Okay everybody, you've asked for it, so here it is: the story of my engagement. David and I had been talking for a little while about how we want to get married, and we had both informed our parents of this fact, so the time was drawing near. My two weeks in Nicaragua on a mission trip provided the perfect opportunity for some sneakiness on the part of my fiancee. I knew that he was meaning to go see my parents while I was gone and "ask them if he could ask me," and I also had some idea of what type of ring he might get, because he had asked me to go ahead with Leslie and scout out what type I might like so she could show him later. So when I returned from out the country I knew these things had happened, but I had no idea when he would actually propose or where, or which ring he had chosen.
So on Father's Day, June 17, we had been in Birmingham all weekend with his family (who all knew what was about to happen, by the way), and were heading over to Berry to meet my parents. They were dropping off Tucker at camp there, and so we were ostensibly going over so I could have dinner with my dad on Father's Day. However, I thought it was a little odd that they knew we were getting in to Berry at 6:00, but didn't want to have dinner with us until 7:30. Then, when we arrived in Rome and stopped at Walgreen's to get my Dad a Father's Day card, we encountered them there!!
I figured then that they would just say, "Well, why don't we just do dinner now?" but they didn't, they just said they would see us later, which got me even more suspicious. David had said he wanted to take me to the Oak Hill Gardens, but when I saw we were going to get there after the gates were closed for the day, I told him we wouldn't make it. He said that was okay, we would just go to Frost Chapel instead. When we got to Frost he wanted to go inside, but all of the doors were locked! Foiled again! He said then he was disappointed because he had written me a sonnet that was meant to be recited in the Oak Hill Gardens, but that he guessed he would just have to do it outside Frost Chapel. I then said maybe he could wait and do it at Oak Hill next weekend when we come for Eliza's wedding, but he said, "No, I think I want to do it now!" So we sit down on a low wall next to Frost, and I was trying to tell myself I wasn't going to get engaged right then, because I didn't want to get my hopes up! He told me to imagine that I was in the Oak Hill Gardens. I obligingly closed my eyes (which ended up helping him out, because he could rummage in his pocket for the ring without me seeing) and tried to imagine it. He began to recite the absolutely beautiful sonnet he had written for me, and as he continued I heard him moving around, so when he was at the last few lines I opened my eyes. He was no longer sitting next to me, but was down on one knee in front of me!!
Incredibly, your favorite cold-hearted girl began to cry! The last two lines of the sonnet asked the best question of all, and David held out the ring to me. Well, I snatched him up to kiss him, and he said, "So I guess that's a yes?" And then I said, "Absolutely yes!!" and kissed him some more and cried some more. I was exclaiming over how perfect the proposal was when he gave me an even bigger surprise! A while back, before my trip, when we first started talking about getting married, I had called Berry and asked if Frost Chapel was available next May. The lady told me we could put ourselves on the waiting list for some dates, but that it was basically a lost cause, because we would be like fifth down on every date. But I had her put us down for May 17, 24, and 30 just in case. She had said she would only contact me if she had positive news, so when I didn't hear from her, I assumed it was a done deal, and started considering getting married in my parents' church in McDonough on May 24 or 30. Anyway, fast forward back to proposal night. So after proposing to me, David then says, "Oh, but babe, I'm really sorry, but we aren't going to be able to get married on May 24 or 30 like you wanted." "But why?" I asked worriedly. "Because May 17th is the only day Frost is available!" he said. At which point I screamed, and flailed my arms and legs around some, and generally got ridiculous for a few minutes. Apparently, while I was out of the country, I had gotten a letter saying we had gotten Frost for that day, and David got it, because he was picking up my mail. He, along with my family, decided to keep it a secret from me until proposal time. It was such a huge surprise, and they were all so sneaky!!
So that's my story guys, and if anybody wants even more details (what we were wearing, or crazy stuff like that), give me a call! We will post more pictures of the ring online very soon! (And we did.--Ed.)
To sum up, I have the most wonderful fiancee in the entire world, and I cannot wait to be his wife!
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Going to the Chapel!
