Message in a Bottle
One Floridian couple gets a redo on love

By Tabi Deas

For my best friend’s birthday this past November, a group of us decided to go on a road trip to Key West. Little did Jessica, my fiancée, know that I had planned with the rest of the crew to pop the question while we were down there. A few weeks before this trip, I ordered a special bottle of wine with a personalized label on it, and had it shipped to the restaurant where we had reservations. About a week before the trip, I swiped the ring I had previously given Jessica (yes, she thought she lost it and was very upset about it).

I know, I know ... but I didn't feel like I gave it to her the right way the first time, and I wanted another chance to make it right. We all took the ferry from Mallory Square to Sunset Key for dinner at Latitudes. I had already been in communication with the restaurant manager and staff to make sure that no matter which bottle of wine Jessica ordered, they would bring out the special bottle of wine instead.

Everybody knew what was coming, and was ready for the big moment. It was the most adorable thing I have ever seen. They presented the bottle to her, and it took her a minute to realize that there was a picture of us on the bottle! And that the label read "MARRY ME?" on it. The label also says “True love stories never end” because Jessica and I dated for a few months 10 years ago, but she was only 19 at the time and I was 28, it just wasn’t the right time for us. I thought I had lost her forever. Luckily, we found each other again about a year and a half ago, and have been together ever since.

We are returning to Key West this November, after a year-long engagement, where we will make a stand for one another in front of all of our family and friends, to start our new life together as a married couple.

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