So, want to know the really exciting part of the hiking trip yesterday that I left out of my earlier post until we could tell family and friends?
Matt and I got engaged! 
I was COMPLETELY shocked!! He proposed on the summit of Old Rag with sweeping views of the mountains behind us. It could not have been more picturesque.
As I’ve said before, Matt and I have come to Charlottesville/the Shenandoahs almost every year since we started dating – it’s sort of “our place” in a way, so proposing on the top of the mountain on our favorite hike was absolutely perfect.
I’m not sure who was more shocked – me or Kath and her husband Matt, who were hiking with us! Matt asked if I would take a picture with him on one of the rocks, so I gave my camera to Kath’s Matt. We did take a picture – and then Matt proceeded to get down on one knee and propose! It worked out quite nicely that we had someone standing right near us with a camera still!
Since I know what you guys really want to see – here it is: THE RING!
Matt designed it himself with a jeweler in D.C. – the band is platinum and as you can see it’s two tear drop shaped sapphires surrounding a round diamond. The diamond was Matt’s great grandmother’s engagement stone – isn’t that cool? It makes it so much more special to have something that’s been in his family for so long. And why sapphires? They’re my birth stone and I love them.
I surprised my grad school girlfriends with the news this morning right after class. It’s going to be hard to focus on any school work today, that’s for sure! I so wish I didn’t have an exam tomorrow morning!!
Matt and I first started dating in 2004. We don’t like rushing into things, what can we say.
EEK! Congratulations! So excited for you.
What a great engagement story! I love love love the ring! It is beautiful! Congratulations to both of you.
Congratulations Anne and Matt!
CONGRATULATIONS!! I hope you’ll be sharing some fun wedding planning on the blog!
Everything about this is beautiful! Congrats!
Congratulations!!!! My husband and I waited 7 years to get engaged as well!
Congratulations! So smart of Matt to pick a time when it can all be caught on camera. Happy for you both.
That is such great news. Congratulations to you both!!!
Congrats, congrats, congrats! What a gorgeous ring and amazing proposal! I can’t wait to see the wedding planning unfold here …
Congratulations!
AHHHHHH! I totally squealed when I saw the good news on FB!!! Ahhhhh! So happy for youuu and Matt!
I AM SO SO SO SO SO SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!! The ring is so gorgeous and I love that he chose to propose there!!
YAY!! Well, you know how obessed I am with weddings so please let me know if you need help
I may be emailing you for some advice soon.
CONGRATS!!! That is so exciting and SUCH a romantic way to propose. How awesome you have photos of the engagement to have forever. Very very sweet
congrats!:)
Congrats! The location and ring are both beautiful!
The ring is BEAUTIFUL and I love the pictures…outdoorsy, hiking and backpack still on and all!
AH!! I am so excited for you!! The ring is stunning! Congratulations!!
So exciting!!!
I LOVE the ring! So unique and gorgeous!
xoxo, so exciting!!!
SOOO exciting – and holy cow did he do a great job on the ring! it’s gorgeous AND sentimental – perfection!
congrats – very happy for you the two of you!
AH! So exciting, ANNE! Congrats to you two!!
That’s amazing!!! Congratulations – such a perfect place and gorgeous ring!!
Congratulations, Anne!! It’s funny…for some reason a few weeks ago when I was reading one of your posts I had a strange feeling that you and Matt would be getting engaged soon. I have obviously never met you or Matt, so it was very weird! I am so excited for the both of you, and I LOVE your engagement ring…it’s beautiful and has such a wonderful story behind it.
How funny! And thanks
CONGRATULATIONS, Anne!! (and Matt!)
what a great place to do this – a wonderful new memory to add to the old ones!
Congrats, such exciting news
Congratulations to you both. I’m so excited for you!!
So super wonderful! Congratulations! The ring is beautiful! My stone is also a family heirloom on my husband’s side and it does indeed make it so much more special. Enjoy this time! xo
Congrats!! Don’t know if you’ll ever be able to beat that photo on the rocks on your future visits
Ha sooo true!
Congratulations to both of you! What an awesome way to get engaged. You two are such a cute couple, and I’m super excited for you. You’re going to make a beautiful bride!
Congratulations!!
Wheee!
SO excited for you two!! What an awesome proposal story
LOVE the pictures, and love how beaming & happy you look. xoxo!
Congrats!! I too dated my husband (off and on) for seven years before we got engaged. Best wishes to you!
fANNEtastic! Congratulations. Very, very pleased for you and Matt. And huge kudos to Matt for being such a romantic dude, picking such an awesome setting, and designing the ring! Really impressive and nice. Again, so pleased for the two of you!