Frost Chapel, that is, at Berry College in Rome, GA. Peruse the pics below and see for yourself why we think it's the perfect spot!
The Proposal: Engagement Photos 1
Here are some photos actually taken immediately after the proposal itself. (The photos posted earlier of Frost Chapel were taken the same evening.)
Katie, looking down the hill from the Frost Chapel tower.
David (appropriately enough) in the "cloister garden".
Both of us, in front of the chapel.
A lovely ending to a lovely day.
Katie, looking down the hill from the Frost Chapel tower.
David (appropriately enough) in the "cloister garden".
Both of us, in front of the chapel.
A lovely ending to a lovely day.
The Proposal: David's Version, Part 2
(Originally posted at David's blog, The Oak Hermitage.)
As I mentioned in my first engagement post, "the Ask" was meant to take place in the Oak Hill gardens by Martha Berry's home. Now, let's imagine what that would have been like...
The gardens are very formal: straight walkways, ornamental pools, hedges, statuary, sundials, gazebos, the whole bit. Effective on its own, the formality stands out in sharper contrast against the general "wildness" of the Berry campus, which is largely forested and overrun with deer and turkeys. In fact, this contrast (and a similar contrast at the Georgia Botanical Gardens) started a thought germinating, which eventually grew into the proposal sonnet.
This is, I think, one of the prettiest spots in the garden: a little fish pond surrounded by a round stone path, with a wisteria arbor on one side. Again, the formal beauty, with the particular elements, reminded me of larger themes. The arbor, in particular, reminded me of Adam and Eve's "blissful bower" as described in Book Three of Paradise Lost. It was the perfect spot.
The view looking up through the arbor. I reiterate: perfect.
However, it was not to be: Oak Hill closes at 5 pm, and we didn't arrive in Rome until after 6 pm. Instead, we went to Frost Chapel, which my dear readers have already seen. However, this past weekend Katie and I went to a wedding up at Berry, and had a bit of time before hand, in which we decided to simulate what the proposal ought to have looked like, if it had come off properly.
A SIMULATION, NOT AN ACTUAL PROPOSAL PHOTO.
Finally, for those interested, here's the sonnet:
As I mentioned in my first engagement post, "the Ask" was meant to take place in the Oak Hill gardens by Martha Berry's home. Now, let's imagine what that would have been like...
The gardens are very formal: straight walkways, ornamental pools, hedges, statuary, sundials, gazebos, the whole bit. Effective on its own, the formality stands out in sharper contrast against the general "wildness" of the Berry campus, which is largely forested and overrun with deer and turkeys. In fact, this contrast (and a similar contrast at the Georgia Botanical Gardens) started a thought germinating, which eventually grew into the proposal sonnet.
This is, I think, one of the prettiest spots in the garden: a little fish pond surrounded by a round stone path, with a wisteria arbor on one side. Again, the formal beauty, with the particular elements, reminded me of larger themes. The arbor, in particular, reminded me of Adam and Eve's "blissful bower" as described in Book Three of Paradise Lost. It was the perfect spot.
The view looking up through the arbor. I reiterate: perfect.However, it was not to be: Oak Hill closes at 5 pm, and we didn't arrive in Rome until after 6 pm. Instead, we went to Frost Chapel, which my dear readers have already seen. However, this past weekend Katie and I went to a wedding up at Berry, and had a bit of time before hand, in which we decided to simulate what the proposal ought to have looked like, if it had come off properly.
A SIMULATION, NOT AN ACTUAL PROPOSAL PHOTO.Finally, for those interested, here's the sonnet:
AN EDENIC ICON:
A Marriage Proposal Couched
in an Overwrought Metaphysical Conceit
A Marriage Proposal Couched
in an Overwrought Metaphysical Conceit
This garden is a cosmos framed by Love:Yes, I did totally rip off Milton in a number of spots. Steal from the best, dear readers, only from the best!
Its path runs like to Heaven’s starry course;
Here fire, earth, air, and water meet; above
Quintessent spirit breathes, all being’s source.
