A Gentleman's Appearance: November 2012

What is more telling of a true gentleman than with a lady by his side? October 8, 2010 I laid eyes on my lady for the first time and we have been together since. October 8, 2012, was our second anniversary and we made a whole weekend out of it. Saturday we went antiquing, a concert put on by some of my best friends ever, and then we relived our first date at belvedere plantation.

Here is where you can do a corn maze, watch pig races, swing from the rafters in the barn, pick flowers, zip line, eat good food and drink cider and a hay ride to pick pumpkins! We had a blast gathering up a car full of pumpkins for painting and carving. One of mine will be a Washington Nationals pumpkin. Sunday we went to church and watched the Nats game one of the playoffs before going to my financial peace class. Monday, our anniversary day, has been in the works for quite some time, months at that.

It first started when I went golfing with her father. I then asked him for his blessings for her and I to get married. He agreed and then we both later met again to have a more on depth conversation. Men, this is key for the woman in your life. It brings the family together and shows that you care about her.

Before our second meeting however I had picked out and purchased an antique ring with wedding band along with a vintage Art Deco ring box, ready to go with two slots even!

Now how do I propose? When? Where? Apple picking or at Belvedere? None of those things worked out because we had plans to go there at other times and I decided that I wanted to keep it October 8th. As many of you know, I have a vintage bike collection and decided on a vintage bike ride picnic. Problem being she didn't have a vintage bike. So begins my search.

Finally found a sweet 1961 Shelby AMF women's bike from Richmond. The guy inherited 300 plus vintage bikes from his father who had past and he is tuning them up to sell. These were all garage kept and he only replaced the tires and tubes on them. The bike is in great vintage shape with the patina that you want. It had a fenderlite also, which is desirable. I met him at Bass Pro Shop in Ashland to pick it up and fell in love. The crank even had stars on it. Everything was there on the bike all original. So cool.

The fenderlite needed some work so I tried a few options to get it to work as an all original piece but no luck so I built an LED system in its place. Works awesome and brighter than it would have been anyways.

I collected vintage picnic items that I had, my mom had, and my grandmother had. Found an outfit and hired a friend photographer to capture each moment for me. Also wrote a song to play for my bride to be. But the coolest thing out of this whole plan was the cap.

The Snapple fact cap that is. My sweety is a teacher and we love Snapple Diet Peach tea and she uses a cap each day at her school for the students to put on the board. So I contacted Snapple with the idea of a custom fact cap for the engagement. They loved the idea and made me one for free. It says "She said yes 10/08/12". So awesome!!!!

The day has come. We wake up and get ready, I direct her to get the bike pump out of the middle shed at the house and she completely misses her bicycle surprise. I tell her to go back in and try again. This time she realized the bike and that it was her own.

After the bikes are loaded with our picnicking goodies we pedal to the birthplace, George Washington’s Birthplace. This is a few miles from my house, my usual bike ride to the beach area. When we arrive, we set up in the place I had planned it to be at, luckily no one was there on account of the slight drizzle from above and the chilly air. There was a certain couple there with their adorable child taking pictures nearby…. ;)

The blanket spread and food is out but my nerves get the better of me and I can hardly eat. I notice my photographer has now gotten in position to shoot and I begin my proposal. I sing my song I had written her and play my harmonica over the guitar parts recorded on my iPhone. Such a handy device that iPhone.

“Will you marry me?” and I pull out the ring at the songs finally. Stunned, she drops a tear and says yes! I then present her with the Snapple cap and she can hardly believe that I had actually done that. I think she was more excited about that then the ring…. could have saved some money. Just kidding.