How I Proposed To My Fiancée In 23 Complicated Steps

I've always erred toward the ridiculous side when it came to her, so why stop now?

1. Think of Something Worthy (December 2012- July 2013)

My Girlfriend, Erica, and I, had been together for 4 1/2 years at this point, and I had always leaned toward giving her a fun story whenever something important happened. You know, homemade talking stuffed animal to ask her to prom, asking her to homecoming with a note in a block of ice, roughly anything involving a road trip. Over these 7ish months I formed a plan, changed it, ran it by my filters, changed it again, and created a secret folder from which to work. Secret folders are fun! Finally, I decided I would be proposing Via Interstate Scavenger Hunt in the Summer of 2014!

2a. Try Really Hard Not to Ruin the Surprise (July 2013-March 2014)

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Me Trying Really Hard Not to Sing About My Secret Plan, Erica, Looking Hot!

Holy crap this was hard! Not helping were the dully important facts that I'm something of a blabbermouth, and that my job kept us apart for months at a time. The first part being really self explanatory, I'll add that I am sent around the country to take pictures, and if that "around the country" part doesn't place me within spitting distance of Ohio, I wasn't coming home much. Which did nothing but add to the very strong desire to talk about my awesome plan. Home for her Birthday? Secret Plan on my Mind! Thanksgiving? Secret Plan! Christmas? SEEEEECRET!

2b/3. Buy a Freaking Ring (December 2013)

Oooooo Shiny

Not sure how much I would be home from Texas between New Years and Summer, I gathered my Brain Trust (sister Caity, Best Friends Nick and Sara) to help me pick something out. After trying several awful jewelers, we came to the realization that we really loved the ring at Jared's, but then we stumbled upon it at Kay, and they undercut Jared's Price. But, because we really loved the lady at Jared's, we gave her a chance. "We make it something of a policy not to be undercut by them" Shout out to Michelle S!

4. Lock in the Date/Start Buying Non-Ring Stuff

Figuring out the date was the fun part. I had planned for the whole thing to take place July 4th weekend, as Nick would not be teaching (It was a bad winter, so June was a tossup) and I would have a three day weekend. Then Erica come to me and says her start up, LiveInteractive LLC, was going to send her to California for the summer to secure funding. Scrambling to change the date, I settled for June 7th. Since her sister graduated High School on the 6th, which is also my birthday, I knew she would be home. Then came the time to buy everything we could pre-buy Cash Cards, Plane Tickets, Metra Passes, Hotel rooms. Ya know, the fun/expensive stuff

5. Write the Notes, Pass Them Out, and Get Everyone on the Right Page (May 2014)

s3-ak.buzzfeed.com

Not Erica's man Knuckles. She has Dainty hands. My man Knuckles

Each stop on the scavenger hunt would require directions, which had to be pre-written. So I sat down one night and cranked them out. Then I had to get the letters to their destinations. The Chicago bound notes stayed with me, i split the other notes between my sisters Caity and Sam, and my friend Chelsae. Then I spent roughly everyday making sure everyone was up to speed/ managing changes. "Her best friend couldnt come? Ok, lets take her sister! What are we going to drive? Erica almost saw the logo? Quick take her to a movie to give you a chance to hide it!" That kind of thing. And Stare at the ring for the 1000th time to make sure it looked right. Plus, I still had to...

6. Ask her Parents/ Make My Mom Think I Died (May 17th)

Yeah... Im a terrible/optimistic person in that I didnt ask her parents until the last weekend. But, that wasn't the most terrible part of the plan. I told my mom I was on my way home... at 6. and I forgot to tell her I was stopping by to talk to Erica's Parents. So, Three hours later, our conversation is interrupted by my Dad, informing me that i managed to make my mom think i crashed my car. So... that ended our conversation, and I went to see my mom and receive a well deserved long distance slap upside the head from my Aunt Cindy. Highly related note: Sorry Mom, and I love you!

7. Get Very Little Sleep/Think About Everything That Can/Will Go Wrong (May 17-June 5th)

This ones pretty self explanatory, so... moving on

8."Sleep" at Her House, Set Up Everything, Leave at 5 AM (June 6th-June 7th)

By "Sleep" I mean Fake an upset stomach, while leaving the room to make sure last minute bags are packed and everything is how I want it. Then get a text from my sisters saying they're on their way with the car. Make sure Erica's sister Ashley is ready to head out/look for and not find her Ipod/ let my sisters in (they're guiding Erica/providing clues) and bolt.

9. Pick Up Best Friends/Doughnuts/Dad and Hit The Road

This was pretty simple. Play with a dog, Stack stuff in the back, Buy our fill of Doughnuts, Get my dad, head to Speedway, Head back to dads cuz he cant find his wallet. Leave without dad's wallet. Drive. Nick is my co-pilot while Dad, Sara, and Ashley take turns taking naps.

10. Goof Off in a Random Indiana Walmart 9:00 AM CT

We felt the urge for a Bathroom break/to make sure we didn't get to Chicago too too Early (our parking pass didn't kick in till 11), so we stopped to get some post drive snackage and whatnot. it was a small enough Walmart that I felt comfortable yelling for my dad. Which was fun. And i rode a bike! Woo! Heres where things get a little complicated though, because...

