Picked the Best Pumpkin in the Patch

Over the past three years, I've written and witnessed many stories that have ended in "happily ever after." But this one right here -- it's my absolute favorite because it's my MINE! Yep, the million dollar question of, "How in the world is your boyfriend going to propose to YOU?" has been answered. 

I'd obviously be lying if I said that I hadn't wondered how this moment would eventually play out, but to be honest, I never envisioned a "perfect" proposal because I didn't know myself what that would look like... until now.   

Some couples meet, fall madly in love instantly and never look back. We weren't one of those couples. (I know, I find it hard to believe as well that Avik didn't fall madly in love with me instantly). The road to this day had been a long and a curvy one. We even hit the brakes and veered off course. At times, we felt like we were taking two steps forward, one step back. But in the end, all roads led us back to each other. The corn maze, where Avik proposed today, was in essence, meant to be a symbol of our relationship.

I arrived at VonThun Farms early in the morning to meet my friend to do a photo shoot for her twins. I wanted to test out my new lenses, and she wanted photos for the twins' first birthday. It was a win-win. Or at least, so I thought. She was nowhere to be found, and I was left walking around the maze with my Canon DSLR in hand thinking, "I don't have time for these games. It's Sunday morning -- I should be in bed wondering what I'll have for brunch instead." Little did I know, through each twist and turn, I was getting a step closer to Avik.

As I approached the end of the maze, it was lined with petals and there he was on bended knee, waiting to tell me that although it took us some time to get here, we ultimately found our way back to each other, and from this day forward, we'd never walk alone.

What came next is obvious but worth noting, because it's pretty special...​

The ring, while undoubtedly stunning, actually gets its sparkle from the chock-full o' meaning packed inside this precious stone. The inside of the platinum band is engraved with phrases and birthstones that are a nod to both, my past and future with Avik. When the jeweler takes hours to get to know your girlfriend in order to design a ring that captures her journey, you know you're in good hands. Zameer Kassam is a storyteller first, a jeweler second, wherein his transcribed words translate into a piece that tells a story for years to come. 

So there you have it: my proposal - part corny, part amazing .  

I'll be the first to admit that it's no easy feat proposing to a proposal planner, but Avik took a page out of Ever After Proposals' book and focused on what matters the most: the proposal was sweet, surprising and above all, simple yet meaningful.  

A HUGE shout out to my besties Shaefali, Shreya and Roma for helping Avik make this day all the more special. You four just might give me competition some day ;-)

Credits:  

• Christopher Kuras Photography
• Zameer Kassam Fine Jewelry

How To Get a Photographer to Photograph Her Own Proposal

David first reached out to me in September 2014, just days after assisting his then girlfriend, Gaciel, photograph the surprise proposal for Amar and Priyanka in Miami. After realizing I was the mastermind behind their proposal, he was excited to discuss how I could help plan his.

As a professional photographer, Gaciel is no stranger to witnessing special memories in people's lives, be it proposals, weddings or baby showers. So in planning David and Gaciel's proposal, I knew I had to incorporate her love for capturing those moments. But how was I going to get a photographer to photograph her own proposal? In the words of Barney Stinson, "Challenge accepted."

After looking through Gaciel's business Facebook page, I realized she does a lot of work for a South Asian wedding decor company, Suhaag Garden, as the vast majority of photos featured were from events they had designed. So I contacted the owners of Suhaag Garden, Jilna and Jigar, who turns out -- not surprisingly -- are good friends with Gaciel and David. 

Armed with this new-found revelation, I hatched the perfect plan: I asked Suhaag Garden to arrange a photo shoot at the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay, as part of a "sample table Jilna was setting up for a client's upcoming wedding." Gaciel was happy to oblige, as it was an opportunity to both, enjoy doing what she loves, and get a chance to hang out with Jilna and Jigar.

While David frequently accompanies Gaciel during photo shoots to assist, figuring out how to also bring her two sons along -- that too, on a school day -- required a bit of a white lie. Luckily, Gaciel fell for it and the four of them arrived at the Marriott's outdoor pool deck where a fully adorned table awaited them. 

