After purchasing the ring and asking David and Patricia for permission, I enlisted the help of two professionals - Ana and Tania - to help me find a spot! Though the ease at which they lied to Victoria was concerning, it was crucial to make sure Victoria had no idea what was coming. After looking at a lot of different options, I settled on proposing in the courtyard at the Crescent Hotel in Uptown, Dallas.
The tricky part of the proposal was getting Victoria to the courtyard without her suspecting anything. The courtyard sits in the middle of the building between the hotel lobby and some shops and restaurants. I had our close friends - Conner and Melissa - pretend to make a reservation at Sixty Vines. The issue was that I needed to park on the hotel side of the building - and its more expensive valet - so that we would arrive in the courtyard before Sixty Vines.
Victoria was very confused as I pulled up to the hotel side of the building, telling me that I should just drive around. "It's fine, we're already here," I explained. As the valet opened my door, he asked where we were headed. I told him that we were going to Sixty Vines, which prompted him to point out, "you know, the other side has much cheaper valet if you're not a guest at the hotel." I tried to discreetly tell him it was fine, but Victoria, always the thrifty one in our relationship, was very annoyed. "Why are you parking on this side!? It's so much more expensive! I don't know why you never believe me when I'm always right!" I completely ignored her, hoping that she would get over my poor spending habits quickly because we were only about 50 feet from the courtyard.
We made it to the courtyard and I managed to squeak out most of the speech I had practiced all day long. She said yes, and we spent a moment taking pictures with a photographer I had hired for the occasion. After the photographer left, I told Victoria we were going to Happiest Hour to celebrate with a couple of our friends. As we walked up the stairs to the rooftop, I explained that I forgot to mention a few other people would be meeting us. She was thrilled to discover I had arranged for both of our families and lots of our friends to be at the party!
It was the perfect proposal, and I couldn't have done it without the help of all of our friends and family whom we love so very much. Thank you all!