I'm Engaged!

JC and I celebrated our 8th year anniversary on November 15, but he actually proposed a few days before. A few months ago, I came across Filipino wedding videos on YouTube. I was watching Toni Gonzaga's wedding and she and her partner married on their 8th year anniversary. I was teasing JC telling him, "You're going to propose on our 8th year!" Haha, I was honestly joking. I thought if he was going to propose he would've done it on Christmas or on my birthday. I did not know he's been planning on proposing ever since we got back from New York (He took me to New York as an anniversary, Christmas, and birthday present for me) and his plan was to really propose on or anniversary, but telling him that ruined his plan (I honestly did not know hahaha), so his plans changed. I didn't know how detailed and how much effort he gave into planning the proposal until after he did it and I asked him to tell me everything hahaha.
                                                   

This was right before he proposed.

We went to the Huntington Library on Saturday. We were in the Pasadena area and he said since he brought his DSLR, he wanted to drop by and take pictures of the view. My gosh, this place is beautiful. There are so many beautiful gardens here and everything about the proposal was just perfect.  JC had his good friend, Brandon, and his fiancee, Trish, take candid pictures of us while he proposed and also had his friend, Nikki, record while he did it. 

After proposing, Brandon offered to take some engagement photos of us, which was so awesome of him! We wanted a lot of memories of that day, especially me. 

 JC and I never had anyone to take pictures of us like that, so we felt a little awkward at first. JC was always the one behind the camera, but it was nice to be in front of it this time. I have to say the pictures came out great!

JC had the ring for a month before he proposed. Actually, he showed it to a few people, including his parents and cousins a week before he proposed. Everyone literally knew except for me and my mom and brothers.

But the surprise doesn't end there. JC also planned a surprise engagement party afterwards. JC was telling me his parents were hosting choir practice and that's why he was cleaning his house and why his dad was cooking. His dad's cooking is so good, so whenever he cooks, I don't question it, plus his parents usually host parties, so I wasn't suspicious. So a week before, JC was inviting his aunts, uncles, and cousins to his house because he told them he was going to propose.  Walking into his backyard, everyone said, "Surprise!" and I was so confused. I get there, there was food and people, but I wasn't sure if it was an engagement party or choir practice hahaha. There were decorations, balloons, and cakes, it was just amazing. He put so much effort into that day and I'm so grateful for it. That day was beyond what I expected!

Special thank you to Brandon Aquino and Trish Fructuoso for the photos, Nikki Arambulo for the video, Tita Rizza for the cakes and decorations, Tito Cadong for the food, and for everyone who came!