Congratulations! You guys look so happy, and I’m so excited for y’all! (And your ring is really gorgeous!)
Hooray and huzzah!
EEEEEK!!!! So excited for you two that I screamed out loud! You are the cutest couple. Best wishes!
Hehe aw thanks!!
Awwww, congrats on your engagement! I just recently got married to my high school sweetheart after being together for 10+ years, so I understand not rushing into things.
Congrats to you too!
Congratulations!!!! That’s so exciting and what a perfect place to propose!
Wonderful news! Congratulations!
Congrats! The ring is gorgeous! I love that he proposed on your favorite hike
What an incredibly beautiful and sweet setting.
Aww, congratulations!
CONGRATS!! The proposal was so wonderful – Matt is definitely a keeper
Congrats! I got engaged this year too and have been dating my fiance since 2004. Best of luck to you both!
Congrats to you as well!
Congratulations! What a lovely ring and gorgeous pictures
Congratulations Anne and Matt. Now don’t wait seven years for the wedding, hehe.
Beautiful ring. One of my sister’s engagement ring is center sapphire surrounded by diamonds. What a romantic. I love it.
Heh definitely not another seven. We’re thinking a year, year and a half tops
Ahh! Congrats!
Hi Anne,
I started reading your blog a few weeks ago and just love it! I used to live in Chapel Hill, and I’m enjoying reading about all my old haunts!
I’ve been a “silent reader” to this point, but wanted to send a big congratulations your way after reading this post! Getting engaged is such an exciting time, and I hope you both enjoy every second of it!
Thanks for de-lurking to say hello!
congrats anne
thats so amazing! i love that he designed the ring himself! i just love your blog and def am a new follower!
Welcome to the blog!
O’m'gosh! That is so ah-maze-ing! You and Matt seem crazy happy together. And the fact that the diamond is a family heirloom is such a wonderful gesture. All the best to both of you.
Congrats! Me and my hubby dated 6 and a half years before getting engaged and another 1.5 years before we got married
All the cool kids date for a million years before getting married
So excited for you! Congrats.
Congratulations!
OMG!!! He succeeded in getting you distracted and hire excellent wedding photographers! Smart guy! Congratulations!!
Awww congratulations! I bet Matt was super nervous carrying a diamond ring to the top of a mountain…I know I would be!
For real!
It’s a beautiful ring, just like you. I wish you two a long life of happiness together.
Congratulations, Anne!!
Congratulations!! Just got engaged about 6 weeks ago to my bf from high school … dated for a loong time too! Can’t wait to read all about your wedding planning adventures
Congratulations to you too!
YAY!! How exciting!! I got engaged last week too! Love it!
CONGRATS!!
SO excited for you Anne! And what a beautiful and unique ring. Can’t wait to follow along with wedding planning:)
Congratulations!!! He did good!
Congratulations! Beautiful setting, beautiful ring!
congrats!!!!! love is definitely in the air this weekend. My best friend (@kyahr) got engaged as well!
Aw congrats to her as well!
Congratulations!!
Yayyyyyy!! So happy for you two! About time
Aww!! Congratulations! Beautiful Pictures! and the summit Old Rag is a great place to get engaged if I may say so myself. That is where my husband proposed too. Good Taste! Your ring is beautiful!
No way! How cool!: )
SO exciting!! That ring is gorgeous and seriously, how lucky of you to have these pictures! Congratulations to you both
Congratulations! Kath told me all about it! When I see these lovely pictures, it makes me worry what if Matt had dropped the ring and it had gone rolling off those rocks. The ring is gorgeous!
Barbara (Kath’s mom)
We joked about that after! That would have been so horrible!
I bet it’s happened. We should send out a call for dropped engagement ring stories. I had a good friend in high school who flushed a too big ring down the toilet (by mistake). Not an engagement ring but a nice one. She didn’t tell her boyfriend and used all the money she had to get a new one.
Oh man. That’s like something from a movie!
Congratulations Anne and Matt! I absolutely love the pictures and your ring! I was engaged in grad school too — it was super fun
You are GLOWING! Congrats again and can’t wait to see the ring in person…sometime!
Hopefully sometime soon!
Omg congratulations!! I think every girl dreams of how she will be proposed to, yours was such a romantic story!!
Awwwww Anne!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!! This is one of the sweetest stories I’ve ever heard!! I love, love, love this!!! And you’re beautiful photos! They’re all framers! Oh, and that ring is so sentimental….Matt did a great job!
