minutes before two Manta Rays swam up from the depths and grace them with their majestic presence. After the long wait and choppy waters, Edy could feel his sea legs give out, and needless to say, plan A was put to sleep with the fishes.
Plan B: Propose in front of the Akaka waterfall.
After the experience at sea, Edy planned on making the Akaka waterfall the perfect backdrop for the proposal, but as some would know, the weather in Hawaii is temperamental at best. The couple expected a day with overcast skies and Edy even brough his digital camera and specialized drone to capture the views and the special moment. However, about halfway into the mile long walk to the waterfall, the skies opened up and it started pouring rain. Determined not to let the rain spoil their fun, the couple continued the walk towards the waterfall basin. The views were amazing and they quite enjoyed the unexpected rainy adventure, but unfortunately, the groom was unable to execute the proposal as intended.
Plan C: Propose at the sunset cruise.
Given it was the final day of their romantic getaway, the future bride began to feel anxious about the delay and whether the proposal would even happen. Her distress was even apparent to the groom, and he tried to rectify the problem with a delicious brunch. This helped settle Iulia down, and along with a last minute snorkeling trip, Iulia was out of her funk. With the sun getting ready to set, and in a much better mood, the couple boarded the catamaran sailboat and began their cruise. The majestic yellows and reds that seemed to jump across the sky along the pod of whales passing by the sailboat were the perfect start to this romantic experience. Enjoying the views once the boat had stopped, the couple were overwhelmed with emotions in each other’s arms, and Edy knew this was the perfect moment. Edy knew that Iulia was wearing her mother’s engagement ring and feigned interest to convince her to take it off. Without hesitation, Edy slipped the engagement ring he brought on her finger. “Is this what I think it is?”, Iulia uttered in disbelief, to which Edy responded, “Is that a yes?”. This did not sit well with Iulia who expected a more traditional proposal involving a groom on one knee asking the question “Will you marry me?”. Understandably, Iulia’s expectations upset Edy and on their way back to shore he wondered if Iulia could manage to swim back to shore if he threw her overboard. Later in the evening, after time had a chance to quench their fiery hearts, Edy and Iulia took a moment to address the elephant in the room. Communicating their mutual frustrations, the couple realized how much they truly love each other regardless of the unconventional proposal that now binds them for life. Despite missing his chance this time around, Edy vowed to give Iulia a conventional proposal every time they travel to a unique location. To save on money, he would propose with Iulia’s favorite candy: a Ring-Pop! After settling in on the flight back and reflecting on the wonderful vacation the bride realized for the first time that she was actually a fiancé. Looking at her ring she admired the design and was excited to begin a life-long journey with the love of her life.