how we met

We met my sophomore year at TCU. He was a senior at the time, so I didn’t think it would ever last (how silly of me)! My sorority sister offered to set me up on a blind date for my sorority’s fall formal. The blind date she had in mind was my now-fiancé. We both agreed to the date, but it never worked out. We ended up going in the same group, however. We met for the very first time at Frog Fountain, an iconic spot on campus, for photos. It wasn’t until the bus ride to the venue that I actually spent time talking to Jake. Of course, the very first thing I asked him was, “Jake? Like State Farm?” I know, so lame. My sorority sister told me about a party trick Jake was known for. I asked him if he would show me and he said only if I danced with him. I agreed. We danced to one song before we separated ways for the rest of the night.

I didn’t think anything would end up from that one dance, but the next morning I was by Frog Fountain with my friends when a cute boy came running by. It was Jake! He looked so handsome and he stopped and said “Hi Cami!” I didn’t event think he remembered me from the night before! For the next few weeks, we kept running into each other around campus. We ran into each other at Einstein’s one day, and he was telling me about the LSAT. I figured that it had been two weeks since my formal and he still hadn’t made a move, so it was up to me. (Side note: I learned later on that he had spent those two weeks trying to get my number from our mutual friends!) I went home after lunch and sent him a meme on Facebook about the LSAT. We started talking, he asked for my number and finally a week later we went on our first date. The rest is history!

how he asked

Ever since he graduated in May 2015 we have been long-distance. I knew he was coming into town for my last sorority formal this April. A few weeks before the formal, Jake suggested we take photos around TCU’s campus and visit our memory spots since we wouldn’t have time over my graduation weekend. I, of course, was suspicious and talked to my mom about it. She told me that she knew his plan and it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. I was super bummed, but I still agreed to take pictures around campus. My friend Madison took me to get my nails done (I thought it was just for formal!) that week, and I told her that I didn’t think anything was happening soon. Fast-forward to the morning of the pictures. Jake was being extra cautious about his phone, which we normally use to play music when getting ready. He was also being very sweet and helping me get ready. I found it a bit odd, but since my mom made me doubt any chance of a proposal, I didn’t think much of it. He arranged for my best friend Brianna to take our pictures that day, so the three of us went to breakfast before. At breakfast, both were being so cautious of me getting pancake syrup on my dress, they made me wear a bib! They also kept texting at the same time, but again, I didn’t think anything of it! After breakfast, we headed to Frog Fountain (remember: this is where we first met) to take the photos. Once we got there, we noticed tons of tour groups around! Jake and my friend started freaking out, but I, oblivious to what was about to happen, didn’t understand the issue and suggested we come back later. My friend then gets the entire tour group to move so we could take a picture.

As we were posing for a photo, the tour groups around us started cheering and take photos of us with their phones. I kept asking if we were done taking the picture because I was so confused and just wanted to leave at that point. In my head, I was laughing because I was thinking, ‘haha the tour group probably thinks this is an engagement photo. Joke’s on them, it’s not!’ At that moment, Jake told me to tun around. When I turned around, I saw my friend Madison and my mom (who flew in from Ohio) holding a banner that said “Will You Marry Me?” The banner was made of all these tiny photos of us that made one giant photo.

When I turned around to face Jake, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! He actually had to ask twice because I didn’t believe it the first time! I was so in shock! Once I said yes, my other friend Ashlee popped out of the crowd with champagne and flowers. My other friend Nathan, who is also a photographer, was hiding in the tour group in order to capture the moment! We toasted with champagne and hugged everyone before calling the rest of our family on FaceTime.

We had to keep it a secret for a day, which was incredibly hard to do, but finally being able to announce that we were engaged was such an amazing moment! Getting engaged was the best moment of my life thus far, and truly, it was the most perfect proposal for us. I am so grateful for my friends and family being a part of the surprise!

Original post appeared on How He Asked. 

Special thanks to Nathan Rowe Photography and Treasured Heart Events for their help on this day!