Actor popped the question before heading to the Creative Arts Emmys

John C. McGinley, who plays the sarcastic Dr. Perry Cox on NBC's "Scrubs," showed his girlfriend his softer side over the weekend.

The 47-year-old actor proposed to yoga instructor Nichole Kessler in Malibu on Saturday, Aug. 19, reports People.

"At about 9:30 this morning I asked Nicole to come down to the lower part of the garden with me in Malibu," reveals McGinley on the red carpet for the Creative Arts Emmys, where he was a presenter. "I wanted to show her some different flower ideas I had. And I had the rock in my pocket. I told her, 'Sit down here to see the view of the ocean' –- we live in a bird sanctuary -– and I said, 'Will you marry me?' and I took out the rock."

"I instantly said 'yes,'" says Kessler, adding, "And then I think I was speechless for about five minutes after John told me what the diamonds meant. I was just in tears and just beside myself. I'm still beside myself."

McGinley put a lot of thought into the ring: a 2-carat round diamond surrounded by two 1-carat diamonds and a couple of smaller baguettes.

"I wanted it to be a big rock in the middle, which is Nicole because she is the rock in this relationship," explains the actor. "And then on either side of that diamond, I put a carat, and that represents me and my son, Max." The other stones represent the couple's future offspring.

Besides being a loving dad, McGinley has good reason to include Max, his son with ex-wife Lauren Lambert, on the ring. He has his son to thank for meeting Kessler in the first place.

"My son walked up to Nicole on the beach and I was throwing the ball for the dogs in the ocean," recalls McGinley. "And Max went over to this hot blonde behind me and I was just aghast. I was like, 'Max you get the dogs. I'll talk to the hot blondes.' And, so we switched."

The couple has been together for two and a half years.

Kessler, who is also a birthing doula, says that her fiancee makes her laugh. "He brings strength into my life and he challenges me to be more of a person than I ever thought I could be" to which McGinley adds, "Nicole is a better athlete than me. She's just flat out better."

No wedding date has been set yet.

"Scrubs" is nominated for an Emmy in the comedy series category, which also includes "Arrested Development," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "The Office" and "Two and a Half Men." The 58th Annual Emmy awards will air on Sunday, Aug. 27.