A Short Engagement
In July, it had been almost a full year since Caitlin and I were physically in the same place, let alone the same time zone. Since she left for Taiwan in August 2020, we’ve spent over 1,225 hours on FaceTime video calls, over 2 days worth of Netflix viewing parties, and posted 1,389 photos to our shared iCloud photo album “The Adventures of Ryan and Caitlin.” During this time, we waited patiently for the global pandemic to ease and create opportunities for me to visit Caitlin in Taiwan. As we now know, Covid rates only got worse.
I had been planning to propose to Caitlin during our next vacation together. Our general plan was to get married in September 2022 when she completed her degree and returned to the the US. Unfortunately, Taiwan’s borders remained stubbornly closed suspending all tourist visas. She has a government-employee visa, however it is extremely impractical for her to leave Taiwan because she would have to miss 2 weeks of class in order to quarantine upon reentering the country. We realized we needed another option.
In early February, we decided to expedite our plans and get legally married this summer. It was an exciting decision and also one that felt completely natural. We planned to marry in a Seattle courthouse in July when Caitlin could fly back to the US after her semester ended. Also, we agreed we still would have a full wedding ceremony and celebration with our family and friends in September 2022. Despite our mutual agreement to get married, Caitlin made sure I knew I was not off-the-hook for a real, in-person proposal.
We spent the spring and early summer making arrangements. Caitlin had to get special permission to leave her region and return to the US. Luckily this was not a problem because getting married is a great excuse! Over the next several months, we announced the exciting news to our families, went ring shopping online, filed for a wedding license, and scheduled a courthouse ceremony with a Seattle municipal judge. The courthouse was closed due to Covid so we decided to hold the ceremony on the outdoor rooftop space of my apartment building. Everything was falling into place!
Caitlin arrived in Seattle on Thursday, July 1st. I had a “secret” plan to propose on a hike in just a few days but I knew it wouldn’t be much of a surprise because the destination, Bridal Veil Falls, was a clear giveaway. A new opportunity presented itself when we found out that one of Caitlin’s closest friends and her husband were also in Seattle visiting family. I called them up and we quickly made alternate arrangements…
The revised plan was to recruit Katie and Jon’s help to bring Caitlin to Kerry Park for a sunset proposal with a beautiful view of the city. Everything was going according to plan when we arrived at the park on Friday afternoon. Katie and Jon gave the signal we agreed upon — they were going to make a quick call to checkin with their babysitter (aka Grandpa).
I brushed my hand over my shirt to confirm the ring was still in the breast pocket. And then NOT according to plan, Caitlin sat down to relax on the ledge. In an attempt to casually get her to stand up, I asked if I could take her picture with city backdrop. She stood up, took off her bag, and set her sunglasses to the side. With the golden sunset light shining brightly on her face, she closed her eyes and said, “let me know when you’re ready to take the picture.”
Seizing on the perfect opportunity, I pulled the ring from my shirt pocket and got down on one knee. I said, “OK ready!” To her surprise, Caitlin opened her eyes and saw the green jade gemstone glowing in the sunset light. She shouted, “YES” and bent over to give me a kiss. I stayed down on one knee because I had not even asked a question yet! This time I asked the question, received the same answer, and placed the ring on her hand.
Less than a week later, Caitlin and I stood on the rooftop my building with the judge between us, our two witnesses at our side, and the smell of jasmine in the air from the nearby flowers. The judge was kind enough to perform a small ceremony wherein Caitlin and I, with clear minds and delighted hearts, vowed to honor and cherish each other for rest of our lives.
