I Secretly Planned Our Entire Wedding Including My Husband’s Proposal

Some girls dream about their wedding day from childhood. I was not one of them. I wasn’t obsessed with gowns or Pinterest boards, and I didn’t fantasise about diamond rings. But when I met Jake, something shifted. I didn’t just see a partner — I saw a future. And I knew something else, too:

If I waited for him to propose, I might grow old doing so.

Jake is the love of my life — sweet, loyal, kind-hearted. But romantic initiative? Not exactly his strong suit. For our first anniversary, he gave me a card… unsigned. “I didn’t want to ruin it,” he said sheepishly.

I’m a planner. I make lists for my lists. I organise our vacations down to the snack breaks. So one night, after watching yet another of our friends get engaged, I half-joked, “If I planned the whole thing — ring, proposal, wedding — would you just show up?”

He laughed. “Honestly? Yeah. That’d be a dream.”

And just like that, the idea planted itself.

What started as a hypothetical became a mission. Over the next 10 months, I planned every detail of our wedding — secretly. The ring, the venue, the dress, even his suit. But most importantly? I planned his proposal to me.

Yes, you read that right.

The Proposal I Orchestrated

Jake once told me he always imagined proposing under a starlit sky, somewhere private. So I rented a tiny glass cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway under the guise of “just a break from city noise.” I had the ring custom-made — simple, vintage-inspired, with a tiny engraving inside: "You already said yes."

I gave it to his best friend with instructions and timing down to the minute. On the second night, after dinner and wine and way too many s’mores, I stepped outside to “get more firewood.” That was the cue.

His friend appeared like a forest ninja, handed Jake the ring box and said, “Don’t ask questions. Just follow her.”

I had set up a clearing with fairy lights strung between trees and a little speaker playing our favourite song. Jake walked in, stunned, holding the box with shaky hands.

“What… what is happening?” he asked.

I smiled. “This is where you propose.”

He blinked. “You mean, right now?”

I nodded. “Go for it.”

And you know what? He did. On one knee, slightly teary, he opened the box and said, “I don’t know how this happened, but I love you. Will you marry me?”

“About time,” I said, laughing — and said yes, again.

Planning the Wedding in Secret

Now came the fun part.

We agreed we’d get married in “about a year,” but Jake had no idea I’d already chosen the date — six months from the proposal, on the anniversary of the night we met.

I told our families and friends everything — they were sworn to secrecy. My mom cried. His mom almost passed out from excitement. His best friend kept joking that he was in too deep and this was “better than Netflix.”

The venue was a lakeside vineyard we once stumbled upon on a road trip. He’d casually said, “This would be a cool place for a wedding.” I remembered. Booked it. Checked it off the list.

The cake was lemon — his favourite. The music? A live acoustic band, just like we had on our second date. Every detail was chosen not just by me, but for us.

I told him we were going to “a fancy engagement party” one Saturday in June. He groaned about the tie I asked him to wear. He had no idea he was headed to his own wedding.

The Big Reveal

When we pulled up to the vineyard, Jake looked confused. “Wait… why are there cars here?”

I smiled. “Come on.”

We walked through the gates, and there they were — our friends and family, dressed up, smiling, cheering. A mix of joy and absolute confusion spread across his face.

I took his hand and whispered, “We’re getting married. Today.”

His eyes widened. “You’re serious?”

I nodded. “You said you’d show up if I planned everything. So… you ready?”

He paused. Then he kissed me and said, “You’re incredible. Let’s do this.”

Happily, Untraditionally Ever After

The ceremony was beautiful. He teared up as I walked down the aisle in a dress he’d unknowingly approved of months ago while “helping” a friend shop online. We danced barefoot under the stars. The entire night felt surreal — joyful, unexpected, and absolutely us.

Now, years later, people still ask, “You really planned the whole thing — even the proposal?”

Yes. I did.

And it wasn’t about control. It was about creating a love story that fit who we are — nontraditional, playful, equal. I didn’t want to wait for a moment I could create myself. I wanted to celebrate love on my terms, and I knew the man I chose wouldn’t just be okay with it — he’d love me more for it.

Turns out, sometimes the best love stories are the ones you write yourself.

And I wouldn’t change a single thing.