How I Proposed to Your Mother
Your mother and I had been dating, on and off, for over 9 years. As you know already, we didn’t exactly have a story book courtship - that is another story for another time.
So, proposing represented an opportunity to start fresh and to put our tumultuous dating phase neatly in our past. This story will deal with the how. The “why” is something that I plan to share at our wedding in 15 months - we’ll keep a copy of it for your interest.
I wanted to have the proposal photographed (from different angles) and settled on the open area in Tinseltown. There was strategic value (photographers could hide behind pillars, on upper floors) and also sentimental - your mom and I went on most of our first dates at the theatres in tinseltown.
To make the proposal a bit of a surprise, I faked her out a few times in the weeks leading up to October 8. That way, when I got down on one knee in Tinseltown, she couldn’t be certain if I were just being annoying again. I also got her tickets to the Watch the Throne concert (Jay Z & Kanye West) and planned to say lubby dubby things before giving her the tickets. Afterwards, I would give her the ring.
Having the proposal itself settled and photographers in place, my initial thought was to bring her somewhere for a surprise dinner with a few of our friends. Eventually, I had the idea to book out the Hunter Bisset Gallery and to host a cocktail party, immediately following the proposal.
Organizing the surprise proposal party was a large undertaking and I needed the support of dozens of people. Between getting a special occasion liquor license, buying the alcohol, creating the food menu, organizing logistics, managing a guest list, creating an event poster, renting the sound equipment, booking a guest list for the after party (at retro vinyl lounge), etc… I was very blessed to have the help of family and friends. At the time, I was working part time at BP after my day job and spending my weekends with mon, it was a challenge to get any time at all to get things done.
3 days before the proposal, I was listening to Justin’s CD and heard Ingrid Michaelson’s ”You and I.” I had the terrifying idea that this was something I could sing for her. I had the resources (friend who could play ukulule, friends who could learn and sing the chorus) and the opportunity. It was something I had to do, despite not being a comfortable solo singer. JR learned the chords in a couple days and my other choir friends learned the harmonies in a day. I liked the idea of being joined at the end, I considered it a pseudo flash mob. The only opportunity they had to practice it together was immediately before I arrived at the art gallery. It went as well as I could have hoped.
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Thank you to all my friends and family who made this event possible, either by your invaluable contributions in event execution or by the honour of your presence. Our wedding is set for May 25, 2013
