The countdown to forever (and then some) is on!

We ran in very different circles in high school. I was a goody two shoes with a spotless academic record and George was a charismatic goofball who knew everyone and didn't care much for school. However, we had two classes together our senior year, psychology, and you guessed it - chemistry. We were often in the same lab group which led to a lot of study dates at Barnes & Noble. I had a crush on George first, and finally, after 5 months of trying to win George over, he asked me out. Our first date was on South Congress, and George asked me to be his girlfriend as we strolled down Monroe street. As many high school couples, we quickly became inseparable. Soon after graduation I (accidentally) agreed to try long distance and the rest was history. The next 4 years were full of many trips for George up to Duke and winter and summer breaks back in Austin. Then, when George got into Duke law, I knew I had to stay put in Durham. In July 2018, we moved in together and finally...

George’s gift to me Christmas 2019 was a reservation at Otoko and a night at The South Congress Hotel. However, I wasn’t suspicious at all. I’ve always had “my plan” – one that George was familiar with. We would get engaged after his second year of law school (summer 2020) and get married a year or so later. I was so confident in my plan that I even joked on Christmas day “are you sure you aren’t going to propose at Otoko?” To which he replied “yeah… I’m pretty sure I would know.” However, as soon as we arrived at “dinner” he pulled me down the block saying we were going through a special entrance. Next thing I know I’m looking up at a street sign – “Monroe St.” – that same street we strolled down on our first date, the night he asked me to be his girlfriend. What happened next was a blur. All I remember is George getting down on one knee, a photographer snapping some photos, and strangers clapping in the street. What he said? Neither of us remember. Not only did George surprise me with the proposal and a mini photoshoot, but as we walked into what I thought would be our dinner, I was shocked to find a party of our 50 closest friends and family waiting in the hotel lobby. There were a lot of smiles, happy crying, and even a champagne toast. Everything was beautiful and detailed; George even designed and printed custom drink menus for the event. After the party, we did get to enjoy our dinner at Otoko, where the tasting menu for the night was customized with our names and the date. And we got to spend the night at the South Congress Hotel in the room that overlooked the very spot where he proposed. George completely exceeded any expectations of a proposal I previously had. December 27, 2019 will always be one of the most memorable and joy-filled nights of my life. We cant wait to return to the South Congress Hotel on 10/23/2021 to bring it all full circle.