Fifinella
Friendly gremlin
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2006
- Messages
- 103
I know this is SO long, I'm sorry...but I never thought in a million years I'd ever type these words: I'm engaged!
A little background: I'm 43, DFi is 39. He is Australian, I'm a Texan, both never married. After many bad experiences, we'd both given up on ever finding 'someone.'
We're both big ol' geeks, longtime roleplayers and gamers. We met a couple of years ago playing an MMORPG (massively multiplayer online rolepaying game). Our characters hit it off immediately and shortly became a couple, then became engaged, then married, all within the storyline we played and wrote out as part of our online RP group. Over the course of this story, we the two players became online friends, then offline friends, then best friends, and then the friendship blossomed into something more. We shelved our characters so we could concentrate on Real Life. I admit that I did tell him that since his character did such a lovely job proposing to my character, I knew he would do an equally wonderful job. No pressure!
I came over to Oz (my first time Down Under) to visit him for a month, and met his parents and two of his siblings, as well as his best friend. Then he came to visit me for a month (his first time in the States), and met my Mom and my friends. I came back to spend a couple of months staying with him. It's been a real dream come true.
I was shopping for a gift for him around last Valentine's Day, and my mother surprised me by saying that, as it looked like things were becoming serious, when the time came, she'd really like us to use her diamonds in my engagement ring. Now, my Dad (whom we lost 12 years ago) proposed to her with a cigar band (which she still has). After they'd been married a few years, they bought her a 'proper' diamond ring. She was hoping I'd have the stones set in my ring. Honestly, I was hoping for something simple, a colored stone, maybe an Australian opal. But she's my Mom, and it would make her happy, and it would have meaning for me, too. So I told her I'd let my then-DBF know. I purchased a silver claddagh ring for him for V-Day, and I also picked up a gold and diamond claddagh, to save for that special moment.
During his visit to the States, we did some initial discussing of what our hopes and goals were. We knew we wanted to be together. Mom took him aside and showed him the stones, and he agreed that he'd be glad to honor her wishes. After DBF had returned home, I went looking for settings. Luckily Mom has been involved with selling jewelry for years, and she had a supplier that had exactly what I wanted. I picked out three white gold, retro-style settings and was done--it was up to DBF to make the final selection. I wanted a little surprise in there!
I arrived back in Oz at the beginning of September. Sadly, the ring wasn't finished, so I didn't get to carry it over, but it didn't bother me. Our time together was great, even with Canberra's cold, wet and windy spring weather. We have had fun days and quiet content days, and it's all been good. I was 99% sure that the proposal would be happening before I left, but I never count my chickens, so I was trying not to get too excited. One day, Mom called to let me know that the ring just wasn't going to make it over--shipping, insurance and duty was going to be into the thousands, and DBF was extremely upset about this. I told her that I was thrilled that he wasn't going to be wasting loads of money just to have 'the' ring here! It's not about the ring--a cigar band works just as well. Funny I should say that! As it happens, their plan was to have Mom send the original cigar band used by my Dad, and DBF would propose with that. I quickly asked her to try and gently discourage this, because what if it were to be lost or damaged? I'd die from the guilt. Also, I felt it would be better for DBF to use something that was 'ours' with meaning for us. She was glad to do so. Crisis averted.
After that conversation, I was 99.9% sure that the proposal was in the offing, but I still didn't want to assume, you know? But I could tell that something was afoot--DBF was fielding mysterious phone calls and important emails, and then a package arrived from his parents that he quickly snuck off into another room. Hmmm...
Then last Friday as he left for work, DBF told me that I'd need an overnight bag ready tomorrow--and to pack my dress. Hmmmmm!
Saturday rolled around and, overnight bags in hand, we hopped into a cab and took off for our mystery destination. I was delighted when we pulled up at the Park Hyatt Hotel Canberra, just down from Parliament House. It's a lovely historic hotel with Arts and Crafts and Art Deco touches. I was very pleased because, during my first visit, we were both sick as dogs and the weather was horrid. The first day we felt well, the sun came out, and we toured New Parliament House, then walked down and had afternoon tea at the Hyatt. I had happy memories of this hotel, and we'd arrived just as tea time, and hadn't had any lunch....perfect! We checked into our lovely room, where a beautiful bouquet of pink and white lilies awaited me. They smelled divine! We looked out from the balcony where we could see trees, a corner of Lake Burley Griffin, and the Black Mountain Tower. Then we headed down for tea. Sandwiches, lamingtons, scones with jam and cream...YUM! Oh, and tea
Then we planned to have a walk outside, but it started to rain a bit, so we went up to the room and lazed around instead.
