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Mrs. Perfume, DC Age and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor) Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, Consultant Engagement Date: May 13, 2008 Wedding Date: May, 2009 Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia About Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
About Mrs. Perfume

The Modern-Traditional Proposal

January 18th, 2009 @ 1:00 pm by Mrs. Perfume

atrium

The National Portrait Gallery Atrium: A fine example of modern and vintage. The circa 1867 building underwent extensive renovation that was completed in 2006. The museum now boasts a blending of this ultra modern undulating glass roof with an historically relevant copper skin along with the historic Greek Revival architecture. Photo credit: David S. Holloway.

Mr. P’s proposal was extremely well-planned, thoughtful, and full of meaning (not to mention a few challenges)! I had planned on taking a girlfriend, Abby, to a very special 30th birthday dinner that Tuesday. Panicked after hearing our phone conversation a week earlier, Mr. P had to step in, as he had plans of his own! Somehow he convinced Abby to cancel the dinner (apparently calling and emailing her for almost a week). So, Abby reluctantly wrote me a last minute email saying that she couldn’t make it (for vaguely work-related reasons).

That evening Mr. P surprised me by picking me up from work, citing that he wanted to walk me home that balmy evening.

He suggested we go for a drink… at Zaytinya, the restaurant where we first met that same night three years earlier. I realized at that moment that it was our anniversary and was happy that he remembered (though I had forgotten). We lucked on the very same table and toasted to our anniversary…

But Mr. P had (once again) other plans. He rushed me through my wine, acting a bit strangely (and in retrospect, a bit nervously). And as we left, he suggested a quick stop across the street at the National Portrait Gallery, one of our favorite museums. Thinking we would head to the third floor where the contemporary art is housed, I got another surprise. Mr. P insisted on walking through the beautiful enclosed courtyard, where he actually requested we stop, complaining that his back hurt. There, sitting on the large marbled planter, he proposed, down on knee (*very traditional!*) as museum visitors looked on.

After he got up and sat next to me again, he said, “… About the ring—you should pick it.” (*Very modern!*)… To top off the wonderful moment, there happened to be a professional photographer (not Mr. P’s planning) sitting nearby putting together his equipment. Mr. P approached him, there were congratulatory handshakes (I love how universal this feeling is), and he snapped pictures of us moments after the proposal! What luck!

proposa

Photo credit: Koteiba Fayyad

But that wasn’t the end of it. Mr. P made reservations for one of our favorite restaurants, Corduroy, which re-opened (with much anticipation) just a week before a few blocks away. It was perfect. He went to the restaurant earlier that day, making sure that the general manager knew the details of the occasion and scouted out an intimate corner table, with a great view of Chef Tom Power (who signed our menu). Mr. P also brought to the restaurant a beautiful bottle of (*vintage*) 1996 Veuve Clicquot Grand Dame to get chilled ahead of time… an absolutely perfect way to celebrate the most perfect proposal!!!

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20 Responses to “The Modern-Traditional Proposal”

1.
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Guest
lobster girl

What a wonderful proposal. DC is such a wonderful place for proposals. My fiance proposed between Monuments at night beside the reflecting pool. Love the story. Congratulations!

 
2.
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Guest
Shamrock

What a cute story! My fiance also popped the question in DC (in Lafayette Square) while I was working in town for a month.

 
3.
frenchbulldog
Bee
frenchbulldog (message)  6,063 posts, Bee Keeper

Awww What a romantic story! Good Job Mr. Perfume! and I’m really jealous of your post engagement pictures… FH and I tried to take our oun picture, but all our attempts turned out pretty badly.

 
4.
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Ellen Levin

That is fabulous. My fiance also proposed in DC at Marcel’s for dinner. The whole restaurant staff knew ahead of time and blocked the table when he did it to make it private.

 
5.
bellenga
Hostess
bellenga (message)  4,640 posts, Honey bee

That is such a lovely proposal! Congratulations Miss P! I’ve actually never been to DC, but it’s on our list..what a beautiful place to pop the question!

 
6.
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Mrs. Pinot Noir (message)  772 posts, Busy bee

How sweet! We got lucky with a stranger photographer too!

 
7.
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Miss Hot Cocoa (message)  1,715 posts, Bumble bee

What a lovely story! And you guys look radiant in your pics. BTW, I love Zatinya; my favorite though is Jaleo (from the same owners).

 
8.
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Bee
Miss Perfume (message)  1,632 posts, Bumble bee

@lobster girl: Ooooh, monuments at night near the reflecting pool=epic!

@Shamrock: Lafayette Square: beautiful and historic park! Where were you working?

@AliCherri1: Oh no! I’d say that any pic after a proposal is a keeper!

@Ellen Levin: Luckkkkyyyy. Your fiance clearly has good taste (and is super romantic)! I love how the staff was in on it!

 
9.
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Miss Perfume (message)  1,632 posts, Bumble bee

@Mrs. Pinot Noir: PN…I think we’re connected somehow: same luck with stranger photog, the city-country extremes thing…

@Miss Hot Cocoa: Yes, yes! Good old Jaleo…catch me up…did you live in DC at one time?

 
10.
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Mrs. Canary (message)  636 posts, Busy bee

Super sweet! You both look so cute and perfect in the photos. How serendipitous that there was a photographer right there.

 
11.
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Lina

Love Zaytinya — I’ll have to check out Corduroy!

 
12.
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jennie

i love zaytinya! where do you teach? i’m a law student in arlington.

 
13.
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Miss Perfume (message)  1,632 posts, Bumble bee

@jennie: …a college in maryland. i’m taking a break for wedding planning, but will go back in the fall as a college in the district!

 
14.
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Miss Perfume (message)  1,632 posts, Bumble bee

@Miss Perfume: as=aT

 
15.
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Miss Perfume (message)  1,632 posts, Bumble bee

@Miss Perfume: …”at” really should be “to”. grrr. i just woke up…

 
16.
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Miss Champagne (message)  1,068 posts, Bumble bee

such a sweet story! I love walking around the DC monuments- sounds weird but there’s something romantic about them, I swear! You and the mister are adorable!!!

 
17.
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Miss Perfume (message)  1,632 posts, Bumble bee

@Miss Champagne: Hi, Champy!! Yey DC Bees!!! Get together soon???

 
18.
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Elle

I love how sneaky men can truly be. My FI made reservations for dinner, BUT went ahead to the restaurant, got a nice private table and had the waiter bring us champagne in between the dinner and dessert. My ring was in my glass!

 
19.
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Pat

Very romantic story that a lot of thought went into. Proposing in a public place is very brave :-)

 
20.
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Happy Engage-a-versary, Mr. P » Weddingbee » The Wedding Blog

[...] one year ago, you truly surprised me with your thoughtful and well-planned proposal. I’m sorry we can’t be together to honor the occasion today, but we’ll be celebrating an even [...]

 


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Mrs. Perfume
Mrs. Perfume Mrs. Perfume, DC Age and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor) Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, Consultant Engagement Date: May 13, 2008 Wedding Date: May, 2009 Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia About Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
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