We needed a get away. My boyfriend, Jake, and I had been having a rough go at it. The problems we were having were more a product of everything else— frustrating jobs, water bills, long commutes and sick parents—than of each other. But the stresses of daily life were straining our relationship like never before. Old arguments were becoming well-worn paths and we were communicating passive aggressively. We'd been together for three and half years and we were at our worst.

When Jake grabbed my hands and told me he'd planned a weekend getaway I was completely shocked, even a little miffed. Honestly, I was a little frustrated at him and the idea of spending a solid three days together didn't seem attractive. But I knew his intentions were pure and soon the idea of a retreat really began to excite me. I had no idea that he'd been planning the vacation and no idea that in his pocket, even as he spoke to me, was the most significant piece of jewelry I'd ever put on.

We went to the Grove Park Inn in North Carolina. It's a gorgeous resort and spa that I've wanted to visit for a few years. This is when I started to get suspicious. Jake and I had NEVER done anything this extravagant. I mean, our favorite date spot is the greasy spoon around the corner. But it was perfect.

We didn't do anything. For three days we only left the room to get food. The first day we fought, the second we made up. When I woke-up on the third day Jake asked me to come in the other room. He was sitting there with a platter that had two muffins, two cups of coffee and a ring box. I started freaking out. Jake grabbed my hands and pulled me to the chair beside him. Then he said, "These last few months haven't been easy, not in the least. I would tell my friends how many problems we were having and they would ask,' So are you two done?' But the thing is, even when we were screaming at each other and hating each other I never thought about leaving. Not once. And I'm not going to." Then he got down on one knee and a year later we are dancing at our wedding. We found our love in the middle of an extremely hard patch and it was pretty definitive for both of us. The rest, as they say, is history.