At 6:45 pm we were both dressed up and ready to go. Darling BF had hired a car and driver, who awaited us out front. He took us on a short sightseeing jaunt on the way to our next mystery destination. Now, it seems that everywhere we visit, DBF loves to do dinner cruises. I assumed he'd found us a dinner cruise on the lake. Instead, we pulled up at a beautiful restaurant. The Boathouse on the Lake. We were ushered inside to a fabulous table right by the plate glass windows. We had a lovely view of the lake, the mountains, and the tower. The clouds made the sunset gorgeous, and we sat and watched the shades of pink and purple deepen into night. A pair of black swans glided by, and some lively possums even dashed here and there in the bushes! (Australian possums are actually kind of cute, unlike our native version.)
The service was perfect, and the food was simply fabulous. The only slight bump was the wedding reception going on at the same time. As we arrived we saw a bride making her way into the restaurant. I thought 'what an omen!' As it happened, the reception featured a very loud, very lengthy, very enthusiastic 'dragon dance' which meant LOTS of ear-splitting drumming. DBF was a bit irritated, but I thought it was hysterical. The staff apologized profusely, but I told them I considered the dragon a good omen! Anyway, things eventually quieted down, the food was wonderful, and as I told DBF, it was a perfect evening. (For the foodies, we started with scallops, I had venison, he had prime rib, he finished with a capuccino souffle with this FANTASTIC black chai ice cream, I opted for Kahlua and dark chocolate fondant with vanilla bean ice cream.)
Now, he kept checking his watch and getting up to visit the restroom, so I figured that he had planned to pop the question during the meal. By the time dessert came around, I was a bit mystified. Turns out he was just nervous that we'd miss our driver's return--and had had too much water to drink! Never assume, as they say...anyway, I certainly wasn't disappointed. I wondered if this was an elaborate fake-out, so he could wait until I was about to board my plane and then casually say "By the way..." But he'd never do that, would he?
No, I reminded myself, he's just a very private and rather shy person, like me, and I trusted that he didn't want a public fuss.
Luckily, we left the restaurant just as our driver made it to the door with an umbrella. I managed to make it to the car without slipping and breaking my neck (I am a total klutz) and we cruised back to the hotel, after a little more sightseeing. We made our way back to the room, both of us happy and glowing and just a little damp. Once we were settled in, he guided me over to the sofa and I knew it was time. I wasn't at all nervous, but poor thing, he was! He was so shaky and teary-eyed as he looked into my eyes and said such lovely things: "I tried to script this, but it never came out right, so I will just say that I've gone through a lot of bad things in my life, and had hard times, but now I look back on them and see that they all led me to you. So I don't feel bad about them anymore." He said so many wonderful loving things, I was dazed and grinning like a fool and can't recall all of them! Then he was getting down on one knee, and taking out a little box. "Will you marry me?"
"ABSOLUTELY!"
What a dorky thing to say, right? I swear I had thought many times about my reply, and yet this is what I blurt out. But I guess it was okay because it's all official now. I gave him the gold claddagh I'd been hanging onto all year, to 'replace' the silver one from Valentine's Day. He loved it.
The ring he used belongs to his 'mum' and she sent it in the mysterious package. I'll wear it until I get home where the 'real' ring is waiting for me. Mum's ring is a replica of Princess Diana's ring, and I am hoping that's not an omen! (I'm being silly.) I'm honestly touched and honored that she would do this, and I hope it means that she likes me. I have to say I'm also terrified I'll lose it! DFi was afraid it wouldn't fit, but it fits perfectly. And it matches the necklace he sent me last Christmas.
Sunday we spent a lazy day, called his parents and my Mom, and breakfasted on the free continental breakfast (quite a spread, by the way). Then we walked down along the lake, and took some photos at the hotel. I bought us both hotel T-shirts so we'd have a souvenir of our engagement. If we end up living in Canberra, I know we will enjoy tea there often. It's a very fine hotel, and the staff were all wonderful. Then we headed home after a stop for a late lunch, and spent the evening snuggled on the sofa and planning our night's stay in Sydney next weekend when I have to fly out. That's going to be very hard for us both, but we know we will be seeing each other again soon.
