Our Story: Telling the Family You've Eloped

Everything was fine. We were married, we were happy, we were driving back. Now comes the hard part: breaking the news to the families. My mom suspected something was up a few days before when I asked to borrow her pearl earrings and necklace. I do NOT wear jewelry... um... ever. So she gave me the furrowed eyebrow look. I said, "Ryan is taking me to Las Vegas and I think he's going to propose. I just want to look nice." Neither phrase a lie... But not the whole truth either.

We got back to St George and headed over to my mom's house. We rang the doorbell, giddy little kids and tried to hide our wedding bands. With a huge grin on her face, Mom answered the door. "Sooo?!?!" She started pawing at my hand to see the engagement ring. I said, "Mom, this is my husband, Ryan." She started happily sobbing and jumping up and down.

After the excitement was over, I asked her to help me think of how to tell Dad. We devised a way that would slowly work him into the idea of having a son-in-law that he'd never met. At least I got to cheat and tell him over the phone. Ryan would be faced with telling his parents face to face. I would drive up to SLC the next weekend and meet Ryan's family. But for now, I had to deal with my family.

Ring, ring. "Hello?"
Hi, Dad. It's Rachel.
"Oh hi! How are you?"
Good. I have something to tell you.
"Okay."
Well, you know how Ryan and I have been dating?
"Yeah...(there was confusion or hesitation there)"
Well, Ryan drove down to St George on Friday and he proposed and I said YES.
"Well congratulations, Rachel. I'm very happy for you."
And then on Saturday, we drove down to Vegas and got married. We eloped.
"Hmmm.... (Silence) Hmmm..... Are you pregnant?"
No Dad!
"Well, congratulations. Here, tell your Grandma."