JimDiamond
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2004
- Messages
- 131
My current plan is to propose to my girlfriend at the Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino (surrounded by Pasadena, CA). They have 150 acres of picturesque botanical gardens. (www.huntington.org if you want to check it out). I think a more private proposal would be preferred by both of us so I found about "evenings for members". For only $50 more than a one-day admission we can come back as many times as we like for a year, but more importantly we can go in the evening from 5pm - 8pm on July 10th. There should be far fewer people there and we would be able to stroll and sit admiring the beauty in relative seclusion.
I plan to bring a small album (A really good album could take months to create so my goal is to make it more touching than elaborate.) The album would include pictures of us, images and words that reflect who she is, who I am and who we are, as well as some sentimental artifacts, letters, at least one poem (that I got from this forum) and finally on the last page words to the effect of "Will you marry me...?".
When the mood seems right, perhaps after we have been sitting and talking for a while enjoying the scenery, I plan to take out the "album" which we can then go through. That should enhance the romantic mood for us both. The last page will give her the main event at which point I will do the oral proposal myself and present the ring (A 1ct., H&A, F-color, SI1 stone set in a platinum setting with diamond accent stones since I know most of us here are diamond afficianados).
Here are some questions I hope you can help me with:
- Should I plan anything special for after? She''s very close to her family and still lives at home even though she''s 26 (a cultural thing too). I don''t know if I should try to plan anything after because she may want to go home within a couple of hours after the realization sinks in to share the news with her parents.
- It''s not possible to "picnic", so I was thinking of taking her to eat beforehand because otherwise she may well be hungry by 6 or 7 and want to leave. They do have a cafe, but I don''t know much about it or even if it''ll be open in the evening. What might be good to do after if she still feels like going out? (Which I don''t think is likely, but I want to have a plan.)
- Would it be overkill to put the ring box on a small platter decorated with petals or small flowers or some such? I could glue things down and put it in a box. It would not be shocking for me to carry a box with a gift in it for her.
- Can you forsee anythings that I might not have thought of yet? (I don''t think I can hide the album. I''ll just have it in a bag and admit that I want to show it to her.) She''s expecting a proposal, but not for 3 months or more at least so it shouldn''t raise any suspicions.
I plan to bring a small album (A really good album could take months to create so my goal is to make it more touching than elaborate.) The album would include pictures of us, images and words that reflect who she is, who I am and who we are, as well as some sentimental artifacts, letters, at least one poem (that I got from this forum) and finally on the last page words to the effect of "Will you marry me...?".
When the mood seems right, perhaps after we have been sitting and talking for a while enjoying the scenery, I plan to take out the "album" which we can then go through. That should enhance the romantic mood for us both. The last page will give her the main event at which point I will do the oral proposal myself and present the ring (A 1ct., H&A, F-color, SI1 stone set in a platinum setting with diamond accent stones since I know most of us here are diamond afficianados).
Here are some questions I hope you can help me with:
- Should I plan anything special for after? She''s very close to her family and still lives at home even though she''s 26 (a cultural thing too). I don''t know if I should try to plan anything after because she may want to go home within a couple of hours after the realization sinks in to share the news with her parents.
- It''s not possible to "picnic", so I was thinking of taking her to eat beforehand because otherwise she may well be hungry by 6 or 7 and want to leave. They do have a cafe, but I don''t know much about it or even if it''ll be open in the evening. What might be good to do after if she still feels like going out? (Which I don''t think is likely, but I want to have a plan.)
- Would it be overkill to put the ring box on a small platter decorated with petals or small flowers or some such? I could glue things down and put it in a box. It would not be shocking for me to carry a box with a gift in it for her.
- Can you forsee anythings that I might not have thought of yet? (I don''t think I can hide the album. I''ll just have it in a bag and admit that I want to show it to her.) She''s expecting a proposal, but not for 3 months or more at least so it shouldn''t raise any suspicions.