Hi friends! I’m Courtney (Melissa’s daughter) and I’m excited to share some big news. Many of you have followed The Inspired Room for years and have been so kind to our family, and some of you have followed my own Instagram as well. Today I’m sharing a life update and a new chapter for our family: I’m engaged!
There’s a lot I could share about the years leading up to this moment, but I want to tell the story of the day we got engaged.
You can also watch a short behind-the-scenes video of the proposal on YouTube.
UPDATE! I wrote a new post about our wedding with photos, details, and planning advice. Click through to read the full wedding post for more details.
I’d stayed at my family’s house Friday night to get some work done. On Saturday morning my boyfriend Dong came to pick me up for brunch and a pumpkin patch trip in Coupeville, about an hour away. Rain was in the forecast, so I dressed for mud in a cozy sweater, raincoat, and hiking boots. Dong chatted with my family for a few minutes, then we left; I reminded my parents I’d be back later since I was leaving my car at their house.
We crossed Deception Pass Bridge — I filmed the view and captioned it “going on an adventure!” — and stopped at Callen’s for brunch takeout. With a wait, we walked by the water; the wind was fierce that day. After brunch we went to the pumpkin patch, which was smaller than we expected. We took a few photos, looked at pumpkins and cows, and then decided to explore elsewhere.
Next we visited Price Sculpture Forest. We entered beneath the arch that reads “Wander in Wonder” and walked the trails hand in hand, enjoying the forest smells and the sculptures along the path. After completing the loop, Dong mentioned a nearby park to visit before dinner plans in Oak Harbor.
We arrived at Driftwood Park around 3:00 and started walking along the beach. It had been raining and windy, but the weather cleared and the water gleamed a beautiful blue-green. I paused to film the view and we continued along the rocky shoreline.
Dong jokingly pointed to some seaweed and asked, “is that yours?” — a silly little thing we often say to each other. A little further, he pointed again at something tucked in the driftwood: a large glass bottle with a cork. I picked it up, curious. He told me “you should look at it” and when I opened the bottle I found a scroll tied with twine. My hands were shaking as I unfolded it and read the loving words he had written.
Then Dong knelt and asked, “Courtney Lane Michaels, will you marry me?” I said yes right away, hugged and kissed him, and felt complete joy and peace in that surreal moment.
I noticed someone photographing us and smiled; it turned out to be my sister Kylee, who I thought was in Portland that day. We walked toward a charming shingled house on the beach where people were cheering on the deck. I was stunned to see so many loved ones gathered to celebrate: my parents and grandparents (who I had been with that morning), my brother from Seattle, my first-grade friend Emily with her family, my college roommate Jane, and others. They had been hiding inside to capture the surprise on video.
We went inside the cozy Airbnb Dong had rented. It was decorated for the occasion, and I spent the next hour on video calls and conversations, gradually piecing together how much planning had gone into the day: months of coordination, secret group texts, friends and family making excuses so they could be there, and even my dad hiding the bottle on the beach earlier.
I found out Dong had hidden a sign behind his back all day and kept the ring box tucked under his arm. His planning was impressive. My friends surprised me with a festive fall charcuterie board, which made the day feel even more special — fall is my favorite season, so it was perfect.
There’s a meaningful story behind my ring. The diamond in my solitaire was a gift to Dong from his mother, who immigrated from Vietnam during the war. Before she left, her mother (Dong’s grandmother) gave her family diamonds and jewelry with the wish to “take this to start a new life.” She carried them to the United States, and Dong had one of those diamonds reset for my ring, using my Pinterest for inspiration for the branch-style setting. I love the ring and the family history it represents.
The week after the proposal we visited Dong’s family and looked through albums. One photo shows his grandmother on her only visit to the U.S., which made the ring’s story feel even more special.
There’s much more to tell about our time together before and after the proposal, but this is the story of that unforgettable day. You can watch a short video of moments from the proposal below.
You can watch a short behind-the-scenes video of the proposal on YouTube.
You can also follow me on Instagram where I’ve shared more photos, answered questions, and posted highlights about the engagement and upcoming wedding planning. I’m grateful for all the kind messages we’ve received — thank you for celebrating with us. I look forward to sharing more in the months ahead.
Watch the proposal video on YouTube
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UPDATE! I wrote a new post about our wedding with photos, details, and planning advice. Click through to read the full wedding post for more details.
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The Inspired Room // Courtney // Kylee // Dwell Well Collective // Jack the Goldendoodle // Doodles at Home