Gaciel got right down to work and began shooting every detail, from the roses to the silk blush napkins. About 30 minutes into it, Jilna said to take a break while she made some adjustments to the decor. (Code word for "it's show time"). Jilna added a second layer of centerpiece to the already stunning design. This was made of two glass posts bridged together with golden branches and white orchids. Long crystal beads hung from the branches, along with personalized photo ornaments. David had handpicked the photos and phrases he wanted for this occasion, as they signified special moments in David, Gaciel and her two kids' lives.

Just as Jilna was putting the finishing touches on the centerpiece, Gaciel walked over to begin photographing the new addition. But David quickly swooped in to replace the camera in her hand with something else she will cherish for the rest of her life. Gaciel's kids, Sebastian and Maximiliano, who are quite the pros themselves with the camera, captured these candid moments and made it a true family affair.    

Whether you're a hopeless romantic or just plain hopeless, contact Ever After Proposals to see how we can help give you creative, personalized marriage proposal ideas, bring them to life and make you shine as brightly as the ring on her hand. 

Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.  And remember to give me a ring before you give her the ring. 

Credits:

• Suhaag Garden 
• Gaciel Santana Photography
• Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay

A (Bridal) Affair to Remember

When your girlfriend is a gemologist and the creative force behind the popular wedding blog, Bride and Bling, you know that you better bring your A game (or is it the 4 C's game?) when it comes time to propose. That's precisely why Jason turned to Ever After Proposals.

Jason and Allean met through mutual friends over three years ago, while she was living in New York and he was getting his degree from Florida International University.  Despite their distance, their chemistry was palpable and it was only a matter of time until they would be united.  Once Jason realized she was "the one," he left the sunshine state to be closer to the true sunshine in his life. 

Given Allean's interest in all-things-weddings, I knew the best time to catch her by surprise was when she was in her "happy place."  That's why we knew the Bridal Affair -- an expo for wedding vendors -- in Brooklyn would be both, the perfect excuse and the perfect venue to put the bling on this bride-to-be. When Allean arrived at the event with Jason, little did she know that she was in store for a lot more than just an open bar and business cards. 

Allean was "randomly" selected as the event's raffle winner, and in order to help claim her prize, she was escorted around the building to the outdoor gazebo. A musician playing Anthony Hamilton's "Best of Me" on the steel pannist welcomed Jason and Allean as they walked up to the "prize table." As Allean read the handwritten note from Jason, he got down on his knees and asked her if, "with this bling, will you be my bride?" (For those inquiring minds, the ring was GIA certified, of course!)  And just like that, another couple started their happily every after. 

Whether you're a hopeless romantic or just plain hopeless, contact Ever After Proposals to see how we can help give you creative, personalized marriage proposal ideas, bring them to life and make you shine as brightly as the ring on her hand. 

Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.  And remember to give me a ring before you give her the ring. 

Credits: 

Photographer - Bo Harris

Steel Pannist - Andre White

Venue - Dyker Beach Golf Course

The Sweet Taste of Romance

When Amar and I first began discussing ideas for his proposal three months ago, the conversation started off very differently from what you see in these photos. He wanted to surprise Priyanka during their trip to Hawaii, but being the "little Nancy Drew" (his words, not mine!) she is, he decided to propose in the very state that he fell in love with her: Florida.  During our chat, two things stood out to me instantly about their relationship: 1) they are friggin' adorable, and 2) I needed to incorporate this adorableness into the proposal somehow.

Amar had mentioned to me that Priyanka's dream vacation is to go to Napa Valley some day, but with Hawaii on the horizon, a trip to California -- although conveniently located -- may not be feasible at the moment. So I decided to bring a piece of Napa Valley to Florida by arranging a private wine tasting at the Endless Summer Vineyard and Winery.  