And here I walk, like Man fresh born of clay,
In nature’s ordered haven, Man’s true throne—
An image of creation’s perfect day—
As though this garden kingdom were my own.
But shall I rule a solitary lord?
If I’m alone, I’ll yet be discontent,
Though by all creatures named of me adored.
A queenless king cannot Man represent!
Yet from this shadow comes reality:
For with your will, this image whole may be.
The Proposal: David's Version, Part 1
(Originally posted at David's blog, The Oak Hermitage.)
Most of you in the loop already know a good bit, but some of my dear readers may yet remain in the dark regarding current events of earth-shaking import: namely, that I am engaged. The lady in question has been featured at the Hermitage before (here and here and here), but here's a short refresher course:
Anyway, we began dating in the early spring (February) and quickly discovered how much we had in common and how well suited we were to one another in taste and temperament. Things progressed, and we started discussing what ought to happen next. I've long fancied matrimony, and she found the notion agreeable. Still, there were many things to sort out before we could march to the village square and post the banns. So we spent the months that followed dealing with each issue that presented itself, making sure all the lights were green and all the doors open before proceeding.
Nonetheless, though we were agreed in our future plans, nothing was yet official: a question remained to be asked, and there was the ring to consider as well. The first business was the ring. Fortunately, my future mother-in-law has a friend (Nancy Wilhite) at an Atlanta antique store (Wilson and Son's). Katie and her friend Leslie browsed through the selection of rings at Wilson and Son's, and found a few that suited her tastes. Later, while she was in Nicaragua, I went to Wilson and Son's myself with Leslie and Bethany, Katie's sister, on our own hobbitish quest for The One Ring to Rule Them All.
Being able questers, we were successful:
Now all that remained was a time, place, and manner for the Question. The time: this past weekend, on Father's Day. The place: Frost Chapel at Berry College. The manner: a sonnet. Actually, Frost Chapel was a backup location: my preferred setting was at the Oak Hill Gardens by Berry. In fact, the sonnet itself assumed a recitation in a garden. However, thwarted at every turn by closing times and locked doors, I eventually just asked Katie to close her eyes and pretend she was in the garden. The tactic was successful.
Most of you in the loop already know a good bit, but some of my dear readers may yet remain in the dark regarding current events of earth-shaking import: namely, that I am engaged. The lady in question has been featured at the Hermitage before (here and here and here), but here's a short refresher course:
Name: Katie NormanNaturally there's more than this to know about so phenomenal a person, but this'll do to start out with.
Age: 23
Home: McDonough, GA
Education: Berry College 2006 (BA, English Literature and Spanish), UGA 2008 (MA, English Literature, emphasis on British Renaissance)
Anyway, we began dating in the early spring (February) and quickly discovered how much we had in common and how well suited we were to one another in taste and temperament. Things progressed, and we started discussing what ought to happen next. I've long fancied matrimony, and she found the notion agreeable. Still, there were many things to sort out before we could march to the village square and post the banns. So we spent the months that followed dealing with each issue that presented itself, making sure all the lights were green and all the doors open before proceeding.
Nonetheless, though we were agreed in our future plans, nothing was yet official: a question remained to be asked, and there was the ring to consider as well. The first business was the ring. Fortunately, my future mother-in-law has a friend (Nancy Wilhite) at an Atlanta antique store (Wilson and Son's). Katie and her friend Leslie browsed through the selection of rings at Wilson and Son's, and found a few that suited her tastes. Later, while she was in Nicaragua, I went to Wilson and Son's myself with Leslie and Bethany, Katie's sister, on our own hobbitish quest for The One Ring to Rule Them All.
Being able questers, we were successful:
Now all that remained was a time, place, and manner for the Question. The time: this past weekend, on Father's Day. The place: Frost Chapel at Berry College. The manner: a sonnet. Actually, Frost Chapel was a backup location: my preferred setting was at the Oak Hill Gardens by Berry. In fact, the sonnet itself assumed a recitation in a garden. However, thwarted at every turn by closing times and locked doors, I eventually just asked Katie to close her eyes and pretend she was in the garden. The tactic was successful. 
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