Love Is Pulling Together Against All Odds
Proposal Number One - 01/31/2009
As told by Dave:
You could say that our engagement was very “sweet”. It was more then just a moment. It was a day. I proposed to Cait in the sweetest town on earth, Hershey, PA. Hershey is the town in which Cait and I first made our relationship “official” and the locale in which we spent our one and two year anniversaries. Needless to say it is a special place for us, and I knew it was the spot at which I had to propose. Knowing that Cait would never pass up an opportunity to plan a trip, (she loves itineraries and schedules) I let her plan her own engagement day! Once she finalized who was going, and the itinerary, I put my surprise plan into action.
When we arrived, I checked in at the welcome desk, and asked if there was anything new going on in Hershey. (This was of course all just an elaborate code that I had put into place with the staff, so they knew we were in the building and they could make final preparations)
When we returned from the Historic Hershey Trolley Tour, we made our way to the next stop on the itinerary: The Hershey Chocolate Tour. (Cait and I take the tour every single time we are in town) After an educational look at the process of making chocolate, the group got our free candy, and continued on to the next planned event.
After the ride, we wandered past a customized chocolate making station. As we stopped to look, I alerted Cait that she should take a look at one particular piece. Written on a large piece of dark chocolate, in bright pink letters, were the words “I’m in the moment” (a line from our song) and I L U 3 (an adorable inside joke about Cait’s inability to proofread her text messages). As Cait leaned in closely to read the chocolate, it slowly began to sink in what was happening, she jumped back and the tears began.
I then took Cait’s hand, and explained that from the first time she came to my house after her cousin’s birthday party, and brought me a brownie, just because she was “in the area”, I knew we were going to be something special. (Lansdale is not really that small, and she wasn’t actually anywhere close to my house, but she brought it anyway) I then told her how much I love her and got down on one knee to ask for her hand in marriage. She of course said yes! (How could she not)
To view the proposal, go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3qqo5vRw4o
After the proposal, we went to another meaningful place in our relationship to celebrate; The Bears Den at the Hershey Lodge, the place where Cait and I had spent our 2 year anniversary. (We highly recommend their chocolate barbeque sauce) Cait made the executive decision to skip the outlets so we would have more time to go tell people back home!
After arriving back home, we began the trip to tell everyone we knew about the engagement. As dinner time approached, I suggested Bertucci’s, the place where we had our first date. After some convincing, I successfully guilt tripped Cait into agreeing. When Cait and I arrived, and I guided her to the back of the restaurant, she was surprised to find her closest friends were all there, with cards and flowers, ready to celebrate the big day with us!
After dinner, we went to Angelo’s for dessert. (They have the most amazing Tiramisu, Cait’s favorite dessert) We were joined by friends, and family to put a topper on an incredible day. Cait’s dad sang a song for us and finally, I took the mic and serenaded my amazing new fiancé. The night ended with lots of good times and dancing. I hope I succeeded in making the engagement day one she will never ever forget.
You could say that our engagement was very “sweet”. It was more then just a moment. It was a day. I proposed to Cait in the sweetest town on earth, Hershey, PA. Hershey is the town in which Cait and I first made our relationship “official” and the locale in which we spent our one and two year anniversaries. Needless to say it is a special place for us, and I knew it was the spot at which I had to propose. Knowing that Cait would never pass up an opportunity to plan a trip, (she loves itineraries and schedules) I let her plan her own engagement day! Once she finalized who was going, and the itinerary, I put my surprise plan into action.
When we arrived, I checked in at the welcome desk, and asked if there was anything new going on in Hershey. (This was of course all just an elaborate code that I had put into place with the staff, so they knew we were in the building and they could make final preparations)
When we returned from the Historic Hershey Trolley Tour, we made our way to the next stop on the itinerary: The Hershey Chocolate Tour. (Cait and I take the tour every single time we are in town) After an educational look at the process of making chocolate, the group got our free candy, and continued on to the next planned event.
After the ride, we wandered past a customized chocolate making station. As we stopped to look, I alerted Cait that she should take a look at one particular piece. Written on a large piece of dark chocolate, in bright pink letters, were the words “I’m in the moment” (a line from our song) and I L U 3 (an adorable inside joke about Cait’s inability to proofread her text messages). As Cait leaned in closely to read the chocolate, it slowly began to sink in what was happening, she jumped back and the tears began.
I then took Cait’s hand, and explained that from the first time she came to my house after her cousin’s birthday party, and brought me a brownie, just because she was “in the area”, I knew we were going to be something special. (Lansdale is not really that small, and she wasn’t actually anywhere close to my house, but she brought it anyway) I then told her how much I love her and got down on one knee to ask for her hand in marriage. She of course said yes! (How could she not)
To view the proposal, go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3qqo5vRw4o
After the proposal, we went to another meaningful place in our relationship to celebrate; The Bears Den at the Hershey Lodge, the place where Cait and I had spent our 2 year anniversary. (We highly recommend their chocolate barbeque sauce) Cait made the executive decision to skip the outlets so we would have more time to go tell people back home!
After arriving back home, we began the trip to tell everyone we knew about the engagement. As dinner time approached, I suggested Bertucci’s, the place where we had our first date. After some convincing, I successfully guilt tripped Cait into agreeing. When Cait and I arrived, and I guided her to the back of the restaurant, she was surprised to find her closest friends were all there, with cards and flowers, ready to celebrate the big day with us!
