The Proposal

This is John's story. For the whole story from Kari's perspective, see here.

Kari had just finished her medical boards exam and was up in Santa Barbara visiting John. She arrived late on the night of May 30th and fell asleep instantly. She had NO IDEA what was going to happen the next day. When she woke up and said goodbye to John as he left for his last day of of work, she still had NO IDEA that a plan had been set in motion.

Late that afternoon Kari had returned to Country Club Apartments to wait for her boyfriend to get done with work. She had NO IDEA what was about to happen when Evan Engle, long-time friend, former roommate and current groomsman, walked into the apartment and asked her to get her things together, he had to take her somewhere.

Evan drove her down to the beach, to the Doubletree Resort. He got out, checked her in, told her she had an appointment at the spa at 4:15pm and that she had to be in the lobby, ready to go at 7:00pm. She probably knew what was happening at this point.

 She definitely knew what was happening at this point.

Meanwhile, John also knew what was happening.

Eric Conwell, another close friend of John and Kari and another groomsman, had met up with John and Evan at the apartment. These photos are all thanks to his amazing talent.

 

The three of them went together to the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito. It was there that the actual proposal was to take place.

The San Ysidro Ranch is an old-world, old-money resort tucked away in the foothills of Montecito. The hotel is cottage style and walking through, one can hardly sense the other inhabitants. John had cleared the whole proposal plan with the management at the Ranch and had learned that it is actually quite a popular spot for proposals. However, John was pleased to learn that the place on the Ranch he liked best, a quiet lawn and lemon grove at the top of the property, was not the normal site.

It was there, at the top of the Ranch that John waited. Eric was in the bushes with a camera, Evan was stationed at the first gate (shown above) to guide Kari in the proper direction, and back at the Doubletree Kari was picked up by Joe, yet another friend and conspirator.

 

 

 

 

We had dinner at the Stonehouse, the restaurant on the property. It was delicious and a rare treat.

  

After dinner we went to Eric and Arisa's house where a group of our friends were waiting.

That is the story of the proposal