Delurking to say congrats!!! What a great engagement story and photos to remember the event forever
I love that he incorporated your birthstone into the design. My husband wanted to do that (mine is emerald and I also love it) but he was told an emerald is “too soft” for daily wear. I’m excited to read all about your wedding planning now! 
Ahhhh I have been waiting to read the story, but the blog was down. That’s such a cute way to propose! And you have beautiful pictures
Congrats!!
Congratulations, Anne!!! I am so, so excited for you both–you seem like such a happy couple!! My fiance and I got engaged about five months ago, and we had been together for a long time, too. I hope you enjoy being engaged as much as we have–it’s been the best time in our life! I wish you both all the happiness in the world!!
Congratulations, Anne!! So exciting – all the best to both of you!
Congratulations!!! What amazing pictures to have forever for remembering!
Anne, I hardly comment but read everyday. So happy for you.
Congratulations! Gorgeous ring!
I am so happy for you two! The ring is absolutely stunning!!!!
Oh, and when I was reading about your post about the hiking trip, I thought to myself, “that would be a gorgeous place to propose to someone!” Haha!
Heh great minds think alike!
congratulations! so exciting! love how unique the ring is
Congratulations! I am a long time reader from Australia but don’t really comment – but how could I not today
Very happy for you, and what a romantic proposal (& ring)
Eeeeep!!! Congrats to the both of you!
Congratulations! What a sweet way to propose, and a beautiful and unique ring
That ring is so beautiful and that is a special and sweet way to propose. Congrats to you and Matt!!
Congrats Anne! This is the beginning of such a fun and exciting time! Take it all in.
Congratulations to Matt, too. The guy always gets left out.
Congratulations!!!
You know, when you posted earlier about going for this annual hike each year, I realized that you two had been together for a long time and wondered if you’d get engaged soon. . . and look what happened!!!
Love sapphires in a ring, so interesting and elegant. Congrats again.
congratulations… everything in its own time and happiness through all of it
We are so pleased and happy for the both of you. Looking forward to a lot of good times together and good eats! I’m glad you were surprised…that makes it special
Congrats!
congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the ring is beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!
How exciting – congratulations!
yaaaaay!!!! congratulations!
Yay, your blog is finally working again so I can now see the ring! Gorgeous
Congrats again!!
Yay Anne! When do we get the full low down you two??
So cute! Congrats.
Congratulations!!!! Great news!
Wonderful news! Very exciting. And well done, Matt! Congratulations to both!
congrats! what a surprise
that ring is absolutely stunning!!
Congratulations Anne!!! That is so wonderful. And SO sweet he designed the ring! It’s beautiful. So happy for you guys!
Wow! Awesome proposal! Congrats!
Congratulations! What an awesome proposal:)
Congratulations to you both! It’s funny, after reading that it was kind of “your spot” I had a feeling this would happen! Have fun being engaged, enjoy it and definitely enjoy planning your wedding!
So happy for you! That does seem like a perfect, personal spot for it t happen. Enjoy the giddiness of being engaged before the wedding planning kicks in!
Anne:
I LOVE your blog! My office buddy and I check it out almost every day
With that being said, CONGRATS to you and Matt! All the best – can’t wait to hear all about the wedding (when times comes). 
sm
So exciting! Congratulations!
CONGRATS! What a perfect proposal:)
Congrats, Anne!!! Hooray for having someone nearby to photograph it.
Congrats! The ring is beautiful! What a great story!
So happy for you, congrats! Very glad the blog recovered, too
AHHHHHHHHHHH
This news makes me happy
That’s got to be one of the very best proposals. Men should always propose with a view and a special spot! Congrats, Anne!
YAAAY! Glad the news is out!! CONGRATULATIONS!
I’ve been trying to get on the blog since yesterday afternoon! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
How wonderful! I totally teared up.
Congratulations to you both! I saw it first on KERF, jumped to fANNEtastic food and your blog was down, gaaak! So happy to see the story and pics now
How awesome is it that you have a picture to remember this moment?!??!?!?!? wonderful!!! Congratulations!!
Congratulations! What a cool way to propose!
Ahh CONGRATULATIONS!!! How exciting and wonderful, wishing you two happy blessings
Aww, congratulations! And the ring is very beautiful!
Congratulations friend your friends at Dole!
Have been following your blog for a while now, and am so happy for your!! Best wishes…..
Congratulations! How fitting of a proposal.Happy Planning
Amazing setting – what a sweet story! Congrats!
Congratulations! So happy for the two of you!
Oh my gosh, how exciting!!! CONGRATULATIONS to you both!!
