Wedding Blog: The Proposal!

So on January 10th, 2010 at around 9AM I asked Rashida Bridges to marry me and... well she said "YES!" While getting engaged wasn't a surprise, the timing/location of the proposal was a total surprise for her. With the help of some friends (Tina & Tiffany) and a group of 1st & 2nd graders, I was able to propose in what will hopefully be a memorable way! Check out the pictures from the proposal.

Down on bended knee: "Rashida Kaleen Bridges, in front of witness big & small, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Rashida and I both teach in the Safari Kids Children's Ministry (i.e. Sunday school) at Abundant Life Christian Fellowship. She teaches 1st & 2nd graders and I teach Preschoolers (3-5 year olds). I coordinated with Tina (who thought this was going to be a birthday surprise) to get Rashida out of the room for a little while so that I could set up a surprise with her kids. Once she was gone, I told the kids (most of them already know me) that "Ms. Rashida" was my girlfriend. The response I got was "ewwwwwwww!!!!" I told them that when boyfriend & girlfriend are together for a while they decide to get married and the first step is that the boy proposes to the girl. And I asked for their help.

We hug after she said "Yes" and I put on the ring

I had spelled out "WILL YOU MARRY ME?" in crayon on 15 sheets of paper and I got 15 little ones to hold up the signs for me. The rest of the kids hid around the room. Once Rashida came back into the room, they all yelled out "Will you marry Mr. Ben?!?!?!" She was obviously very shocked & surprised at the time. I popped up from behind the kids, got down on a knee and asked her (in front of witnesses big & small) to do me the honor of becoming wife. And as they say, the rest is history...

The soon-to-be-married couple: Ben & Rashida

I'm still riding high on Cloud 9. The fact that I am engaged and soon to be married is finally sinking in. I'm excited! I think it'll fully sink in on Monday when the planning officially begins... Here goes nothin'!

Head over to facebook for the rest of the proposal pictures.

Next Wedding Blog post: Let the planning begin!

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