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Inspiration » Proposal Story » Joy Proposal Story: Carol & Skyler

Joy Proposal Story: Carol & Skyler

by Kelsey Vickers
Joy Proposal Story: Carol & Skyler

 Give us the proposal details! When? Where? How?

January 20th, 2017 was opening night of a play that I was an assistant directed on at the Old Globe in Balboa Park in San Diego. Balboa Park is a special place to both of us, for a few reasons. I’m a theatre lover and maker. I have been going to the Old Globe for many years both for performing and working! Skyler’s great-grandfather helped build the streets in Balboa Park, and his parents got married there. Skyler is a magician! He performs in restaurants and has performed at parties for Google and Yelp, but he absolutely loves busking and street performance- this means that he has an interesting set of friends! I thought I had planned our whole day, we were going to go early so that Skyler could street perform magic while I sat to knit, play music, and write. Then, we would get dressed to go to the opening night gala, watch the show, and then go to the post-show reception. I had it all planned out! I was knitting and watching Skyler street perform from across the way. He was building awesome crowds of people up and wowing them with his magic. He got tired after about three hours, so we went to put away our stuff and take a walk. I hadn’t met his friend, Ralph, who is a living statue known as the Man in White at Balboa Park. I’d heard of him a lot over the years but had never found the time to meet him. We decided to walk over where he was performing.

Annie Laurie Haynes

Skyler gave me a dollar, and I dropped it into Ralph’s box. Ralph started moving and making the sounds that a record player makes when you are beginning to play a record. He then pulled a rose off of his microphone and gestured for me to take it. I’ve known enough street performers now to be a little skeptical. I thought that by reaching for it, he was going to jump up and scare me, so I was so scared to take it! I hesitantly took the rose, and when nothing happened, I turned around to say, “Hey look! Ralph gave me a rose!” Instead, I turned around and Skyler wasn’t there at eye-level. I looked down and he was on one knee with a ring in a box in his hand. He told me I was his best friend and he asked me to be his wife.

Annie Laurie Haynes

I then noticed Annie Laurie, my former students’ mother (and incredible photographer) snapping photos while Skyler’s brother and wife were headed toward us with a bottle of champagne! As we walked down Balboa Park’s main road, all of the street performers knew what had just happened because Skyler had told them all about the proposal! The caricature artists smiled gleefully, the break-dancer statue started a dance where he had his heart throbbing. It felt like I was walking down Sesame Street, but with street performers instead of talking puppets! My parents, his parents, my sister and her boyfriend were at Panama 66 waiting for us to celebrate. We ate dinner and then went to the opening night of the show I assistant directed. It was truly an Opening Night to remember, and also the Opening Night of the rest of our lives!

Annie Laurie Haynes

What has been your favorite experience planning the wedding?

Booking our dream venue at a place we love that is just as eclectic, unique, and magical as we are!

How do you stay sane under the pressures of wedding planning?

We make time for cuddling, tea, and doing things we love that don’t have deadlines.

Annie Laurie Haynes

What is your favorite part of using Joy for your wedding?

I love the beautiful fonts and customization!

What piece of advice would you give couples to ensure that they use Joy to its fullest potential?

I love that there is a chat function and that there is always someone to help! Every time I have had a question, I get a quick reply to help me with what I need. Don’t be afraid to use it!

At Joy we believe that even though a wedding lasts a day, joy lasts forever. What does that mean to you?

Joy is allowing ourselves to experience the love that we deserve.

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