Weddingbee bios

In the middle of all of our wedding planning craziness, I realize that I haven’t yet shared the best part this whole period: My engagement story! It’s incredibly long so I’ll break it up into pieces (or rather “seasons” as Mr. Eggplant modeled the engagement adventure after what he considers the four seasons of our relationship).

I know I don’t post about it much on the Weddingbee because it’s a very personal subject to me, but my Christian faith is a huge part of Mr. Eggplant and my relationship. I wrote this story three days after we got engaged and I was overflowing with gratitude that God would bless me and trust me with Mr. Eggplant. So if you read plenty of mentions of me thanking God for this man, you’ll know why.

The engagement story (written on January 22, 2007)

Four Seasons: Prologue

Girls dream about their E-day from the minute they can utter the words “Prince Charming.” Perhaps we watch too many Disney movies as little girls. Roses, candles, glass slippers, and sky writing via airplanes all come to mind when a girl imagines her future wedding day. I always told Mr. Eggplant that I didn’t want a huge fancy diamond or anything. I just wanted our E-day to be meaningful, and a story that we could keep for the rest of our lives.

Well, he certainly delivered!

On Thursday night before I left the office, my manager told me that she needed me to be in the office early on Friday to tie up some loose ends for a project. Being the obedient employee that I am, I agreed and arrived at the office bright and early on Friday morning. When I reached my cube, sitting on my desk was a small white mailbox with its flag neatly standing upright.

My boss must have left a treat for me, I thought. She’s the kind of person that leaves flowers and gifts on our desks to show her appreciation for our efforts. I opened the mailbox and inside was an envelope sealed with a gold sticker, a map with directions and an agenda, and a gift certificate to the Claremont Resort & Spa– one of the best pampering facilities in the bay area. 

And that was how my day began.

Mailbox #1 - A map, directions, and a gift certificate to Claremont

Season 1: Transformation

Mr. Eggplant and I talked about getting engaged quite a few times before he proposed. We joked about it often and wedding plans were a regular topic of conversation. I knew that E-day was around the corner, but when I actually received that first white mailbox, it felt surreal– like I was playing the lead female role in a movie or something.

Anyway, back to the story…I removed the white envelope from the mailbox and unsealed it. Inside was a letter from Mr Eggplant:

Hi Beautiful. By now you’ve already figured it out and you’re probably telling yourself, “I knew it!” Well, you probably did. Honey always knows these things. And, with the little mystery I still have left, I’ll try to make this day extra-special. Now, some explanation. First, this initial mailbox represents Transformation– the word that brought our souls together. We’ve come a long way in our relationship and it all began with our love for God and what He’s done in our lives….

Second, why “seasons”? …I think we have a similar perspective on life– God works in seasons. Transformation does not happen overnight..there are markers, seasons, that encapsulate the essence of each life-stage. Also, in our language of analogies, you are the luxurious Four Seasons while I am an economical Holiday Inn.

Third, mailboxes… As you might have guessed, this idea came from a movie we watched this year, “The Lake House.” The selection of romantic comedies we’ve watched over the past 18 months is a bit limited, so instead of hand-crafting a canoe or buying you a dog [a reference from "Must Love Dogs"-- the first romantic comedy we watched together], I thought, “Hey, these mailboxes are cute and they’re only a buck!” Yep, I got them at Target, just in case you’re wondering. =)

There was more in the letter, but it’s pretty mushy and sweet and it might make you gag a little, so I’ll leave it out of the story. Mr. Eggplant basically explained that I was to take the gift certificate and directions and drive to the Claremont for a full day of pampering (or as he called it, “Extreme Makeover: Engagement Edition”). My coworker (who was in on the whole thing– Mr. Eggplant had planted the box in her hands earlier in the week) gave me a hug and shooed me off; I hopped into my car to embark on the greatest adventure of my life.

Season 2: Growth

Most people think I’m a girly girl. Some would venture to call me high maintenance. I’d disagree. Case in point: Before Friday I’d never stepped foot in a spa before. I’d never received a massage, a facial or even a manicure ever in my life. Once, a group of girlfriends and I went to a cheap nail salon for pedicures, but that was over 5 years ago. I hadn’t pampered myself since. On Friday, I got the works! Mr. Eggplant planned the following schedule for my day at the spa:

The Claremont Spa’s Head to Toe Package
9:45am - Arrive and tour of facilities
10:00-10:50am - Therapeutic massage
11:00-11:50am - Therapeutic facial
12:00-1:50pm - Lunch and use of spa and gym facilities
2:00-2:50pm - Manicure
3:00-3:50pm - Pedicure

Talk about pampering a girl!

