Our Engagement

Courtship

We met while in graduate school in San Diego. Rebecca moved to San Diego to begin her Ph.D. and start a new life in San Diego after college. She met many wonderful people while in graduate school including Tim’s roommate, Aaron Parker. Aaron introduced us in the Fall of 2004.

We became great friends throughout the first year of our relationship, and eventually began dating about a year after meeting. We shared our first kiss after a night of hanging out in the garage working on Tim’s jeep (very romantic). Tim took us on our first “real date” the next weekend which included dinner and a champagne jazz concert in Temecula, and we had a wonderful time together (we’re diverse, we know)! The first years of our relationship were spent focused on graduate school and careers, yet enjoying one another to the fullest. Our relationship continued to grow, and had MANY years to flourish (yes, we have been dating since 2005)! After many more dates, and many more kisses, Tim proposed in September 2011, a moment that we will never forget! We couldn’t be happier to spend the rest of our lives together, and feel like we have already learned so much about what life together will be like!

The Engagement (Rebecca’s Perspective)

Tim dove into the engagement process by of course, researching everything there was to know about diamonds and ring shopping. Tim began reading books to become familiar with the industry, and was most intrigued with the “engineering” of the diamond cuts and grading (aside from the pure romance of it all). Tim began to ask me about rings that I liked, and I couldn’t have been more excited to finally be talking about diamonds! Together we picked out our favorite jeweler in San Diego and designed the ring that would eventually become a symbol of our life together. Several months later, Tim told me to take a few days off of work for a surprise vacation. I of course willingly obliged. Tim planned an entire trip to Napa Valley, CA and never told me where we were going or what we were doing. After work one day, Tim and I headed to the airport where I finally realized we were flying to Sacramento (what fun!). Tim had rented a convertible Mustang for cruising in Napa Valley (not a first for us…), and we drove to Napa, CA where Tim had reserved our favorite bed and breakfast. The next day, Tim took me to our favorite winery, St. Clement and we had the entire property to ourselves. We toured the winery with a wonderful guide, sipping wine and enjoying the harvest time in the valley. After the tour, Tim had planned a picnic on the patio overlooking all of Napa Valley which was  set up for us after our winery tour. Tim brought out a wonderful bottle of wine (St. Clement, 2005 vintage). Together we shared a glass of wine, and Tim began to speak of the significance of the particular wine he had chosen. He indicated that the year was special because it was the year we had begun dating (did I say vintage? I mean it in the most literal sense of the word!), and he said the wine itself was special because it reminded him of all the wonderful times we had experienced together at St. Clement and in Napa Valley. He eventually got down on one knee and proposed, and I cried and excitingly said “YES!” We shared our lunch, and then called our families to inform them of the great news. Tim planned an amazing rest of the trip, with sight-seeing adventures, wine tasting, wonderful dinners, and even coordinated with friends who lived near-by or drove in from afar to share in the exciting time! It was a magical experience, and we are both excited to begin our journey in life together!