The plan is that I will be moving to Australia, due to his career and his family situation (one of his brothers is very ill, and his parents are in somewhat fragile health). Luckily he works in Immigration, so I've told him it's his job to translate all the visa paperwork into normal English! We have a LOT to plan, and I'm excited. We have no idea where we're getting married, but I have already designed the cake! I want an Aussie flag tier, a Texas flag tier, and a custom topper featuring our original characters that first brought us together. They are both superheroes who wear red, white and blue so the colors will all be perfect.
Deciding where the wedding will be is a tough one! I want something simple, and DFi agrees, though we'd also enjoy a themed wedding. I know my Mom will travel anywhere, and she's already said we should have it where WE want to have it. I don't have any really close friends that I desperately want to attend. DFi's parent's aren't able to travel too far, and if they really want to attend, we will likely have it in their area. So, we're considering:
-running off to a South Pacific island and getting married on a beach
-Las Vegas (not my choice, but DFi has always wanted to see Vegas)
-WDW (DFi has always wanted to visit WDW, and with all the information here, it seems such a great choice!)
-somewhere in Texas (maybe at the Texas Renaissance Festival, which is near my home)
-somewhere in Australia, preferably somewhere beachy
-San Diego (we have friends there, and maybe we could do a Comic-Con wedding)
Some themes we would both love:
-1930s/1940s, preferably in an airplane hangar (I'm a pilot, we're both nuts about the era)
-Victorian or Edwardian (again, we love those eras)
-medieval/Renaissance (I'm a Scadian, more time periods we love)
-Middle-Earth (I'm an Elf at heart but a hobbit in body!)
-Star Wars (maybe have it at Comic-Con)
-Star Trek (I'm not a Trekker, he is, but I am ok with it)
I love dressing up in costume, so these would all be fun. But there's a lot to be said for a really simple event, too. If we do WDW, it would be a tiny Escape wedding. Really simple and intimate. It seems like a good choice, really, if his parents aren't too interested in attending. They've seen four kids married (and one twice), so they might be very understanding.
Dresswise, I am thinking of getting something from Dolly Couture. I'm thinking birdcage veil...hmmm...so much to consider! I'm so excited about all of it!
A little background: I'm 43, DFi is 39. He is Australian, I'm a Texan, both never married. After many bad experiences, we'd both given up on ever finding 'someone.'
We're both big ol' geeks, longtime roleplayers and gamers. We met a couple of years ago playing an MMORPG (massively multiplayer online rolepaying game). Our characters hit it off immediately and shortly became a couple, then became engaged, then married, all within the storyline we played and wrote out as part of our online RP group. Over the course of this story, we the two players became online friends, then offline friends, then best friends, and then the friendship blossomed into something more. We shelved our characters so we could concentrate on Real Life. I admit that I did tell him that since his character did such a lovely job proposing to my character, I knew he would do an equally wonderful job. No pressure!
I came over to Oz (my first time Down Under) to visit him for a month, and met his parents and two of his siblings, as well as his best friend. Then he came to visit me for a month (his first time in the States), and met my Mom and my friends. I came back to spend a couple of months staying with him. It's been a real dream come true.
I was shopping for a gift for him around last Valentine's Day, and my mother surprised me by saying that, as it looked like things were becoming serious, when the time came, she'd really like us to use her diamonds in my engagement ring. Now, my Dad (whom we lost 12 years ago) proposed to her with a cigar band (which she still has). After they'd been married a few years, they bought her a 'proper' diamond ring. She was hoping I'd have the stones set in my ring. Honestly, I was hoping for something simple, a colored stone, maybe an Australian opal. But she's my Mom, and it would make her happy, and it would have meaning for me, too. So I told her I'd let my then-DBF know. I purchased a silver claddagh ring for him for V-Day, and I also picked up a gold and diamond claddagh, to save for that special moment.
During his visit to the States, we did some initial discussing of what our hopes and goals were. We knew we wanted to be together. Mom took him aside and showed him the stones, and he agreed that he'd be glad to honor her wishes. After DBF had returned home, I went looking for settings. Luckily Mom has been involved with selling jewelry for years, and she had a supplier that had exactly what I wanted. I picked out three white gold, retro-style settings and was done--it was up to DBF to make the final selection. I wanted a little surprise in there!
