If you read our story page you know how we met, and how we feel about each other.
As time passed and our feelings grew we both just knew in our own way that this was true love, and that we were brought together by God as perfect mates for each other.
Shane
"I knew that she was the woman I had been waiting for, and every one says 'How do you know?' well, you just know! I couldn't pass up this wonderful beautiful woman with such great love and honesty and caring. I knew that I had to make my move, but when and how?"
Alejandra
"Shane and I could view our future lives together by joining them in marriage. In a way we could not believe how good it felt to be together day in and day out. One night we started looking at engagement rings on-line and I truly thought it was 'just for fun'. In reality, it was too soon to even discuss the topic but deep down I felt like I had known Shane for many years. I knew then that our fate was meant for us to be together. I was prepared to accept his proposal whenever he decided to make it. How could I let my only true soul mate go? It felt right. When you know, you just know."
Shane
"Well I knew that I was comitted to Alejandra im my mind, now I just had to let her know, and thanks to our "browsing for fun" a few months back I knew just what ring she would like. Knowing that she was having back surgery on October 19th I felt that she would get through it much better if she knew there would always be someone there for her no matter what the outcome. I had only a few weeks to decide when and where and how I wanted to propose. With the helpof my sister Michelle I was able to find the perfect ring that matched what we had seen online.
Now I just had to arrange the proposal. We shared a love of the music of Josh Groban and Ale had once said that she had imagined dancing to his song 'When you say you love me'. That gave me an idea. I decided to edit the song on my computer by adding my voice to it. On the last verse of the song I inserted my voice singing along to the song with Josh then in the pause before the ending I had enough space to add the proposal. So now with the song, proposal and the ring I was ready to propose.
I asked Alejandra to dinner as we always did on Saturday night, but that night I dressed up a little more than usual. I picked up a dozen roses and hid them in the back seat. Ale was curious as to why I had dressed up but I just gave her an excuse that we never dress up and that it would be nice for a change. I drove her through Hope Ranch down the winding oak tree lined roads with the Josh Groban CD I had made playing until we got to the bluffs overlooking the sea.
Timing was everything as I wanted the 'proposal song' to come on when we reached our destination. Just on que the song came on and I pulled over so we could 'watch the sunset'. My heart was racing and I was trying not to show it and then my voice came on singing along with Josh. Ale looked at me and was wondering what was going on but had no clue as to what was to come next. In the break in the song she heard me speaking to her my recorded proposal. 'Alejandra Carmona, I love you, I want you to be my wife. Would you marry me?... I pulled the engagement ring out and presented it to her... She said yes!!!! I grabbed the dozen red roses out from under my jacket in the back seat and took her to Piatti's to celebrate. What a night, the best in my life!"
Alejandra
"There were a few things that Shane did that Saturday that were somewhat 'out of character' but he had the right excuses to all of them. When he explained to me that he wanted to 'dress up for a change', it sounded OK. I promptly changed to get out of my casual clothes as well. We were not in any rush so when Shane suggested to take the scenic road I thought that it was a good idea. It was a gorgeous day and we were listening to our favorite songs of Josh Groban. As Shane parked, I was looking out the window watching the ocean and beautiful sunset, my favorite song was playing 'when you say you love me'. Then suddenly I heard Shane singing along with Josh. I was shocked and mesmerized not quite understanding what was happening. Deep down I knew that it was one of his 'computer experiments' and wanted to surprise me. Little did I know what was about to come. When I heard him proposing I just felt that rush of adrenaline from the emotion and excitement that was going through my body. It was that feeling of "am I dreaming?" Of course I said 'yes', I was shaking when Shane put the ring on my finger. Shane got the flowers from the back of my seat!!! I just had no clue, I was 110% surprised. I could not believe it. Before taking off to dinner, Shane called his sister Michelle, the prime accomplice in the selection of the ring and proposal planning (thanks Michelle, for helping Shane through huge decision planning). We then drove to Ristorante Piatti for dinner, one of my favorite Italian places in Santa Barbara to which I had not been for the longest time before that night. Very romantic and delicious, truly unforgettable."
Shane proposed to Alejandra on October 9, 2004