HOW HE ASKED?
In the spring of 2014, Gen went to Tanzania for a month-long medical rotation. During that time, Zach got to work and began planning the proposal. Wanting to pick the engagement ring out with Gen together, he decided to make a simple wooden ring.
But a ring needs a box. And a wooden ring called for a wooden box, so much of the month was spent building a small wooden engagement box. The box was made from curly maple with purpleheart splines and crushed malachite stone inlay.
After Gen returned from Tanzania, Zach began planning the final proposal plan. On April 22, when Gen was at school, Zach arranged a few hundred mason jars + electric tea lights in a private field. As night fell, Zach asked Gen to go watch a (fabricated) meteor shower with him.
Unfortunately, it was overcast and slightly raining...so that plan didn't work out well. For some reason, Gen didn't think it was a good idea to watch meteors in the rain.
Reverting to plan B, Zach promised he had a belated anniversary surprise out in the field. Who can say no to a surprise? Gen agreed, and Zach led her out to the field and the circle of lights. After a little speech, he dropped to his knee and proposed with the wooden ring.
And the rest is history :)