Surprise! When Nicole first proposed to me, I knew I had to plan something special to propose to her as well.

On September 7th, I arranged a day just for Nicole and me. She had no idea what was in store. As we drove towards our destination, I anticipated she’d figure it out. Sure enough, as we approached, she exclaimed, "The aquarium is over here!" I chuckled and confirmed, "Yep, that's where we're headed." She was thrilled, as she loves the aquarium, but little did she know there were more surprises ahead!

Upon arriving, I told her we’d start with a special activity before exploring the exhibits. We headed to the SeaTREK counter, where you get to scuba dive with sharks, pufferfish, stingrays, and more. Her face lit up with pure joy and excitement! I pulled out our pre-packed bathing suits, and we got ready to dive—though I had an extra special surprise hidden in the mix.

While Nicole changed, I discreetly handed the engagement ring to one of the divers. We finished getting into our wetsuits and entered the tank area. With four other participants in our group, I made sure to be the last one to enter the water. The dive was incredible; we explored the tank, fed stingrays, and marveled at the sea life.

As we approached the final corner of the tank, it was showtime! To distract Nicole, they squirted krill in her direction, drawing all the fish to her face. At that moment, the diver passed me the ring. I pointed to the glass, where our family—Mama Cruz, Bridesman Wade, Sister Christina, Sister Cyndi, Tia Eleanor, and Tio Ralph—were holding a sign that read, “Nicole, will you marry me, too?”

As Nicole turned to see the sign, confused but curious, I dropped to one knee with the ring in hand. Seeing me on one knee, still in shock, she said yes! I slipped the ring onto her finger, and it was a perfect, unforgettable moment.

Registry