My massage was amazing. I really enjoyed my facial also. But the best surprise came as I was enjoying lunch at Paragon, a restaurant inside the Claremont Resort.

I finished a delicious portabella mushroom sandwich and mixed green salad. Lunch included a delicious dessert of my choice so I ordered bread pudding. As I was taking a bite, I received a text message on my cell phone: You’ve got mail! Rebecca at Claremont Spa has something for you. At that moment, a pretty, polished woman in a black suit walked towards me. She handed me second small white mailbox, identical to the first. I opened the box and inside was another envelope sealed with a gold sticker and the following items:

- The receipt from my first date with Mr. Eggplant
- Ticket stubs to all the movies Mr. Eggplant and I ever watched together
- Ticket stubs to all the concerts, sporting events, and shows we’ve been to
- A stack of business cards from restaurants we’ve dined at together

Along with the ticket stubs and business cards, Mr. Eggplant left this picture on my digital camera which he also placed inside the second mailbox. (By this time, I was tearing up….. well, because of all of the dust from those old movie tickets and receipts, of course. :))

When I opened the second envelope, the note inside read:

Hi Honey. If things are going to plan, you’re probably settling into your “comfort” zone. I hope you like this treatment. I picked “Head to Toe” because, well, you’ve never had a spa treatment before and I should start you off with the best…

…I think the second season of our relationship was a period of growth. I can’t pinpoint the exact moments, conversations, or words that support this label, but we undoubtedly grew a lot. You had to get used to my pride, insecurities, and non-gentleman-like behavior and I had to cope with your… well, princess-tendencies. In the end, I think we both clung onto God more than ever, and He eventually brought out a peaceful understanding in both of us. His grace really did abound… I think the more accurate thing to say is that we never stopped growing… My biggest lesson from God during this time was that I needed to really lead in humility. And thank you for sticking by my side during all of this…

… At this time I want to give you tangible examples of how the world has grown during the time of our relationship: Britney went from “Baby One More Time” to “Having a Baby, One More Time”; YouTube quickly became a $1.6B company; the iPod mini turned into an iPod Nano; thanks to Al Gore, Sustainability is the new AIDS; the Federal Interest Rate rose from ~4% to 5.5%; my waist grew two sizes; and of course, the Mets became a serious playoff contender. [Mr. Eggplant is a serious Met’s fan–he’s originally from NJ.]

I hope you enjoy the rest of your lunch and spa session. Save room for tonight’s dinner…

Grace and Peace, Mr. Eggplant

By the time I had finished my therapeutic massage, relaxing facial, and read the latest note from Mr. Eggplant, I had turned into a pile of squishy mush. I wiped my tears and gathered myself together to enjoy the rest of the afternoon spa activities.

Season 3: Inspiration

As I think back on my relationship with Mr. Eggplant, I know that we’ve come a long way. To think, in the beginning I doubted everything about us. I had a list of qualities I thought I wanted and needed in a guy. Mr. Eggplant turned out to be the opposite of everything on my list, but one million times better and so much more my match. And the funny thing is, all the issues that we bickered about in the beginning of our relationship are now all the characteristics that I love and appreciate about Mr. Eggplant.

My next two appointments, a pedicure and manicure, passed by quickly. While I was waiting at my locker wondering what to do next, two of my girlfriends, Christine & Yoona, suddenly walked through the door with a dress and a pair of shoes in hand. They also had a third white mailbox with them containing another envelope and a stack of forty bible verses printed on paper stock the size of business cards. These were memory verses that Mr. Eggplant had picked up in the beginning of our relationship. We always said that we would finish the 40 verses before we got engaged.

I opened Mr. Eggplant’s third note to me. It read:

Hi friend. Now, it’s officially confirmed: your friends were in on it! =) You had probably suspected this when you found out today was the day. Well, now you know for sure! Christine and Yoona thought very hard about their little surprise visit.