I actually got a little teary-eyed reading your post and couldn’t be happier for you! The ring is simply beautiful and such love and thought had obviously gone into it! I’m already looking forward to all the future posts as wedding plans begin. 
Today is my 8th wedding anniversary and I wish you a lifetime of happiness with an awesome partner, as I have been blessed with these past 8 yrs. Hugs to you both!
Aw thanks
Happy wedding anniversary!
Congratulations! That is so exciting! So great you were able to get pics of all of it!
Congratulations! I am SO happy for you!
Congratulations! It’s so funny that you wrote you were engaged because when I looked at your first post, I thought to myself that it looked like a great place to get engaged. Who knew!
Congratulations Anne!
You guys are totally cute together!
Congratulations! So happy for you!!!
Congrats!! My fiancee almost proposed on top of Old Rag, but he said he was too scared he’d lose it on the way up!
We’ve been going every year since 2007!
Matt was scared about that, too! How much would that have sucked?!
CONGRATS Anne!!! I got engaged this weekend too! And we’ve been dating since 2004 also! ha. We were in Ocean City for the weekend. He thought about doing it camping or hiking but couldn’t wait, it was perfect though! So happy for you!!!
Awww congrats to you too, girl!!
So happy I can finally get on your blog today!
Congrats to you both. I can’t imagine a more picturesque spot to get engaged. What a lucky girl you are (and he a lucky guy!). Can’t wait to hear all about your wedding plans.
Eric and I were together for almost 8 years before getting hitched…sometimes taking it slow is fun.
I have been reading your blog since I found you on Spark People long ago. (And yours is the only blog I read). I am 53, live in Massachusetts and have used many of your wonderful ideas to make my life healthier and tastier. I know you don’t know me, but to me you are part of my family as I check in and read what you and Matt are doing as well as getting dietary help. I couldn’t be more thrilled for you too! Many prayers are heading your way! Make sure there’s a picture or two (or 20!) when the big day finally arrives!
What a sweet comment, Marta! Thank you so much and I’m honored and happy to hear my ideas have helped make your life healthier and tastier.
[...] « Surprise: We’re Engaged!! [...]
Yay, the blog is working again!! (I couldn’t get on to see this post last night) I am so happy for you guys!
You two make a beautiful couple and I wish you the very best always.
How exciting!!! CONGRATS…. can’t wait to see all of your postings as you plan your beautiful wedding… such fun!!! Your ring is absolutely gorgeous!!! Good luck to both of you!
Congratulations! Such a beautiful engagement story and the ring is absolutely gorgeous!
Congratulations! I love that you have actual engagement pictures! Enjoy every moment of his excitement.
*this, not his
YAY!!!! Congratulations!!!! How exciting!!! Beautiful ring, beautiful setting! And I love that you had built-in photographers for the moment!
Huge congrats to you both!
Congratulations Anne!! Such an amazing time!
Congratulations! Those are pictures you will cherish forever!
So happy for you guys! Yay!!! Congratulations!
What a wonderful engagement story! Congrats to you both! He did a great job with the ring, it is beautiful!
congrats! and the ring is absolutely beautiful. Matt defiantly gets points for that and the proposal!
Congrats Anne and to your future husband
What a great place to do the proposal.
I got married in May and I enjoyed every minute of the wedding planning process the last year or so. My advice for future bride-to-be is to enjoy every step (whether big or small) in the planning process, because you only get to do it once. It might get tedious at time but just think of the big picture.
Congrats!!!
congrats on your engaement, looks like you got quite a catch for a guy
I’m just now playing catch up with blog reading and had to tell you how EXCITED I am for you. Huge congrats!!!!!
I spent the last several days moving & am now playing catch up with all my blogs, so I just now saw your amazing news! Congratulations, Anne!
Oh my goodness, I nearly cried! Congrats Anne!
Soo happy for you both! I have been a reader for awhile now, and strangely I agree with the earlier person that commented she’d had a feeling for awhile that you two would get engaged soon. I thought the same thing! Many blessings as you start your wedding planning!
Amazing! That’s such a lovely way to do it–in nature, doing one of your favorite activiities together. Congratulations!
Congrats Anne! So excited for you and Matt and love that he proposed to you in such a special place for both of you.
CONGRATS! I am late on this, had no idea : p
I am so happy for you! How sweet the way he proposed and how SPECIAL that ring is and beautiful!!!
Congrats girl!
Congratulations!!
Beautiful engagement story and pics! Congrats again!!!!!!!!
Getting a bit misty-eyed in a doctors waiting room in Melbourne AU! Congratulations to you both!
Aw! Thanks!