The Painted Wall That Changed My Life Forever

I know Mondays are usually ‘thoughts from my desk’ posts, but I’m switching things up today to share some VERY exciting news. Matthew proposed on Wednesday, and as you can imagine, I’m still floating well above cloud nine.

It was a very creative proposal, and I keep replaying it in my head over and over, wishing we could repeat the day fifty more times.

Matthew and I were closing on our loft this past Wednesday late in the afternoon. He picked me up, took me over to the loft, I opened the door, my mouth dropped, and tears immediately started flowing out of my eyes. There was a path of rose petals leading down the hallway from the front door to the living room. I stopped and, in between my tears, said Where is Tania? (our realtor and very good friend). I think I thought we were still closing, and she put rose petals down to congratulate us on the closing. Not so much (turns out Matthew closed in the morning and it was all a plan).

Matthew had to push me in the door because I was in total shock. The path of rose petals brought me to a large rose petal heart in the middle of the living room, and on the wall next to me it said, in huge white painted letters, Will You Marry Me?

I’m surprised I didn’t faint. I just stood there, mouth open nearly touching the floor, and my eyes filling up with more and more tears. Matthew turned to me in the heart of rose petals, dropped down on one knee, pulled out a ring box, and I honestly can’t remember anything he said, but I remember it being perfect.

Still standing in shock, I didn’t speak. I didn’t even say yes, until he said So is that a yes? I just cried and shook my head and somehow got the word out. 

By far, it was the most incredible moment of my life.

Both our families showed up, we all toasted with champagne, then went to dinner and celebrated. Following dinner, my parents had surprised us with a hotel room filled with champagne and strawberries. A bunch of our closest friends met us at the hotel bar later in the night to celebrate some more. We are now in Napa for the week with my family celebrating my parents 35th anniversary and our engagement.

I promise to not tun this blog into a wedding blog, but I will, of course, share tidbits along the way. I can’t wait to start planning, and to marry the love of my life.

Below are some pictures from the day and night that Matthew’s sister, Lindsay, took.

I don’t ever want to paint over that wall.

Engagement 1

Engagement 2

Engagement 8

Engagement 9

Engagement 3

Engagement

Engagement 5

Engagement 6

Engagement 7

Leave a Comment

55 Comments

  1. Annie wrote:

    What an AMAZING proposal…cutest idea ever! CONGRATS…and have an awesome time celebrating 🙂

    Annie
    The Other Side of Gray

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Thanks so much, Annie!!! xo, Julie

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  2. Lauren wrote:

    What a sweet proposal! So excited for you! Congratulations!

    Lauren
    Fizz and Frosting

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Thanks, Lauren!! xo, Julie

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  3. Kristina wrote:

    Ahh this is so cute, congratulations!!! Don’t ever paint over that wall!

    Kristina does the Internets

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Thank you!!!!!! I don’t ever want to paint over it!! xo, Julie

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  4. Alyssa wrote:

    Stop. It. This is the SWEETEST thing ever! I’m so happy for you guys–you have to keep the wall like that for at least a few months! CONGRATS CONGRATS CONGRATS!!!

    p.s. Your loft looks AMAZING. I can’t wait to see what you do with the space!

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Aw, thank you so so much Alyssa!!!!!!! xo, Julie

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  5. Rachel wrote:

    This is so amazing! You’re like the 5th blogger friend to get engaged in these past few months and I LOVE hearing all the cute proposal stories. So happy for you two! 🙂

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Awww, thanks so much!! xo, Julie

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  6. alison wrote:

    Julie that is so amazing, congratulations to you both! How romantic and sweet!!

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Thanks so much, Alison! xo, Julie

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  7. Lisa wrote:

    Best Post you’ve ever had :)! So happy for you both!!!!!!!

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Thanks, Lisa!!!! xo, Julie

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  8. amy wrote:

    oh my gosh…this is so sweet and brought a tear to my eye! that is such a sweet and thoughtful way to propose. congratulations and enjoy this special time in your life!!
    xoamy

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Awww, thank you so much!! xo, Julie

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  9. Just makes me smile over and over again!

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Awww 🙂 Me too!!! Thank you!