The bible verses are subtle reminders of our reliance on God. We never quite finished going through all the verses, but instead of rushing through them on every date, I thought to myself, “Hey, we have a lifetime together. She’ll be my bible verse buddy.”

With that being said, the third season of our relationship is one of inspiration. One reason I chose “inspiration” is because we both found hobbies that brought out our creative sides… …The shows we watched also inspired us. We may have seen enough home-improvement and cooking shows to write a book. I can still remember the week you first got cable– it was a very vegetative week for us. And I didn’t even mention one of your favorite shows, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” I think it’s very cute when you talk about the inspiring, and sometimes depressing, stories. Each time, it reminds me of one of your most attractive traits– empathy. I’ve never met anyone more compassionate and other-centered than you… I on the other hand, do not possess this trait, but I think that by being around you for a lifetime, I’ll slowly become more compassionate and loving.

… I think we also developed a strong friendship during this season. I think we both learned a lot from each other and seemingly mundane actions are becoming more meaningful. I can honestly say you are my best friend. You know my deepest thoughts, my convictions, my tendencies, my natural reactions, my fears.. Sometimes I share too much with you, but most of the time I know it’s for the best, because God put you here to remind me who I am– especially when I forget and lose my way for a bit.

F · R · I · E · N · D · S  forever, Mr. Eggplant

*melts again after reading note for the 143th time*

My girlfriends gave me the dress and shoes and instructed me to change. When I asked them where we were going, they said, “San Francisco!” That was pretty much all the information I could get out of them. We headed over the Bay Bridge and into the city where I had first met and gotten to know Mr. Eggplant.

To be continued… but I’ll share some pictures for now.

My girlfriends took this picture when they surprised me at the Claremont Spa

A picture outside the Claremont with Christine & Yoona

 

Season Four: Love

As I grow older, I’ve been realizing that life is only as meaningful and purposeful as the relationships that we have. Whether it is our relationship with friends, family, or God, life is relationships. I’m so grateful that Mr. Eggplant just knew that I would have wanted to share this adventure with a few close friends.

Once we reached the city, my girlfriends directed me to park in the lot under Union Square. We left the lot and I walked with them arm-in-arm as they lead me to Postrio, Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant inside the Prescott Hotel. A waitress seated us at a table in the bar where we ordered drinks and appetizers. Over calamari and wine, I shared my excitement and anxiousness with them. It was such a perfect, special moment to have these women by my side.

We finished our drinks and walked back the Union Square parking garage. I asked my friends where we were going, but all I got for an answer was, “You’ll see!” When we reached my car, they instructed me to look for a fourth mailbox hidden somewhere in my car. As I frantically searched, I found the aluminum package neatly tucked within a cardboard box of random odds and ends inside my trunk. (Apparently Mr. Eggplanthad delivered the box to my dad who hid it inside my car in a place I’d never look. Pretty sneaky!) I opened the mailbox, and inside was a fourth sealed letter and a small black jewelry box containing a key.

The letter read:

Hi Miss Eggplant. “Seasons of Love,” get it? Well, the final season (of this chapter) is love. There’s so much I want to say about this, but written words wouldn’t do it justice. Plus, I want to tell you the final words in person. Isn’t that more romantic?!? Please meet me at Union Square at 7pm sharp, on the bench in the middle of the square, where we sat on during our Boulevard date. And one last reminder, don’t forget the key. We’ve come too far for this surprise to get ruined now! =) Have fun with your friends and I’ll see you tonight! Love, Mr. Eggplant

(Some background info to the letter and the meeting place: Mr. Eggplant and I had our first date at Boulevard in SF. After dinner, we roamed the city streets for hours. We walked to Yerba Buena gardens, he took me to Maiden Lane to see where all the ad agencies live, and we finally ended up at a bench in Union Square where we talked all night until it was past SF curfew and a security guard came to clear the area.)

This is me after I found the fourth and final mailbox in my trunk

They escorted me upstairs to Union Square, but left me to walk the final distance towards my future fiance. I saw the back of Mr. Eggplant’s head; he was sitting patiently on our bench holding a small treasure chest with a lock. When I reached him, he gave me a huge hug and smile. The first thing out of his mouth was, “So… tell me about your day!” We chatted for a while and I told him about the day’s events. He wouldn’t let me see the ring for a long time! Finally, he let me open the lock with my key and he proposed to me sitting by my side on the bench from our very first date. I said, “Yes!” (Of course, Mr. Eggplant– who is the king of all things pop– proposed Justin Timberlake style, using a line from one of JT’s songs.)

