Our Story
Our Proposal
Gage proposed to me on December 23, 2013 almost a year since we first met at The Ohio State University. Gage lovingly reminds me of how special that first semester truly was. Not only did we share taking two classes together, I happened to be a teaching assistant of his in a human physiology course. Monday through Friday I would see him a minimum of five hours a day for the next five months. Gage was once skeptical of fate but has since told me that his opinion of ‘love at first sight’ where flipped up side down from the first moment he met me. He was one of the most outgoing people I have ever met and it was that personality I couldn’t help being drawn to. He didn’t hesitate either to make his interest in me known. We quickly and effortlessly learned so much about each other and before too long I felt I had known him for years.
The week prior to our engagement we went up to my parents' house in Toledo to spend the holidays with the family. Gage and I had to drive separately because he had to work and take care of some last minute things before coming up. That made me anxious but I was excited to visit my parents. When he got to my house I knew something was off. He was acting a little odd, almost nervous. Later that night I overheard him talking with my mom about us. I couldn't hear much but I knew he was going to ask my parents for my hand in marriage since he told me he wanted to. After about an hour he came to me and told me he had a wonderful conversation with my mom and that she was so happy that one day he would become her son-in-law. I proceeded to ask Gage if he was going to propose to me this holiday, but he ignored the question. I kept asking him over and over again and he finally told me that he was not asking me anytime soon. The next evening after a family dinner at our favorite Thai restaurant (the place where Gage first met my parents) Gage asked my dad if he could speak with him in private. When Gage returned from speaking with him, he had the biggest smile on his face and told me that my dad gave him his blessing to marry me. I proceeded to ask Gage when he was going to ask me to marry him and once again he ignored the question entirely. The following evening my mom's side of the family planned our yearly dinner and visit to the Lights at The Toledo Zoo. Gage knew that this was one of my favorite holiday activities. Even though I dislike the cold weather, I love to look at the beautiful lights and spend quality time with loved ones.
That evening we met my mom's side of the family at a local Mexican restaurant to enjoy dinner before heading to the zoo to see the lights. At dinner Gage was acting very odd, actively avoiding my attempts to hug him or go near his coat. He would often reach down and mess with his coat pocket. I just assumed he was checking for his wallet or phone. As we were sitting at the table finishing our meals, we remembered that the lights close earlier than normal. We never miss going to the lights before Christmas and this year we almost didn't make it. My parents rushed to pay the check and we all loaded into our cars and drove as quickly as we could to make it to the zoo before it closed. After cutting off a bunch of cars in the line to get in, we somehow made it just in time.
It was absolutely freezing outside and it seemed as if everyone wanted to look at the inside exhibits and not the outdoor ones. I was frustrated because I wanted to be able to see the huge spruce tree with the thousands of lights on it located at the back of the zoo before it closed. My mom told Gage to take me to the tree and that the rest of the family would meet us a little later. So, Gage escorted me to my favorite part of the lights at the zoo.
We took a seat in front of the huge tree and both stared up at it in awe. Gage turned to me as we were sitting there and said, "You are the most beautiful woman here tonight." Just a moment later, my family showed up. My mom said she wanted to get a picture of us in front of the tree before we had to leave. After the first picture, Gage grabbed my hands and told me how much he loved me and how there was no doubt in his mind that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. He told me how incredible I am, told me that I make him happier than he has ever been and that he knew from the first day he met me that I was the person he was going to marry. He was so nervous and it was so cute. Before I knew it, he was down on one knee asking me "Will you marry me, Emily Christine Spetka?" I answered, with tears in my eyes, "YES, YES, YES, of course!" I threw my arms around him and we kissed. My mom jokingly reminded me, "You didn't even look at the ring!" I told her that it didn't matter what the ring looked like and that all that mattered is that he asked me. I looked at the beautiful ring he picked out with a brilliant blue sapphire at its center as he put it on my ring finger. I didn't care that my hands were turning purple or that my nose was bright red from the freezing cold. I didn’t care that his hands where shaking probably equally from the cold and his nerves, I was just so excited that I one day I was going to be the future Mrs. Gage Eberly. It was truly the perfect engagement to the most wonderful man.
A special thanks to everyone who helped in making our wedding special. We love you.