Our Engagement Story

I was completely caught off guard and thought I was being such a sweet girlfriend by planning a nice dinner out for his birthday. I tried to keep the dinner location a surprise, but he asked me earlier in the week where we were going, so I told him. I was taking him to Fogo de Chao, a fancy and expensive Brazilian steak house in downtown DC. Little did I know that he was making plans to have a friend bring the ring to the restaurant to give to our waiter to surprise us at dessert! I should have known something was up when we went to the bar for a drink before dinner and he only had ONE drink...looking back, I could see he was a little nervous. But anyway, I digress. I didn't suspect anything during dinner. When the waiter came to our table and asked if we wanted dessert, I ordered Clark a mini birthday cake and requested that a candle be placed in it to celebrate his birthday! So when our waiter arrived with the cake AND a present, I didn't suspect anything. Our waiter said it was a present from his work colleagues and that they had dropped off earlier that day. Clark looked at me as if I was somehow "in" on this surprise. I had no idea what was going on. I just assumed his nice work friends wanted to give him something nice. The present was wrapped in a wine bottle bag, so I initially thought it was a bottle of wine. When he pulled out tissue and then a small box, I still didn't suspect ANYTHING. No, instead I thought his colleagues bought him a nice set of cufflinks. Now as the people at the next table over were starting to look, I tried to get them involved by saying outloud "probably a funny gag gift!" He opens the jewelry box and pulls out the ring and before I even knew what was going on, he was down on one knee and said, "I love you with all of my heart and the only birthday present I want is to spend the rest of my life with you. Andrea, will you marry me?" I was absolutely speechless and still in shock. I always thought I would be the type of girl who would start crying or screaming, but neither reaction happened. I was SO completely in shock that I just looked at him and my response was "What are you doing? It's YOUR birthday?" Of course my answer was YES, but only after it all caught up with me. Clark then informed me that he had been planning this surprise for weeks...he hid the engagement ring in his golf bag (the only place he knew I would not find it)...he had his friend, Travis, deliver the ring to our waiter that night! My parents, his parents, his friends, and colleagues all knew about this surprise and managed to keep it a secret! Man was I surprised! But the surprises did not end there! When we got home that night, he gave me a gift certificate to get my nails done the next day so that when I showed off my ring, my nails would be all pretty! I thought that was very thoughtful and sweet. Then when I got to work the next day, there was a beautiful bouquet of roses and lillies with a card from Clark that said "To my beautiful fiance, thanks for the best birthday present ever!" All I have to say is he did REALLY good!

And to think that Clark cannot plan a surprise!

Moments after Clark popped the big question!

The beautiful bouquet of flowers he sent me the day AFTER he proposed!

Ahh....how sweet!

How We Met

A coworker invited me to go to a friend's birthday party. It was Friday, March 4th, 2005 and I was exhausted from a long week at work, but I reluctantly went thinking it would be a fun time hanging out with other Pacific Northwesterners. I saw Clark from across the party and immediately thought he was cute and feeling somewhat bold and confident (could be the liquid courage), I introduced myself to him. We immediately hit it off and bonded over the fact that we both recently moved to DC and wanted to explore the sights of DC. As the house party moved to a nearby bar, we continued to chat. Clark offered to buy me a drink and I graciously accepted because after all, who turns down a free drink? But I have to admit, I was feeling terrible at this point after several drinks on an empty stomach so I left to go home...I didn't want to get sick and embarrass myself in front of the cute boy! I feel bad because poor Clark must have turned around from the bar holding two beers expecting to continue our chat and thought I wasn't interested in him...little did he know that the reason I left was NOT him! Clark had given me his phone number, but I didn't give him my number. So I knew if we were going to meet up again, I would have to make the first move. On the following Monday I emailed him and suggested we get together for a drink. We made plans for that next weekend.

Our first date was on Saturday, March 12, 2005...we met for dinner in Dupont Circle at Thai Chef. Then we went did some bar hopping and got drinks at three different places in the area (Chile Herald, Cobalt, and Gasuza)...a great first date! The next day we went to the National Archives and saw the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence (what a cheesy, but classic DC date!) The rest, as they say, is history!

Hanging out at Capitol Lounge

On my 25th Birthday (May 8, 2005)