I still remember when he opened that little black jewelry box with the ring; I couldn’t stop exclaiming, “Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!” The night sky was dark, except for the light from a few Union Square street lamps. But the diamond was still sparkling like crazy! I couldn’t believe that a diamond could sparkle so much in the dark.

After we hugged and did lots of mushy, affectionate stuff, I asked Mr. Eggplant where we were going to have dinner. He pointed to the Westin St. Francis, right across the street.

“Michael Mina!” (or Michael Mini as Mr. Eggplant likes to call it– the food comes in tiny portions and costs a fortune).  

We walked over to the Westin hand in hand, and together we enjoyed a delicious three-course, prix fixe dinner (btw, Michael Mina is a fantastic and beautiful restaurant. It’s decorated with high ceilings and marble columns inside and the food is unique). 

And for a final finishing touch to our meal, when our dessert selections arrived, “Congratulations!” was scrolled on the top of our plates in chocolate cursive. It was a perfectly sweet ending to a perfect day.

The End

(Or maybe not…)

To be continued… but I’ll share more pictures for now. )

Outside Michael Mina where dinner is served triplicate style (each course is prepared in three different ways)

Dessert at Michael Mina! It was a chocolate trio.

A picture of the goods.

Four Seasons: Epilogue

I love books. Non-fiction, chick-literature, short stories… I love them all. Mr. Eggplant doesn’t read as much as I do (I can consume books like water), but he LOVES movies. If it comes in a movie version, he can definitely appreciate it. Have you ever finished a really good book or movie and thought to yourself: That story was awesome! I wish it hadn’t ended. Well, that’s kind of what Friday night was like for me.

After dinner, Mr. Eggplant wanted to take me up on the elevators of the Westin. He told me that he had scoped out a romantic view at the top of the hotel. If you’ve never been in the Westin St Francis elevators before, it’s definitely something to see in SF. The elevators are located on the exterior of the hotel and have huge windows looking over Union Square. They shoot up to the top of the hotel at a stomach-lurching speed that’s so fast, you can experience a view of the city quickly shrinking beneath you.

Mr. Eggplant covered my eyes with his jacket as soon as we got off on the 30th floor. When we finally reached his secret destination, he opened a door. We were standing in a hotel room that was beautifully decorated with a trail of rose petals on the floor and candles everywhere. All around the room were easels supporting black and white photos of all the restaurants, landmarks, and sites where Mr. Eggplant and I shared our first months together. He had pictures of the Ferry Building, Boulevard, Yerba Buena Gardens, Dolores Park Church, the SFO airport, Bocca Cafe, among others. It was crazy! And to top it off, he had borrowed a projector from a friend and created a DVD slideshow (complete with music by John Legend) of our entire relationship. The slideshow was projecting on the white wall above the bed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc8mVvHazlo&feature=player_embedded
(A video clip of the hotel room that Mr. Eggplant set up!) 

Mr. Eggplant explained to me the significance of the hotel room: I had always told him that if he proposed to me, I really wanted to go somewhere outside of California. But Mr. Eggplant felt that San Francisco was “our” place– it was the city where we met, the place we got to know each other, and now it was the perfect proposal location. Since we didn’t “go” anywhere, he wanted to bring a vacation into one room for me. We sealed our engagement together by giving our thanks to God and committing our relationship to Him. It was a very special moment.

In his suitcase, Mr. Eggplant had also brought a bunch of romantic comedies on DVD that we had watched together during the beginning of our relationship. We were going to watch movies all night with the projector that he borrowed, but we were so exhausted that we fell asleep immediately (well, immediately after I was done admiring my new piece of jewelry).

Anyway, that’s my E-day story in a very large nutshell. And in a few months I’ll be committing my life to the man that God has set apart especially for me. I’m quite excited. I can’t wait to be married to him! Well, If you’ve made it this far without falling asleep, you deserve a prize! Too bad I don’t have one for you. Instead, you can scroll down to see a few pictures.

A glimpse of our room at the Westin St Francis with a few pictures of the places we’ve been together.