After dinner, we went to Angelo’s for dessert. (They have the most amazing Tiramisu, Cait’s favorite dessert) We were joined by friends, and family to put a topper on an incredible day. Cait’s dad sang a song for us and finally, I took the mic and serenaded my amazing new fiancé. The night ended with lots of good times and dancing. I hope I succeeded in making the engagement day one she will never ever forget.
Proposal Number Two - 04/22/2011
I said yes...again!!!
As told by Dave:
It was important for me to make this proposal every bit as special and memorable for Cait. So instead of sweet, I went for more of a savory approach. (Think dark roast coffee) I also didn’t need to trick Cait into planning. I took the lead for this one! You see, sometime in the beginning of April, I received a phonecall from a friend, who wanted me and my good pal Ryan to play a small gig at Saxby’s Coffee, a local café in Lansdale. With the words of Train’s “Marry Me” ringing in my ears (“If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this café, say you will”), I decided that it would be the perfect place to ask for Cait’s hand in marriage.
I knew getting Cait to the show would be a feat all by itself, as she works whenever she isn’t going to class. So the first step was finding out if the Phillies were home on the day of the gig, which they were not. So I knew she would be free from one job. The next step was finding out a way to contact Cait’s other manager and ask for a night off. Luckily, he agreed not to schedule her for that night! So the date,the location, and the attendance of a very important person were all set. (Of course, once Cait knew she could attend the event, her planning side took over, and she took to Facebook to invite all of our friends
and family to come out and support me and Ryan. Little did she know she was inviting everyone to her proposal. Tricked again!)
The day of the show came and I picked up Cait and we headed to the event. (As we arrived, the manager told us where to set up, and asked me if I was “ready for my big day”, not realizing Cait was standing with me. Luckily, she was speaking with family and friends as they arrived, and only later would realizewhat he meant by asking me that! )
As most of our close friends and family began to arrive (even Cait’s sister, who managed to convince her manager to let her out of work), Ryan and I started playing, and the show went well. The audience was enjoying the music, and we were having a great time performing. With one song left, I knew it was time to ask what I had been waiting to ask for a long time. I asked Cait to join me on the stage, and told her I needed her help singing back up for the next song. She came up in front of the crowd. (Although clearly
confused as to why I wanted her to sing backup)
When she was in front of me, I took her hands, and I told her how much she meant to me and how much I love her. I told her that she makes me want to be a better person each and every day, and I told her that I didn’t want to wait another week, or another day, or even another song. And in front of everyone at Saxby’s Coffee, I got down on one knee and asked her to make me the happiest man in the world, and marry me. And with a huge gasp from all of the coffee house patrons, she said yes! There was only one thing left to do after that, finish with one last song! So while the love of my life showed off her new sparkle, I sang the one song that I always sing, only for her; “Hey Girl” by O.A.R. There was
no better feeling then looking into her baby blues and singing for her, as if we were the only two in the room.
It was truly a special moment, and a special evening. And I can not say how good it feels to be able to call her my fiancé.
As told by Dave:
It was important for me to make this proposal every bit as special and memorable for Cait. So instead of sweet, I went for more of a savory approach. (Think dark roast coffee) I also didn’t need to trick Cait into planning. I took the lead for this one! You see, sometime in the beginning of April, I received a phonecall from a friend, who wanted me and my good pal Ryan to play a small gig at Saxby’s Coffee, a local café in Lansdale. With the words of Train’s “Marry Me” ringing in my ears (“If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this café, say you will”), I decided that it would be the perfect place to ask for Cait’s hand in marriage.
I knew getting Cait to the show would be a feat all by itself, as she works whenever she isn’t going to class. So the first step was finding out if the Phillies were home on the day of the gig, which they were not. So I knew she would be free from one job. The next step was finding out a way to contact Cait’s other manager and ask for a night off. Luckily, he agreed not to schedule her for that night! So the date,the location, and the attendance of a very important person were all set. (Of course, once Cait knew she could attend the event, her planning side took over, and she took to Facebook to invite all of our friends
and family to come out and support me and Ryan. Little did she know she was inviting everyone to her proposal. Tricked again!)
The day of the show came and I picked up Cait and we headed to the event. (As we arrived, the manager told us where to set up, and asked me if I was “ready for my big day”, not realizing Cait was standing with me. Luckily, she was speaking with family and friends as they arrived, and only later would realizewhat he meant by asking me that! )
As most of our close friends and family began to arrive (even Cait’s sister, who managed to convince her manager to let her out of work), Ryan and I started playing, and the show went well. The audience was enjoying the music, and we were having a great time performing. With one song left, I knew it was time to ask what I had been waiting to ask for a long time. I asked Cait to join me on the stage, and told her I needed her help singing back up for the next song. She came up in front of the crowd. (Although clearly
confused as to why I wanted her to sing backup)
When she was in front of me, I took her hands, and I told her how much she meant to me and how much I love her. I told her that she makes me want to be a better person each and every day, and I told her that I didn’t want to wait another week, or another day, or even another song. And in front of everyone at Saxby’s Coffee, I got down on one knee and asked her to make me the happiest man in the world, and marry me. And with a huge gasp from all of the coffee house patrons, she said yes! There was only one thing left to do after that, finish with one last song! So while the love of my life showed off her new sparkle, I sang the one song that I always sing, only for her; “Hey Girl” by O.A.R. There was
no better feeling then looking into her baby blues and singing for her, as if we were the only two in the room.
It was truly a special moment, and a special evening. And I can not say how good it feels to be able to call her my fiancé.
