Sixties Style Engagement

Alright ladies, grab your tissues. Here comes one fantastic proposal story…Kristie and Clint had been dating for 11 years and Clint wanted to make the proposal extra special. As Clint tells it:
The day began with a fake plan to get Kristie to go to the Nutcracker with her sister.

“The day that Kristie was to go out with her sister, I covertly slipped a small package under the Christmas tree in our living room at home. It was a small ring box with a note in it that read “This evening’s plans will be a bit different than you expected. At 5 o’clock, there will be a car waiting outside to take you to your destination. Don’t worry about your sister.” I had arranged for a limo to arrive at our place and pick her up so I could get her discretely to where I needed her (and in style to boot!). I also told her sister to pull up a little before 5 and set up in a covert observation location to make sure that Kristie got in the car. Around 4:45, I texted Kristie and told her to open that package under the tree.

Meanwhile, I was at work in Reston. That’s what Kristie thought at least. Actually, I was in a hotel room that I had booked weeks ago. I spent days researching locations around the area that would have the perfect cozy and classic atmosphere that I had in my imagination. The Morrison House in Old Town, Alexandria, fit the bill perfectly. I had come to the hotel about 2 hours earlier and met my mom, who helped me stage the room. With what you ask? Well, the usual holiday decorations: a fully decorated Christmas tree with white lights and all, and 200 empty ring boxes. That’s right, 200. You see, I had this idea to visually confess to her that I know just how many times I should have asked her to marry me before this point. 200 black ring boxes and one red one (all ordered from www.jewelrysupply.com).

Earlier that afternoon I had given a package to the front desk (two bubbly young ladies that were all too happy to be a part of my plan) and told them that when Kristie came in, to give her the package, and she would know what to do. The “package” was another empty ring box with a note that said “you’re probably tired of empty ring boxes, but go to room 312 and your fortunes might improve.” The next package was outside the door of room 312 and contained the key to get into the room where I waited. While I wasn’t nervous per se, I have to admit that my heart started pounding as I stood there in the dark, in the silence, anxiously waiting for the sound of the lock turning, and the door opening. The room was a suite, so I waited behind the closed door of the bedroom. I heard a gasp as Kristie entered the room and saw the spectacle of a warmly lit, glowing Christmas tree and 200 ring boxes. I couldn’t contain my smile.

At this point, everyone always asks, “Oh my God! Did he make you open every ring box until you found it?” No.

There was a note on the one red box that said “open me,” and inside was another note that said “These empty ring boxes represent all of the times that I should have already done this. Sit down, and ring the bell.” (Near the tree, I had set a chair and a small jingle bell. Ringing the bell was a somewhat last-minute solution to how I would know when she had read the note, and was ready for me to come out of hiding, because I didn’t know the layout of the room until that day. So I had to rip it off the hat of a novelty Santa Claus at a nearby CVS. I feel really bad about that.) I heard the weak rattle of the burgled jingle bell, and my heart was really pounding as I opened the door, and the reality of this moment came rushing at me.

Kristie began to get teary eyed and said things like “oh my God” as she saw me all dressed up in my suit, holding a little blue box in my hand. At this point, I didn’t think any further pomp and circumstance was needed, so I dropped to a knee in front of her, and simply asked, “Kristie, will you marry me?” What came out of Kristie was a combination between weeping, sniffling, and what sounded like an attempt to say “yes.” (A few seconds later, I had to clarify that she did, in fact, say yes.) She did say yes, and the Christmas that followed was just as extra special as I hoped it would be.

We enjoyed the experience of celebrating our love and the holidays at the same time so much, we settled on a December date for the wedding.”

Clint noticed this awesome deco subway sign as we walked towards our next location at a nearby hotel.

The style is more than just a look they enjoy, they also identify with the era.

Clint shared with me, “Our shelves are lined with Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby records (actual vinyl records) and the hotel we are having our wedding at definitely has an air of retro styling as well. So all in all we are definitely chasing that feel-good, golden era, bygone days feel. We both feel like capturing the vintage “anything goes” era celebrates the nature of our relationship and who we both are.”

In true “Mad Men” fashion, we had to do a little bar hopping. The next stop was a really cool lounge downtown, Ella.

It is only fitting that the photos got a little dramatic! Kristie and Clint grew up in Northern Virginia and met in theater class at Chantilly High School.

The couple now lives in Alexandria, Virginia.  Kristie teaches at KIPP DC and Clint’s a man about town, working in music, theater and cinema.

Clint ordered an authentic Rob Roy, while Kristie enjoyed the signature specialty cocktail, Ella, a delicious combination of vodka, St. Germain, watermelon and lemon.

After a few cocktails the couple got a little silly. I love this photo! Pure happiness.

CHEERS! Congrats Kristie and Clint! They will be married this December.