Disneyland! One of the first pictures that Mr. Eggplant and I ever took together.

We had SO much fun with Ray and Erwin, so don’t mind if I rave about these guys nonstop. Seriously, I’m still giddy from the session, which was the highlight of the entire wedding planning process thus far, and I cannot wait to see the rest of the pictures! For two hours we traversed the Embarcadero area of San Francisco on the hunt for perfect lighting. We posed and Apertura clicked away. They asked us to kiss for the camera quite often, so Mr. Eggplant was a pretty happy camper since he normally gets no lovin’ from me.

Well, Mr. Eggplant wrote a commentary on our engagement shoot and he’s much more entertaining than me, so I’ll let him share our e-session from a groom’s point of view:

* * * * *
People.
(Written by Mr. Eggplant)

“Eternal Flame” or “Girl, You Smell Fine”

One of my groomsmen said this reminds him of a Korean soap opera. I can see the resemblance if not for the fact that I’m not crying and have fobby hair. This picture also reminds me of the Phantom from POTO– I’m lurking in the shadows… ” Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation… Darkness wakes and stirs imagination…”

“Dreamland” or “Caught in Windows Pipes Screensaver”

I loved the location of this shot. Growing up in the SF Bay Area, I had always seen these pipes from afar, but I never took the time to explore the square where this is located. The water isn’t exactly clear and pristine like the Carribean Sea, but it’s tolerable. If you look really closely on the left side, you’ll see feet in the background– those belong to our admirers, hoping for their own “step” toward fame. I don’t know what I’m talking about.

“Merry Go Round” or “Where’s the Bathroom?!?!”

The photographers had us walk around and around this pathway. It was interesting to see how this turned out because I had imagined that we would be facing the camera. Then again, who wants to see my face when you’re trying to figure out how cool it would be to sled down this ramp? Isn’t that what all guys are thinking?

“From a Distance” or “Goodbye Kiss.”

I like the texture on the ground. It’s like an ancient pattern I once saw on a website somewhere. Oh yeah, Potterybarn.com. BTW, we kissed A LOT during this scene. Ah, good times, good times.

“Yellow Sub” or “Thinking of Wii”

The photographers found this treasure right outside of the entrance to the Embarcadero Center. It’s amazing how they can find ordinary places and turn them into a magazine-shoot-like location. Our pose reminds me of the Nickelodeon TV show, “David the Gnome.” It’s a cartoon about gnomes that nuzzle their noses to show affection. I’m just like David; except without the beard, beer belly, and funny hat.

“Walking on the Sun” or “Walk to Remember”

This wasn’t really a walk to remember. They had us walk no more than twenty steps, but I’m impressed with what they did with it. One interesting tidbit: I am not looking at my fiancee. Instead, I am looking past her into Slanted Door (a restaurant in the Ferry Building). I was eyeing someone’s crispy imperial rolls. Yumm-O.

“Ferry to Marriageville” or “After 30 Years of Marriage”

This may be one of my favorites. Not because it’s black and white and that equals artsy. But because I look so cool and unattached. It’s funny because I’m exactly the opposite! Hah! How’s that for deception?! My name should be Cool Guy and I’m a Decepticon that transforms into a cool Asian guy. Seriously, this is one of my favorites because it looks like we belong on the cover of 7X7 magazine.

“Commitment”

Maybe one of my all-time favorite pictures. I like the urban-feel of this shot accompanied by the bridge in the background. I think we will always remember where we came from. San Francisco will always be very dear to our hearts and it’s pretty cool that we are only one block from where it all started: Boulevard Restaurant. And guess where that arrow is pointing to? Boulevard Restaurant. Coincidence? I think not. =)

(Note from Miss Eggplant: Boulevard was our first date restaurant).

 

“Little Pecks” or “Feelin’ the Cannons”

No, this picture was not taken in some obscure nook that only a highly trained photographer’s eye can spot. Erwin shot this one underneath an escalator, tucked away behind two plastic bushes, and nestled between two structural beams that run alongside its chains. Who wouldn’t be able to find this?! Actually, we would’ve never thought to take a picture underneath an escalator. Imagine the grime, the dust, and the random pieces of chewed gum. Luckily, Mayor Newsom put our taxpayer dollars to good use and has the bottom of escalators cleaned like toilets in a Four Seasons.