I arrived back in Oz at the beginning of September. Sadly, the ring wasn't finished, so I didn't get to carry it over, but it didn't bother me. Our time together was great, even with Canberra's cold, wet and windy spring weather. We have had fun days and quiet content days, and it's all been good. I was 99% sure that the proposal would be happening before I left, but I never count my chickens, so I was trying not to get too excited. One day, Mom called to let me know that the ring just wasn't going to make it over--shipping, insurance and duty was going to be into the thousands, and DBF was extremely upset about this. I told her that I was thrilled that he wasn't going to be wasting loads of money just to have 'the' ring here! It's not about the ring--a cigar band works just as well. Funny I should say that! As it happens, their plan was to have Mom send the original cigar band used by my Dad, and DBF would propose with that. I quickly asked her to try and gently discourage this, because what if it were to be lost or damaged? I'd die from the guilt. Also, I felt it would be better for DBF to use something that was 'ours' with meaning for us. She was glad to do so. Crisis averted.
After that conversation, I was 99.9% sure that the proposal was in the offing, but I still didn't want to assume, you know? But I could tell that something was afoot--DBF was fielding mysterious phone calls and important emails, and then a package arrived from his parents that he quickly snuck off into another room. Hmmm...
Then last Friday as he left for work, DBF told me that I'd need an overnight bag ready tomorrow--and to pack my dress. Hmmmmm!
Saturday rolled around and, overnight bags in hand, we hopped into a cab and took off for our mystery destination. I was delighted when we pulled up at the Park Hyatt Hotel Canberra, just down from Parliament House. It's a lovely historic hotel with Arts and Crafts and Art Deco touches. I was very pleased because, during my first visit, we were both sick as dogs and the weather was horrid. The first day we felt well, the sun came out, and we toured New Parliament House, then walked down and had afternoon tea at the Hyatt. I had happy memories of this hotel, and we'd arrived just as tea time, and hadn't had any lunch....perfect! We checked into our lovely room, where a beautiful bouquet of pink and white lilies awaited me. They smelled divine! We looked out from the balcony where we could see trees, a corner of Lake Burley Griffin, and the Black Mountain Tower. Then we headed down for tea. Sandwiches, lamingtons, scones with jam and cream...YUM! Oh, and tea
Then we planned to have a walk outside, but it started to rain a bit, so we went up to the room and lazed around instead.At 6:45 pm we were both dressed up and ready to go. Darling BF had hired a car and driver, who awaited us out front. He took us on a short sightseeing jaunt on the way to our next mystery destination. Now, it seems that everywhere we visit, DBF loves to do dinner cruises. I assumed he'd found us a dinner cruise on the lake. Instead, we pulled up at a beautiful restaurant. The Boathouse on the Lake. We were ushered inside to a fabulous table right by the plate glass windows. We had a lovely view of the lake, the mountains, and the tower. The clouds made the sunset gorgeous, and we sat and watched the shades of pink and purple deepen into night. A pair of black swans glided by, and some lively possums even dashed here and there in the bushes! (Australian possums are actually kind of cute, unlike our native version.)
The service was perfect, and the food was simply fabulous. The only slight bump was the wedding reception going on at the same time. As we arrived we saw a bride making her way into the restaurant. I thought 'what an omen!' As it happened, the reception featured a very loud, very lengthy, very enthusiastic 'dragon dance' which meant LOTS of ear-splitting drumming. DBF was a bit irritated, but I thought it was hysterical. The staff apologized profusely, but I told them I considered the dragon a good omen! Anyway, things eventually quieted down, the food was wonderful, and as I told DBF, it was a perfect evening. (For the foodies, we started with scallops, I had venison, he had prime rib, he finished with a capuccino souffle with this FANTASTIC black chai ice cream, I opted for Kahlua and dark chocolate fondant with vanilla bean ice cream.)
Now, he kept checking his watch and getting up to visit the restroom, so I figured that he had planned to pop the question during the meal. By the time dessert came around, I was a bit mystified. Turns out he was just nervous that we'd miss our driver's return--and had had too much water to drink! Never assume, as they say...anyway, I certainly wasn't disappointed. I wondered if this was an elaborate fake-out, so he could wait until I was about to board my plane and then casually say "By the way..." But he'd never do that, would he?
No, I reminded myself, he's just a very private and rather shy person, like me, and I trusted that he didn't want a public fuss.
