Jessica's POV (CANDLELIGHT CONCERT):
Matt had anxiously been anticipating this day for months. He made sure to get my coworkers in on the surprise to ensure that I left work on time that day. I had told all of my coworkers that I wasn't sure about this candlelight concert that he bought tickets to, off Facebook mind you...(I thought this was gonna be a rip off or fake event), but to my surprise the concert was held at the Frontiers of Flight Museum off Lemmon Ave in Dallas; next to Love Field Airport. When we got there I was hungry and tired. So Matt went to find food. He reported back that options were limited, but he was going to bring me a pretzel and a cup of wine. After some form of sustenance, I was ready to listen to some Halloween themed music performed by a quartet. To my surprise the quartet was amazing! We enjoyed our time and left saying that we would have to do it again sometime!
Matthew's POV (CANDLELIGHT CONCERT):
I had been planning this day for months; strategically planning a surprise that at first seemed improbable because it is very challenging to surprise Jess. The whole day anxiety and adrenaline were pumping through every part of my body. The candlelight concert and dinner after was all a ploy to propose to the woman of my dreams! To begin I had reached out to Rhyanna (her co-worker/bridesmaid) about it far in advance and recruited her to help me make sure Jessica left work on time that day because we had been planning a date night. When Jess got home she had not had the best day and honestly appeared to be a little tired and grumpy. I was hopeful the Halloween candlelight concert would put a smile on her face (Halloween is her favorite holiday after all). As we drove to the venue, Jess had been telling me how she thought this whole thing was a scam and that I shouldn't have bought tickets off Facebook (fair/valid point because I have done that before and got burned). Approaching the front doors of the Frontiers of Flight museum we realized that this in fact was not a scam (yay!). When we got inside, they had transformed the flight museum into a beautiful concert experience, lit with hundreds of flameless candles. I grabbed us a few snacks from the limited snack bar (pretzel and popcorn), and a two glasses of wine. We sat and enjoyed beautiful songs from a quartet for about an hour and I gotta say we can't wait to go to another one of those concerts (10/10 recommend)!
Jessica's POV (S&D OYSTER):
After the concert concluded I was hungry and tired and wanted to go home. Matt insisted that he really wanted oysters from our favorite restaurant and to eat said oysters out in the patio since it was the start of oyster season, so I obliged. As we walked up to the restaurant, Matt asked if I would want to sit on the patio. I said, I don't care as long as I am use the restroom first.
When we got inside, the host greeted us and asked if we want to sit inside or outside, Matt asked if we could sit on the patio… even though the inside had no patrons. While I thought that was weird I took his lead and we headed out to the patio. I started to head off to the bathroom, but Matthew asked me to at least get to the table first to get situated and then to go. Again, I thought "strange" but, ok. As we walked out to the patio the host asked if we wanted to sit on the raised part of the patio, Matthew was quick to answer, "Yes!" We turned the corner to start walking up the steps to the raised portion and I noticed white rose petals, and pumpkins leading up the stairs that read "Will You Marry Me?" What was the first thing that came out of my mouth you ask - "Babe, I think we are wrong place this looks like someone is about to get proposed to."
Matt encouraged me to continue following the host, who lead me to a table with a sign that read #taylormade, a white pumpkin, some fairy lights, a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and his proposal in an envelope. Matthew sat me down and he got down on one knee as he read through his proposal. As he began to speak his voice trembled with anxiousness and excitement, choking on words here and there… in a cute way of course. Shaking, crying, and laughing his way through his proposal he finished and asked me to marry him. When I said yes, I noticed the white pumpkin had writing on it that said "She said yes!" I was also surprised to learn that his high school best friend and best woman for our wedding, Chelsea, had been there to set up all of the decorations and capture the moment on video for us.
Once the excitement started to calm, we ate oysters and drank martinis and champagne until we were full. The restaurant even comped our entire meal. Needless to say, I was surprised that he was able to pull off something so elaborate without me catching wind. What started off as a tiring day ended with a magical evening with my Fiance!
Matthew's POV (S&D OYSTER):
*Context - Two weeks prior to this day, my best woman and I were at Glorias having a catch up margaritas and chips and salsa. I was telling her about my proposal idea and how I hoped she might want to help me pull this whole thing off. She was so excited and immediately agreed. After two margs each we decided it would be a good idea to go and sit at the S&D bar and talk with their manager about pulling off this proposal. Thankfully they agreed and over the two week period we worked as a team to make this come to life!*
When we left the concert, Jessica asked if we could go home because she was tired. I told her I had made a reservation at S&D and that I really wanted to eat oysters on the patio; so we drove down to uptown to eat at our favorite spot. As we were getting out of the truck to walk over to the restaurant, I realized I had no way of hiding the huge ring box in my hand and I was not wearing a sport coat because it was still warm here in Dallas, Tx. So instead, I decided to put it in my back pocket and walk behind her so she wouldn't see it.
Walking up, I am excited to say I have a reservation, because this place is usually hoppin', but not that night. When we got inside I knew that Chelsea had already set everything up on the patio so I had to figure out how to get us out to the patio even though there was no one inside and without being suspicious. While walking to the back Jess said she was going to stop and use the restroom, and that she would come and find me out there..I insisted that she come and put her things down and let us get situated before she did. We continue following the host and as we get out to the patio he asks if we would like to go to the raised patio. I eagerly say, "yes!" So he walks us over to that side and as we start to ascend the stairs, Jess starts reading the pumpkins and then turns around to me and says, "Babe, I think we are in the wrong place, it looks like someone is about to get proposed to."
I told her to keep walking and when she got to the table, she looked shocked, happy, and surprised. She turned around I got her situated in her seat as I got down on one knee, shaking hands and all, and began to propose to the woman I love! I know that I shook with anxiety and excitement, sweated through my shirts, laughed at my corny jokes, and even got a bit embarrassed, but it all faded when I heard her say, "Yes, I will marry you!" Needless to say, I am one lucky son of a gun and I can't wait to marry her!
