No, not mine.
Theirs!!
My little brother is getting married!
Ahhh!!!! 
It has been one hell of a morning!
First of all, I am terrible at keeping secrets, so the fact that I have kept this one for so long is truly amazing. My little brother kind of sprung it on me at the mall last weekend. He asked what I thought of him getting engaged and then hinted that it would sooner rather than later.
Of course, I started with the older sister talk about “make sure you’re ready” and this is a big deal, before I began jumping up and down in squeals of excitement about how happy I was he was asking Ashley to join our family (even though it feels like she already is – this would just be official. 
)
I was there as he purchased the ring – beaming from ear to ear the whole time – and I was there as he told the story countless times of just how he was doing it. He had big plans and I had every faith in the world that he was going to pull it off.
His ‘plan’ actually began earlier this week when he convinced Ashley it was her idea to go to Universal today. She had friends in town and they needed something to do to celebrate the beginning of winter break. Ashley called Kelly to see if she wanted to go then Kelly called me and I ‘just happened’ to have the day off today and was free to go too. After spending the weekend in Orlando Derek decided he wanted to take Monday off and tag along too. (Obviously we put way too much thought into this).
Ben wanted us to all get there early. The parks opened at 8:00. He made it perfectly clear he wanted us there at 7:30. Ouch.
Derek and I were both so excited for what the morning held that we had no problems getting up.
I made oatmeal before we hit the road.
Pumpkin oatmeal with chia seeds, raisins, apple, pumpkin butter, and granola.
I didn’t want to be late and I was afraid of traffic, so we left early. Really early. We were in the first row of cars to park early.
We weren’t the only ones though. We parked and saw my Mom (obvious, much?) and walked to the entrance of the park.
Then we waited.
And froze. Brrr…. it was a chilly one this morning and nothing was opened yet.
20 minutes later…
Here they come!
Does he look nervous or what?
Lots of plotting going on.
And she doesn’t have a clue. 15 friends and family members randomly deciding they want to go to Universal on a Monday? Totally normal.
We all headed to the Harry Potter island in the park. Her friends had never been before and wanted to go to Olivanders before the line grew too long.
We popped in line
And I shared a cookie with Kelly
The line went quick. Really quick. Thank goodness too, I think we all were going to burst with excitement!
The Proposal!
If you’ve never been to Olivanders before, it’s a one of a kind experience. They pull 25 – 30 guests into ‘Olivanders Wand Shop’ and then Olivander selects one guest to test out wands. After a few bad spells, an aurora of light forms around the guest when the right one is chosen.
As soon as the door was closed Olivander walked up to Ashley and asked if she was ready to choose her wand.
The first wand caused the top shelf of wands to break.
The second one created a storm in the middle of the store.
But, before he could get to the third one my brother stepped forward.
“Ashley, there are a lot of boxes in this room, but I think I have the one you are looking for right here…. will you marry me?”
SHE SAID YES!!!
And after all that, a wand finally chose her!
I think everyone in the room was bawling. They’re engaged! They’re really engaged!
Ashley’s friends came prepared they immediately pulled out two hats – one said “She Said Yes!” the other “Future Mrs. Anderson” –and a sash that read “Just Engaged” for Ashley.
Let the celebrating begin!
No two people deserve this more than Ben and Ashley. Congrats guys!
{ 118 comments… read them below or add one }
Congrats!!!!!!! so exciting and adorable!!!
sara
This is the cutest engagement story I’ve ever read! And OMG I LOVE that they got engaged at Harry Potter World – seriously, that just makes my day! So sweet
I choked up. This is so sweet. What’s with our baby brothers getting married before us!
What a fun proposal! Congratulations to your brother and his new bride!
(And I can’t imagine how many of us readers immediately thought “OMG, Meghann got engaged!!” when we saw your post title!)
Have a wonderful time at Universal today!
Congratulations, Ben and Ashley! I’m getting all teary eyed just reading this!
What an awesome proposal!
Congrats to your brother and his beautiful future wife
WOW! What a story! I’m speechless! Congrats to them!
Awww so cute, congrats to your brother!!!!
Aww, so cute! And SO great that you were all there! They’ll be so happy to always have photos on hand from their engagement, so well done. Now onto the planning! Congratulations to your brother, his fiance and your whole family!
And I just teared up at my desk. Thanks.
That is the most creative proposal ever! I love it. Congrats to you brother. So exciting!!
I love how well you recorded this day for them in pictures! So sweet of you!! Looks like a really fun day, congrats to your brother and future sister-in-law!!!
Oh my god what a cute story! Seriously – getting engaged at Harry Potter world is crazy and adorable. They look like a fantastic couple. Congratulations to Ben and Ashley!
That is SO exciting! Congratulations to Ben and Ashley! What a cute way and place to get engaged.