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  10. LesliMarie wrote:

    WOW Congrats! That is incredibly creative, and romantic! Looks like you have yourself a great guy!

    xo
    LesliMarie

    http://www.linenandtulle.com

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Thanks so much!!!!

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  11. Deborah Kaplan wrote:

    This is the best…..I am so thrilled for you both and your wonderful sweet families and extended family and friends!!!!!!

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Thanks, Deborah!!!

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  12. myra wrote:

    Julie…so happy for you and Matthew! This was your best blog post to date! So glad to see the back story in pictures! The loft is so nice! Can’t wait to celebrate with you two! Love you both!

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Thank you!!!! xo

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  13. Rachel wrote:

    OMG this is so incredibly adorable! CONGRATULATIONS! 🙂 You are a lucky woman, what a sweet and romantic proposal! 🙂 Hope you are enjoying celebrating with family and friends!

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Thank you so so much!! xo, Julie

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  14. Johanna wrote:

    Oh wow! That is so creative! Congratulations!! I absolutely love this proposal!

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Thank you!! xo, Julie

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  15. Congratulations! We got chills reading this. What a clever way to propose. Enjoy your time celebrating in Napa!

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Aw, thank you so so much! xo, Julie

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  16. BAHHH!!! I’m so excited for you just reading this! And umm, yes, girl keep that wall as is! It looks like some awesome art installation and he did an amazing job with it 🙂 Congrats Congrats Congrats!!!

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Thanks so so much!! xo, Julie

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  17. MFJ wrote:

    So sweet! So creative of him. Congratulations!

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
  18. Reina wrote:

    Congratulations Julie! That was soooo beautiful!!!! Thank you for sharing the most incredible moment of your life:)!!!! …..the beginning for you and Matthew:)!!!!!

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Aw thank you so much!!!

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  19. Oh my goodness that is the most beautiful thing! What a perfect and creative idea, congratulations to you both! Wishing you a lifetime of happiness 🙂 🙂
    xx, Emily
    shell chic’d

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Thanks so much!!! xo, Julie

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  20. Megan wrote:

    I am new to your blog and what a time to discover it! Congrats! Best way to propose ever! How exciting! Best to both of you – I’ll be checking up on your blog to stay in the loop!

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Aw, so glad you discovered the blog! Thanks so so much! xo, Julie

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  21. deanna wrote:

    That’s your MOST EXCITING BLOG so far!!! So happy for you and the whole family. Can’t wait to hear more engagement news…Love, Auntie Deanna

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Thank you!!! See you soon! xo, Julie

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  22. Gwen wrote:

    That is just incredible!!!! Truly! So happy for you and Matthew! xoxo

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Thank you!!!! xoxo

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  23. ashley wrote:

    Wow, that is so special and romantic! Love that wall – don’t paint it! CONGRATS!!!!

    Posted 7.8.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Thank you!!!! xo, Julie

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  24. This is the most incredible and romantic proposal I have ever seen!! CONGRATS! Please DO NOT paint the wall!

    Posted 7.9.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Thank you!!! xo, Julie

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  25. Brenna wrote:

    First of all, congratulations!!!! What a sweet proposal – that Matthew of yours is a keeper 🙂 Secondly, your new loft looks amazing! Can’t wait to hear more about the wedding and your new place.

    xx, Bubbly in Brooklyn

    Posted 7.9.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Aw, thanks so much!! xo, Julie

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  26. Jen wrote:

    I have absolutely NO IDEA how I missed this and feel so incredibly bad! Congratulations from the bottom of my heart! What an amazing proposal! I can’t wait to read all about your wedding planning process in the months to come, and please write about it as much as you want – I love all things weddings and I’ll never get tired of hearing about yours! Congrats again Lauren!

    xx jen

    Posted 7.22.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Awww, don’t worry at all!! Thank you so so much for the sweet wishes!! xo, Julie

      Posted 7.23.13 Reply
  27. Vee wrote:

    This is the most adorable proposal I have ever seen. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. Treasure those moments.

    Posted 8.2.13 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Thank you so so much!! xo, Julie

      Posted 8.5.13 Reply