This wasn't just any wine tasting though, of course. This wine tasting came with not only a side of cheese, but a side of a guitarist, photographers, and a stunning diamond ring. Upon arrival, the couple was escorted to the vineyards for a private outdoors tasting.  We dropped a subtle hint to the unsuspecting "Nancy Drew" when the sommelier placed two glasses before them. One was engraved with "I love you," and the other -- given to Amar, was engraved with "I love you, more."  The idea for this came about when Amar told me that whenever they hang up the phone, one person says, "I love you," while the other always responds with "I love you, more."  (Case in point of their adorableness).


The wine tasting then kicked off with its usual round of whites and reds, while a guitarist played the couple's favorite songs nearby (coincidentally, of course!).  Although some of the wines may have been dry, things suddenly turned a whole lot sweeter with the final bottle of a 2006 Domaine Savoureaux Napa Merlot.  As the sommelier poured yet another glass, Priyanka channeled her inner Nancy Drew and started realizing what was happening.  The bottle was engraved with the question, "Priyanka, will you marry me?" (along with the date of the proposal).  This was also the guitarist's cue to begin playing their favorite song, "All of me" by John Legend.  And just like that, everything suddenly made sense... from the glasses to the songs to the wine itself.  And just like that, another couples started their happily ever after. 

Whether you're a hopeless romantic or just plain hopeless, contact Ever After Proposals to see how we can help give you creative, personalized marriage proposal ideas, bring them to life and make you shine as brightly as the ring on her hand. 

Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.  And remember to give me a ring before you give her the ring. 

Credits: 

Photographer - Gaciel Santana

Guitarist - Vince Love

Venue - Endless Summer Vineyard and Winery

Indoor Proposal Spots in Hoboken

Last month, I gave you some unique outdoor proposal ideas in Hoboken.  While it’s easy to fall in love with any one of them -- thanks to Hoboken’s charm and the picturesque city skyline -- you might be surprised to find that some of Hoboken’s indoor spaces offer just as much variety and inspiration.    

• Paint Along Class - For a town this size, you might be surprised to learn that Hoboken actually offers three (yes, three!) different painting classes: ArteVino Studio, Painting With Sheri, and Paint the Town. Surprise your girlfriend with a date night to one of these BYOB (and I don’t mean “bring your own brush”) classes, and rather than follow the instructor (like a good student), spell out “Will you marry me?” It may not be a Picasso, but it will be a piece you’ll be proud to showcase in your home.
  
  
  
• Hoboken Art Gallery - While on the topic of art, did you know that Hoboken also has its very own art gallery, and also hosts monthly art exhibitions at Boa for emerging artists?  Both locations offer a unique opportunity for you to showcase your artwork front and center. Bring your girlfriend out under the pretense of checking out a famous artist’s exhibition, and surprise her with a photo/painting/sculpture that “says it all.”  
  
• Kolo Klub - nestled on the second floor of the Pilsner Haus Biergarten, this lounge space offers large open space with its loft layout, yet provides intimacy for any type of an event (dare I say, flash mob proposal?) you may want to host.     
  

• Restaurant - while I’m personally not a huge advocate of proposing in restaurants, some of Hoboken’s eateries truly offers some amazing romantic amazing with food to match.
• The W Hotel’s Lulu’s - trendy bar with a large outdoor terrace with amazing views of the city, and a cozy den with vintage pool table.
  
• The Library Room inside Amanda’s - the room features floor-to-ceiling French doors overlooking a garden terrace.
  
• The backyard at Bin 14 - the wine bar has a cozy little secluded backyard that’s both heated and shaded to provide the most comfortable atmosphere.
  

• In your own apartment - Ultimately, no restaurant or venue could compete with the comforts of your own home. You can just as easily recreate some of the aforementioned ideas in your home by either having a private chef prepare a meal in your kitchen, or hosting a paint night in your living room. Regardless of the room or the ruse you use to pop the question, you can rest assured that it will be a cherished moment for both of you.

So there you have it folks!  Just remember, give Ever After Proposals a ring before you give her the ring!