European Engagement, Part 5: Ghent

I love castles.

After leaving Amsterdam, Jeff and I visited Antwerp, Ghent, Brugges and Brussels.

I think Belgium is Heaven on Earth.

In Antwerp, just outside of the ornate Central Station, lies the Diamond District.

This district features one square mile of diamond shops and is the largest diamond district in the world. This can feel overwhelming for a young groom to be.

As I ate a delicious chocolate covered Belgian waffle in the train station, Jeff looked around the many shops. He picked out a few rings that he thought I’d like.

Jeff came back to find me, and I fell in love with his first choice.

We sat and chatted with the friendly Georgian jewelers over coffee and Belgian chocolate as they sized my shiny new ring. I was giddy with delight. It was a very fun experience.

We found Jeff’s wedding band at a local goldsmith in Antwerp, too.

With ring shopping done, we settled in and enjoyed the rest of our journey in Belgium. Jeff wouldn’t say when he would propose, as he wanted it to be a surprise.

The next city we visited was Ghent, a charming Flemish town.

That Sunday morning we attended a church service in Dutch at the beautiful, gothic St. Nicholas’ Church.

Afterward, we walked along the cobbled pathways and squares and alongside a canal.

1,000 photos later, and following Jeff, we found ourselves standing in front of the monstrous Gravensteen castle. I didn’t even realize that there was a castle in Ghent. Jeff knew…

He walked me through the many rooms and around the vast grounds.

It was a perfect sunny Autumn day.

As we reached the battlements, overlooking all of Ghent, we found ourselves alone.

Jeff knelt down on one knee, declared his everlasting love for me, his best friend, and soberly and sincerely asked me to spend the rest of my life with him.

For the last time, I said yes.