11. Caity and Sam Wake Erica Up, Give Her the First Clue 10:00 AM ET

Via youtube.com

Erica Aka "The World's Heaviest Sleeper" Actually gets out of bed at a somewhat decent hour due to the confusion caused by her going to sleep with me, yet being awoken by my sisters. Entertainment ensues as she is told to stop by my dads house to find me (which would make this the most misleading adventure ever) or another clue

http://youtube.com/watch?v=sSpRX3IjKpU

12. My House/Clue 2 (10:45 AM ET)

Via youtube.com

So this one was kinda boring, but I couldn't think of anything, so I just set the clue on my bed. But It Told her to try my Mom's house...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ocS6ykixxt8

13. My Mom's House/ Clue 3 (11:00 AM)

Erica arrived at my Mom's house, where I had given my little brother somewhat free reign. I only cared that the clue be delivered via a talking stuffed animal, similar to how I had asked her to prom. Collin added the happy trail of stuffed animals (borrowed from our sister Gracie) and the fantastic choice of music which he associated most with Erica. Seeings as I was not at either of my houses, and not at her house, the next clue said the next logical place to look would be her parents shop

http://youtube.com/watch?v=s3KZ8R_sndM

14. The Shop/ Clue 4

This clue recreated me me asking her to Homecoming 5 years ago. It was Sealed within a large ice heart. Much like the last time, she started by melting it, and ended up chipping away at it. Not so great for the "melting my heart" theme, but hey, whatever works. This clue told her I was not in the Dayton area, and was likely at the Easton Town Center in Columbus, or at least a clue was. But while they drove...

15. Attempt to Check In, Eat Pizza, Check In (10:00-12:30 PM CT)

Dad, me, Nick, Ashley Enjoying... Sara pulled herself away to take this so... thanks!

We made it! Unfortunately, our rooms weren't ready, so we trekked to Giordano's and had a fantastic lunch, which we took our time eating. Once we had wasted as much time as possible, we called and learned the hotel was ready for us. So we checked in and got ready while...

16. Clue 5/ One Outfit Shopping Spree and Food/Clue 6! (1:30 -3:30 PM ET)

Chelsae, Erica, Caity, Sam, and Kenzie enjoying the mall.

Erica was handed an oddly thick Clue 5 By Chelsae. It contained Instructions to pick out one outfit (and accessories, because what outfit is complete without accessories) and then eat lunch to get her second clue. It also contained two American Express Cash Cards with which to purchase said items. A Dress was bought, and they finished up with lunch at Piada. The 6th clue gave the crew instructions to travel to 6300 International Gateway Dr, Port Columbus International Airport. The girls checked Erica in and send her thru the gate with her 7th Clue. Meanwhile...

17. Leave the Hotel for a Run Thru (2:30 PM CT)

My plan was to head out from the hotel and head to the Addison Station on the Red Line, to semi map out where we needed to be. Unfortunately, my fantastic luck in these situations reared its ugly head, and reminded me that the last two clues were in my Folder. In the car. 4 blocks from the hotel. So we figured, what the hey, we'll grab the folder on the way and have plenty of time. We get to the car, for me to realize that I had left the car keys in my other pants. At the hotel. 4 Blocks away. Oops

-17. Run Back to the Hotel (2:48 PM CT)

4 Blocks, 7 flights of Stairs, no biggie.

17. (Again) Leave the Hotel (3:00 PM)

7 flights of stairs, 4 blocks= death. So it was decided that there was no time for a run thru, and got the clues out of the car, gave the airport bound crew theirs, and went back to the hotel to...

18. Suit Up! (3:45 PM CT)

Back to the Hotel, Suit Up, And Head up to Wrigley to Kill time and Wait. Oh, and take pictures with randos and drunk people who think dad's ZZ Top. Not in ZZ Top, just the entire band.

19. Erica's Flight Leaves CMH (5:10 PM ET)

Actually her Plane!

She reads a clue, Finds the half working secret playlist on her phone, and hops on board and takes off

20. Erica Lands at MDW and the 8th Clue! (5:05 PM CT [HOORAY TIME TRAVEL!)

Nick and Sara Made a Wonderful Sign For Erica to Find them With

Erica finds the group and immediately starts laughing. Once she recovers, They give her the 8th Clue, which tells her which trains to take to get to the Addison Stop. And then Nick will lead her to the last clue/me!

21. TRAIN SURF BREAK! (5:30 PM-6:15 PM CT)

22. The Grand Finale (6:15 PM CT)

As I stand nervously pressed against the gates of Wrigley Field, two things cross my mind. First, I can hear my heartbeat thru my shirt collar. Second, Erica saying "I've got my Blenders on" If she spots me, everything will have been a waste... well maybe not, but it would really put a damper on this whole thing. Luckily she misses me as she walks by, and I fall into line behind them... Note the awesome bewildered face I have when i wander into frame before Nick does me a solid and reminds me hes recording.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=GUvxBRtwMBU

23. SHE SAID YES!!!

Thanks to my Friends and Family

Nick, Sara, Chelsae, Ashley, Caity, Sam, Kenzie, Collin, Gracie, Mom, Dad, Kathy, Chip, Eric, Lisa, Josh, Nikki, Michelle S, and anyone else i could possibly be forgetting, thank you for any help/advice/leeway you gave me during my ridiculous quest, I love you all, and couldn't have asked for better help!

P.S. The Wedding

In case I didn't prove I'm a champ at the slow play, its in 2016.

UPDATE: Included links to Youtube Videos because they don't seem to be loading like the Preview