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Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2004
- Messages
- 840
It's official, I'm engaged! All these many months have finally come to a conclusion (which is only just the beginning).
--BACKSTORY--
I had began saving a year ago so that I could pay for an e-ring outright and without financing. Around the beginning of 2004 I began going into stores and looking around. I almost bought a 0.30ct Tiffany Lucida b/c I wasn't sure I was up to the task of learning what I needed to know to 'make' a ring. I figured the little blue box was the peace of mind that I needed, even though I'd be getting something a little smaller than I'd hoped.
As it turns out, a lot of people think that at first. I had seen Blue Nile from a Forbes best of list, but thought I'd do a little bit more research and that's when I came up with Pricescope!
After talking to many fine and helpful people here, I learned what it was that made an extroidinary diamond and how to identify what was wrong with most retail diamonds. So that set me on my quest to find create the perfect ring to kick start the rest of my life.
--THE DEED--
I had conceived of many different ways to pop the question, but it was hard for me to decide which one felt 'right' for us. We are in the metro DC area so there's no shortage of great opportunities, but the trick is finding something unique and meaningful. Plus, I needed to keep it a surprise.
One option was to go to the restaurant we had our first date. That was ok, but a bit pricey and there was no special occasion coming up. Another was to have a picnic and take a walk on the National Mall and do it at a monument. Also, very good, but it's summer in DC (HOT) and tourist season. Plus, you can't drink alcohol on the Mall and I was pretty sure I needed liquid courage! Yet another way involved dancing lessons, but I had missed the nearest sign up time, others classes were too expensive.
[Edited] Lastly, I had the idea of doing in in the precious gems exhibit of the Natural History museum, where the Hope diamond is kept. But someone who had been there indicated to me that they don't let you wander the exhibit. It's more of a corralled line and the Hope is at the very end, so it would be too awkward.
Finally, I thought of a plan that would help me relax, keep us occupied, and totally take her by surprise.
I told her we were going to go do something we hadn't done in a long time. Go to one of our favorite pool halls, which is pretty swank place, not cheap by pool hall standards. Actually I said, we'd just play pool. Then we drove PAST the cheap crappy place, and told her we're going to the nice one which made her really happy.
We drank and played for an hour while I tried to keep calm and work up my courage. I knew ahead of time that Sunday was going to be slower than usual, but when I got there I didn't realize it was going to be THAT slow. I wanted a little more people there. But the plan was started, I had to go on. So I waited for more people to arrive. And drank some more.
I was also A LOT more nervous than I thought I'd be. I started to think I couldn't do it. Soon, she started to get hungry and wanted to leave after this game was over. There was only 2 balls left, so I tried to draw out the game. Of course I cleared the table and sank the 8-ball. (Why can't I do that when I'm trying?!)
I covinced her we needed to play one more game... 'Winner takes all.' So I rack 'em up and start playing. I purposefully scratch and place the cue ball for her. I tell her which shot would be good, but then start fidgeting with the cue ball. "No, that's not the right angle... a little bit more this way... hit the ball low like this..."
Then I got in between her and the table for one 'final adjustment.'
I replaced the cue ball with the ring box and then stepped back to let her play and watch her reaction. She was dumbfounded. She couldn't process what that thing was. When she went to reach for it, I grabbed it, got down on one knee, spouted off something incomprehensible that may or may not have included the words: love, marry, and me.
She said, "Yes," I think. I can't remember really. She was a freaky little crying machine for the rest of the night. I succeeded in totally catching her off guard.
Oh, and she loved the ring. I will post pictures of the proposal when I get them. Here's pictures of the ring to keep you until then.
--BACKSTORY--
I had began saving a year ago so that I could pay for an e-ring outright and without financing. Around the beginning of 2004 I began going into stores and looking around. I almost bought a 0.30ct Tiffany Lucida b/c I wasn't sure I was up to the task of learning what I needed to know to 'make' a ring. I figured the little blue box was the peace of mind that I needed, even though I'd be getting something a little smaller than I'd hoped.
As it turns out, a lot of people think that at first. I had seen Blue Nile from a Forbes best of list, but thought I'd do a little bit more research and that's when I came up with Pricescope!
After talking to many fine and helpful people here, I learned what it was that made an extroidinary diamond and how to identify what was wrong with most retail diamonds. So that set me on my quest to find create the perfect ring to kick start the rest of my life.
--THE DEED--
I had conceived of many different ways to pop the question, but it was hard for me to decide which one felt 'right' for us. We are in the metro DC area so there's no shortage of great opportunities, but the trick is finding something unique and meaningful. Plus, I needed to keep it a surprise.
One option was to go to the restaurant we had our first date. That was ok, but a bit pricey and there was no special occasion coming up. Another was to have a picnic and take a walk on the National Mall and do it at a monument. Also, very good, but it's summer in DC (HOT) and tourist season. Plus, you can't drink alcohol on the Mall and I was pretty sure I needed liquid courage! Yet another way involved dancing lessons, but I had missed the nearest sign up time, others classes were too expensive.
[Edited] Lastly, I had the idea of doing in in the precious gems exhibit of the Natural History museum, where the Hope diamond is kept. But someone who had been there indicated to me that they don't let you wander the exhibit. It's more of a corralled line and the Hope is at the very end, so it would be too awkward.
Finally, I thought of a plan that would help me relax, keep us occupied, and totally take her by surprise.
I told her we were going to go do something we hadn't done in a long time. Go to one of our favorite pool halls, which is pretty swank place, not cheap by pool hall standards. Actually I said, we'd just play pool. Then we drove PAST the cheap crappy place, and told her we're going to the nice one which made her really happy.
We drank and played for an hour while I tried to keep calm and work up my courage. I knew ahead of time that Sunday was going to be slower than usual, but when I got there I didn't realize it was going to be THAT slow. I wanted a little more people there. But the plan was started, I had to go on. So I waited for more people to arrive. And drank some more.
I was also A LOT more nervous than I thought I'd be. I started to think I couldn't do it. Soon, she started to get hungry and wanted to leave after this game was over. There was only 2 balls left, so I tried to draw out the game. Of course I cleared the table and sank the 8-ball. (Why can't I do that when I'm trying?!)
I covinced her we needed to play one more game... 'Winner takes all.' So I rack 'em up and start playing. I purposefully scratch and place the cue ball for her. I tell her which shot would be good, but then start fidgeting with the cue ball. "No, that's not the right angle... a little bit more this way... hit the ball low like this..."
Then I got in between her and the table for one 'final adjustment.'
I replaced the cue ball with the ring box and then stepped back to let her play and watch her reaction. She was dumbfounded. She couldn't process what that thing was. When she went to reach for it, I grabbed it, got down on one knee, spouted off something incomprehensible that may or may not have included the words: love, marry, and me.
She said, "Yes," I think. I can't remember really. She was a freaky little crying machine for the rest of the night. I succeeded in totally catching her off guard.
Oh, and she loved the ring. I will post pictures of the proposal when I get them. Here's pictures of the ring to keep you until then.
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