Luckily, we left the restaurant just as our driver made it to the door with an umbrella. I managed to make it to the car without slipping and breaking my neck (I am a total klutz) and we cruised back to the hotel, after a little more sightseeing. We made our way back to the room, both of us happy and glowing and just a little damp. Once we were settled in, he guided me over to the sofa and I knew it was time. I wasn't at all nervous, but poor thing, he was! He was so shaky and teary-eyed as he looked into my eyes and said such lovely things: "I tried to script this, but it never came out right, so I will just say that I've gone through a lot of bad things in my life, and had hard times, but now I look back on them and see that they all led me to you. So I don't feel bad about them anymore." He said so many wonderful loving things, I was dazed and grinning like a fool and can't recall all of them! Then he was getting down on one knee, and taking out a little box. "Will you marry me?"
"ABSOLUTELY!"
What a dorky thing to say, right? I swear I had thought many times about my reply, and yet this is what I blurt out. But I guess it was okay because it's all official now. I gave him the gold claddagh I'd been hanging onto all year, to 'replace' the silver one from Valentine's Day. He loved it.
The ring he used belongs to his 'mum' and she sent it in the mysterious package. I'll wear it until I get home where the 'real' ring is waiting for me. Mum's ring is a replica of Princess Diana's ring, and I am hoping that's not an omen! (I'm being silly.) I'm honestly touched and honored that she would do this, and I hope it means that she likes me. I have to say I'm also terrified I'll lose it! DFi was afraid it wouldn't fit, but it fits perfectly. And it matches the necklace he sent me last Christmas.
Sunday we spent a lazy day, called his parents and my Mom, and breakfasted on the free continental breakfast (quite a spread, by the way). Then we walked down along the lake, and took some photos at the hotel. I bought us both hotel T-shirts so we'd have a souvenir of our engagement. If we end up living in Canberra, I know we will enjoy tea there often. It's a very fine hotel, and the staff were all wonderful. Then we headed home after a stop for a late lunch, and spent the evening snuggled on the sofa and planning our night's stay in Sydney next weekend when I have to fly out. That's going to be very hard for us both, but we know we will be seeing each other again soon.
The plan is that I will be moving to Australia, due to his career and his family situation (one of his brothers is very ill, and his parents are in somewhat fragile health). Luckily he works in Immigration, so I've told him it's his job to translate all the visa paperwork into normal English! We have a LOT to plan, and I'm excited. We have no idea where we're getting married, but I have already designed the cake! I want an Aussie flag tier, a Texas flag tier, and a custom topper featuring our original characters that first brought us together. They are both superheroes who wear red, white and blue so the colors will all be perfect.
Deciding where the wedding will be is a tough one! I want something simple, and DFi agrees, though we'd also enjoy a themed wedding. I know my Mom will travel anywhere, and she's already said we should have it where WE want to have it. I don't have any really close friends that I desperately want to attend. DFi's parent's aren't able to travel too far, and if they really want to attend, we will likely have it in their area. So, we're considering:
-running off to a South Pacific island and getting married on a beach
-Las Vegas (not my choice, but DFi has always wanted to see Vegas)
-WDW (DFi has always wanted to visit WDW, and with all the information here, it seems such a great choice!)
-somewhere in Texas (maybe at the Texas Renaissance Festival, which is near my home)
-somewhere in Australia, preferably somewhere beachy
-San Diego (we have friends there, and maybe we could do a Comic-Con wedding)
Some themes we would both love:
-1930s/1940s, preferably in an airplane hangar (I'm a pilot, we're both nuts about the era)
-Victorian or Edwardian (again, we love those eras)
-medieval/Renaissance (I'm a Scadian, more time periods we love)
-Middle-Earth (I'm an Elf at heart but a hobbit in body!)
-Star Wars (maybe have it at Comic-Con)
-Star Trek (I'm not a Trekker, he is, but I am ok with it)
I love dressing up in costume, so these would all be fun. But there's a lot to be said for a really simple event, too. If we do WDW, it would be a tiny Escape wedding. Really simple and intimate. It seems like a good choice, really, if his parents aren't too interested in attending. They've seen four kids married (and one twice), so they might be very understanding.
Dresswise, I am thinking of getting something from Dolly Couture. I'm thinking birdcage veil...hmmm...so much to consider! I'm so excited about all of it!
Congrats!!! Thanks for sharing your story- it was awesome!! If you have any questions at all, feel free to ask away...we're all eager to help 
Agreed!
It would look awesome with a red crinnie! I love the 2nd shoe, I think you've got a great theme going! For the invites do you mean like that old style comic strip? Even with the dots and all?