Getting engaged at Harry Potter world is so creative & thoughtful! How sweet!
Aw! That made me tear up!! So sweet
CONGRATS TO THE WHOLE FAMILY!
Ah, congrats to them!!! They’re certainly perfect for each other!!!
What a sweet story! Congrats to Ben and Ashley!
AWWWWWWW CONGRATULATIONS to them!!!
That is SUPER adorable! 
What a GREAT story! 
And super creative!
oh my god, that was adorable. Her face is priceless. Congrats to them!!
Awwwe, I love a good engagement story in the morning! Congrats to them!
Ahhh congratulations to them!!! SUCH a cute, wonderful story! They’re gonna love having the pictures of it all happening too
yup you have be crying. LOVE this. CONGRATS
Your post title totally got me…I definitely thought it was you!
SO cute, and planned out very well! She looks really surprised! Your brother chose a gorgeous ring! Did you have anything to do with that?! Wishing them a long and happy lifetime together!
Such a cute engagement story! Congrats to the happy couple!!
Congratulations!! What an adorable proposal story!!
CUTE!!!! The pics are great. It definitely made me tear! And in Harry Potter world…a man after my own heart.
Oh my gosh, this literally gave me chills! I’m so happy for them :):) what a wonderful story and so great that you were all there to document it & celebrate it together!! Congrats Ben & Ashley!
wow, how fun! Congrats to them!!!
Congratulations to the couple!!! This is a very happy post on a gloomy day over here. Thanks for sharing
That is such a cute story!!!!! Much better than mine (I proposed to my husband…. not very traditional!)
what an AWESOME proposal. your brother and ashley look so in love and so happy. SO excited for your family! ashley is one lucky girl to marry into such a fun, close-knit group!
This is amazing!! The planning, the words he chose…everything. I’m so happy for Ben and Ashley! CONGRATS!
Aww!! What a fun story
This made me tear up! What a sweet, unique proposal! And they look so happy
awww… I love when people get engaged. Can’t wait to read about it when you get your ring! <3
Cutest engagement story ever!!!!!! Congrats to your brother and his new wifey!
That is such a cute engagement story!!!
PRECIOUS! Congrats future SIL!
That is ridiculously adorable. Congrats to them. <3
So cute! I love that it was in Harry Potter world!!! Totally made me tear up! Thanks for sharing!!!
Congrats to the little bro! At first I thought you were going to announce yours. You tricked me!
Yay, you’re going to be a sister-in-law!!!
Congrats to Ben!
OMG congrats!!! I love reading engagement stories and this one is too cute!!
This is soo amazing! Congratulations!!
aw! this is an AWESOME story!! <3
Aww… So cute!
This is definitely the best blog post I’ve ever read on an otherwise mundane Monday. Congrats to your bro!
Is it killing you that your younger brother is engaged before you?
congrats! what a special story and fantastic reason to get up super-early on a Monday morning!
So sweet!! Congrats to them
How sweet! Congrats to them!
Goosebumps much?! How exciting and sweet! Congrats!!!
Congrats to your brother and future sister-in law! It was so cool you could be there.
That engagement story is incredible. Tell Ben to stop setting the bar so high; he’s going to make us all look bad!
Congrats Ben and Ashley!
True that =)
Congrats to your brother and his fiancee! What a cute story!!
that is SO sweet!! what a sweet story!!! LOVE the Harry Potter idea, my inner dweebness is all over that!
Ahhhh this is the second engagement blog post I’ve seen today!! TIS THE SEASON!
congrats to the bride/groom to be!!!!!!
Aw wow that is SUCH a beautiful way to propose!! Welling up here!
CONGRATS to the happy couple
Your brother propsed at HarryPotter World?! That is SO BEYOND AWESOME!!
My hubby proposed to me at Disneyland, but I think Harry Potter World beats that. Congrats to them!
That is all so cute!
Awww, that’s so adorable! I have a little brother too and when he got engaged/married it was touching and emotional for me as his big sis. Actually, my brother’s wife is an Ashley too!
Oh my goodness, Congrats to the two of them! What a fun engagement story :).
congrats to them!!!!
and what a super cute story!
love alll the pics!!
That is so sweet! I love the story and that you got to be there. I am so happy for them
These are such great photos!! Congratulations to Ben – that’s great news! And I adore your boots. SO cute!
Congrats to your family this is SO amazinggg!
Congrats to them, and so fun that they have photos documenting the moment! It happens so fast – it will be really special for them to have these. Plus – less phone calls to have to make since you guys were there to share it with them.
Aww, that was beautiful! Congrats to the happy couple!
First of all, congrats on gaining a new sister!
Secondly, WHERE can I find a bag just like the one you are carrying? I LOVE IT!
This might be my new favorite engagement story. I’m a huge HP fan – love that it happened in Ollivander’s!! And the crowns are great, too!!
