One Night, Two Surprises

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I’m engaged!

First of all, a big thanks to everyone for the Facebook messages, texts, emails and words of encouragement! Yep, after fourteen months of dating, I decided to pop the question. It wasn’t easy, but I managed to surprise Cathie…not only once, but twice! Here’s how it all went down (including pictures, a rarity on this blog).

For helping out at their wedding, our friends, Ashley and Danny, got us a gift certificate to the Melting Pot. So we decided to go the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, to the one in Irvine. I had made reservations for 5:30pm but told Cathie they were for 5pm. And actually, I had made the reservations two weeks prior to the date, but Cathie asked if we could go soon after I had made the reservation, so she actually thought it was her idea

So the Monday before, I drove by the restaurant and scouted the area to see if there were any good spots around to propose at. My sister suggested Las Brisas in Laguna, so I eventually found my way there. It was pretty late when I got there, but when I came upon the gazebo outside the restaurant overlooking the beach, I knew that’s where I wanted to do it. So I snapped some photos.

Las Brisas, Laguna Beach, California

Finally, Saturday rolled around. We decided earlier, to dress up (Cathie found a nice dress for a really good price!). When I told her that my sister is good at doing hair and make-up, Cathie thought it’d be fun to ask my sister do her hair and make-up that day. So we got ready to go out.

The trick was, I had to find an excuse to go to the restaurant in Laguna, instead of driving directly to Irvine. So I told Cathie that my mom asked me to get gift certificates at this restaurant in Laguna and that we had to leave early. My mom, in on it, of course, even asked us earlier if we were still going to do that for her while Cathie was with me. So the alibi was securely in place and we were on our way.

People asked me if I was nervous. I was doing pretty fine, until I saw the sign for the 133 to Laguna. That’s when it hit me that this was going to happen for reals. I was quiet in the car, but my heart started pounding–good thing I’m good at hiding my emotions

We hit some early traffic, so by the time we got there, it was about 4:45pm. So Cathie thought we were totally late for our reservation to the Melting Pot so she told me to park the car illegally and run in to get the gift certificates. I insisted that I park. After driving around for 5 minutes, we found a spot. Cathie was in super-speed mode, and we started walking to the restaurant. When I started leading her away from the restaurant towards the gazebo, she said, “I think the restaurant is this way.” And ever-so-smoothly, I replied, “Let’s go this way instead.” Cathie said that’s when she knew what was happening.

As we walked towards the gazebo, a small crowd had gathered, a few with cameras. I had recruited Maria, Cathie’s roommate to come earlier and set up the gazebo nicely for us, so people knew what was going to happen and they were waiting for us. We walked over and a stranger lady was blocking the entrance of the gazebo. As we walked over to her, she winked at me and let us through. VIP treatment.

When we got inside the gazebo, here’s what Cathie saw on the bench:

33 pointer

Right then, as I take her hand and start proposing, a strange man walks into the gazebo and looks at the board. He mumbles to himself, “Is this for real?” Then, he turns around, and says, “I guess so,” and walks away. Then I propose.

She said yes.

Thanks for all your help, Maria!

Roomies

We snapped a few pics, talked to the onlookers a bit (some of the photographers said they’ll email me pictures–still haven’t received them yet though), and headed off to dinner at the Melting Pot.

Dinner was fun too. When we walked in, I told them we had a reservation under my name. The hostess looked up from the computer, smiled, and said, “I guess she said yes.” I told them in my reservation that I was proposing. When we took our seats a few minutes later, they took us to this curtained off booth. Our waitress told us it’s the only seat in the house of its kind, and its always reserved for special guests! They even had champagne bottles and a rose waiting for us, compliments of the restaurant.

After dinner, there was another surprise waiting.

The original plan was to hang out with Danny and Ashley, at their place in Irvine, right next the Melting Pot. But I had arranged for friends and family to gather at my sister and brother-in-law’s place nearby. They were waiting there, ready to hang out and celebrate with us

I told her in the car that I lied to her about hanging out with Danny and Ash and that my siblings wanted to celebrate with us. We drove there and Cathie was surprised to see friends for a appetizer and dessert party. The place was decorated all nicely with lights and balloons. My sister made baked some red velvet cupcakes and bacon breadsticks, and we spent the night hanging out. Thanks for hosting, noona!

Engagement party

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