What a great story – Congrats to your brother and his fiancee!
Aww, how adorable! Congrats to them both!
Wow, her face is priceless right when it happened! So great that you were all there with them. I love that y’all had a sash and crown and everything for her! On a side note, I am dying to go to Harry Potter world at Disney!
This is one of the sweetest proposal stories EVER. Congrats to them both!
he is so adorable- i LOVE the way he proposed!!! so cute!.. congrats to both of them
What an amazing story!!!! I loved the picture play by play. Thanks for sharing and congrats to your brother and his fiance!
I love that she bought a wand, too, for a keepsake of the engagement! Very cool.
OK, I hope I’m not the only one who just TEARED UP READING the story! I’m such a sap! I swear I cry at any engagement story – even if I don’t even know them! Ha! Congrats to them both! I hope they have a blast planning their wedding!
That was one of the sweetest most awesome engagement stories! Congrats to both of them!!
This is PERFECT! How sweet… and it has me in tears!
How many hearts do you think fluttered this morning when we saw that post title?! At least you cleared it up in the first line.
What a great way to pop the question. They look precious together! Wishes to them for a bright and happy future! Congratulations to Ben and Ashley and your family. <3
that is the cutest engagement ever!!!
That’s so wonderful – congratulations to them both!
As an older sister myself, you must be so proud of your little brother
I know I would be if mine proposed in such a creative, loving and adorable way!! Totally amazing – I would have the WORST time keeping that a secret too! Congrats to your family!
Congratulations to your little brother!! How exciting and what a great story, I totally was smiling ear to ear reading how he proposed.
What a sweet proposal! Congrats Ben, Ashley and the family
That is so adorable! I love how much thought he put into it!
my god that is so freakin’ adorable! And everyone looks so very very happY! Congrats to your little bro and Ashley!
Wow, what an awesome way to pop the question!
Time for Derek and Anthony to step up and follow in your brother’s footsteps!! Happy holidays!
how exciting!!!!
What a perfect proposal! I got a little choked up reading it – reminded me of when I got engaged. Can’t wait to read about his wedding!
That is an incredibly sweet proposal story! Congratulations to your brother and his fiancee! What a cute couple they make.
Gosh I love cute engagements!! Congrats to them!
I love proposal stories and this one tops them all!! (It may or may not have to do with the fact that I am a huge Harry Potter nerd!) Many congratulations and well wishes sent their way!
What a creative proposal! Congrats to your brother and his soon-to-be wife!!
What a seriously delightful proposal. Inspired, romantic and fun – congratulations to the new couple!
Georgia
http://fabulousfoodandalittlefrolicking.blogspot.com/
Exciting!!! How lucky they are that you got to photo-document it all. That must have been nerve-wracking!!!
As the bride to be’s Mom and a spectator it was a fantastic day. Meghann you did a great job recording the day for prosperity. Thank you. Congrats to my lovely daughter and my soon to be Son-in-Law Ben. I love you both.
Awesome post! SO happy for EVERYONE and glad you had a nice morning
Aww, I love engagement stories (which makes my boyfriend nervous)!! Especially when they’re creative and fun like this one, congrats to Ben and Ashley, and it’s so cool you all got to share it with them! Thanks for sharing this and brightening my work day!
What an awesome engagement story!
omg! I just teared up reading this!!! How sweet and awesome and romantic!!!!!
CONGRATS to your brother and his beautiful soon to be wife Ashley!! What a great way to ask her!!!!
that is so cute! I love it! I bet your poor brother was so nervous! I love my sweet husband to death but that just isnt his thing. he proposed in my apartment, in the living room. while we watched an episode of friends. haha
Ashley and Ben…Congratulations to you both. What a great story to start your wonderful journey together. Your faces were priceless and showed the love that you have for each other.
Love Aunt Janet, Uncle Dave and Jason
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! So freaking adorable
Congrats to Ben and Ashley! I love reading the engagement story!
so cute!!!!
Congratulations Ashley and Ben! We are all so happy for you! Ben, you did an awsome job in planning the proposal! What a beautiful memory!
Congrats to Ben and Ashley! They are the cutest!
I like that he didn’t do it on a holiday. That’s awesome. Congratulations.
Awww, they are so gorgeous and happy together! What an amazing way to kick off the week of Christmas :-D.
Everyone in the room was balling?! That’s hot!
Oh WOW! Congrats to your brother and Ashley!
What a lovely proposal…. ahhhhh! And her ring! Beautiful!!!!
ha you had me going there… congratulations to your brother and his fiance!
I’m late to the party and celebration here, but congrats!!
And great job on keeping the secret, hehe.
OH. MY. GOODNESS. This is amazing.
That was too sweet. What a thoughtful man she’s marrying! And how unsuspecting she was – so many going on a Monday!
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