This is the most amazing proposal story that I have ever heard! It is going to be pretty tough to top and I just wonder what this groom has planned for their first anniversary! Every single leg of the journey was documented by California stationery vendor Wiley Valentine and coordinated by Zinke Design. I’m going to let the lucky bride-to-be take you through her incredible journey one gorgeous piece of letterpress at a time! Click here to see each and every element of the proposal suite! But I want to know, what would you pack if you only had one hour to get ready for a to a top secret destination?
It was still dark out, I was in a dead sleep, and I woke up to Tido barking uncontrollably. I looked out my bedroom window and saw a white Range Rover parked in my driveway. First thought – “Did I win some sweepstakes I had forgotten about?” A few seconds later the doorbell rings. I peep out the door and see two girls that I recognize, Christina Clayton (event planner and one of my precious TU Thetas a few years back) and Arin Zinke (owner of Zinke Design). Still confused, I open the door and Christina hands me my usual starbucks order: a pumpkin spice latte and a coffee cake. It’s at this point I decide to let them in. Arin hands me a gorgeous tri-fold invitation in pink and gray (my two favorite colors) with a pink bow on it. I open it and read the following: “Laina D. Riffe you are cordially invited on a journey of a lifetime. You have 1 hour to pack your bags. Suggested items: 2 dressy, 2 casual, etc. Temperature: high 70s, low 50′s.” It also tells me that arrangements have been made to take care of Tido which eases a little bit of my anxiety.
With yesterday’s mascara still under my eyes and in a state of complete shock, I say bye to Arin and Christina and run back to my closet to frantically start packing. I’m pretty sure I stand there frozen for about 30 minutes because I end up just throwing a bunch of stuff in my carry-on suitcase at the last minute. I am finally ready and packed and I am telling Tido bye when my doorbell rings at 7am sharp. This one I am expecting, as it is my ride. I load up and settle in the car when the driver hands me a smaller version of the original pink and gray package. I open this one and it says “Your journey begins at Tulsa International Airport.” It also has a record locator printed on a page (the key to where I am going) but I decide not to look it up until I get to the airport.
I arrive at the airport and find out I am going to Washington DC – yea my favorite place!! Its at this point that I realize that I forgot to pack any underwear – oh well I did my best in the time allowed. I have flown a trillion flights this year (thank you long-distance relationship) but I’ve never felt more anxious on a flight in my entire life. The 45 minute trip to Dallas felt like 4 hours and the flight to DC felt like a lifetime. I’m also pretty sure the flight attendant was judging me when I ordered the double bloody mary at 9am on a Thursday, but what’s a girl gonna do. I finally arrive at DCA at 3pm EST.
I get to baggage claim and I see Tom’s friend Mike waiting for me with another gray and pink box. Mike hands me the box and I open it to read “You have completed the first step of your journey. If you wish to continue, please take this key and your driver will take you to the next destination.”
So we get in the car and he makes me put a blindfold on. We drive for about 20 minutes and when we finally arrive at our destination, Tom opens my door and leads me (still blindfolded) up a few steps and through a door. He tells me I can take my blindfold off and he is not only on one knee with the most beautiful ring, but he is also standing in the house of our dreams that he had put an offer on a few weeks back, but told me we didn’t get it!!! After this, I have no idea what he said but it was wonderful!!!! My new fiance then says “welcome home,” hands me a glass of champagne and, just as I have settled down and think I can relax, he hands me a small envelope.
Thinking its just a little personal card from him, I open it and I read “It’s now time to celebrate! Grab your bag and your fiance and head to one of the romantic cities in the world…ROME!!!!!!!” Eek!!!!!! Needless to say, I was freaking out!! We had the most fabulous time in Rome and every single detail of our proposal was absolutely perfect. I have dreamed of this day ever since I was a little girl and Tom definitely exceeded anything I could have ever dreamed of!! I couldn’t be more excited to spend my life with this man.
Click here to see the entire image gallery!
From Wiley Valentine…This is by far one of my favorite projects we have worked on to date! The story is completely out of a fairy tale. It’s the story of a surprise proposal, think custom letterpress pieces found inside custom fabric wrapped boxes…think surprise trip to Italy. So romantic!
Custom Paper Items: Wiley Valentine / Coordination & Planning: Zinke Design / Paper Goods Photography: James Walton Photography
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WOW WOW WOW!
SUPER sweet story!!!
How SUPER sweet! What a dream!
How sweet! What a dream!
All I can say is WOW!
Un-be-LIEVE-able!
That is unreal!
Wow! Lucky lucky girl! That was AHH-mazing!
Pretty in pink, love it! How sweet!
yay!!! so excited to FINALLY be able to share this with everyone. This was such a fun project to work on and the girls at Zinke Design are brilliant!! thanks for all your sweet words. xoxo
yea!! thank you SMP for featuring this amazing, wonderful, perfect proposal!! We just knew Wiley Valentine had to print these one of a kind pieces!! Thank you for sharing and thank you Rachelle for your help on this wonderful project - we couldn't have done it without you!! xo Christina
how is it even possible that such a proposal story exists? It's too good to be true! This is the most romantic, well thought out, most creative idea ever! What a story for the two of them to tell for the rest of their lives - no doubt their special day will be just as magical:)
AWWW, that is the cutest thing EVER! :) <3 Beautiful paper, too!
Oh my gosh- I have goosebumps! You are sooooo loved and you are marrying a man with wonderful taste, too!! Yay, You!!!!
gorgeous stationery! way to go, wiley valentine! love love how much planning Tom did for this!
So thoughtful and romantic! Wow!
Seriously? Does this really happen!? What a smart guy and what a lucky girl :) Amazing proposal with beautiful work by Wiley Valentine & Zinke Design!
Wow, this is the most amazing proposal I have ever seen! Best wishes!!!! What a perfect way to start your life together!
OH. MY. GOSH. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my gosh, what an amazing story!
Are you KIDDING me???? Holy cow--tears in my eyes and goosebumps!!! That is such an amazing story I can't even....congratulations!!!!!
no.way!!! what an AMAZING story & gorgeous paper to boot!!! congratulations!!!
WOW!! HOW AWESOME AND SWEET!!:)
Like Danielle C… tears and goosebumps. When I didn't possibly think there could be any more there's a trip to Rome. By far the most amazing and creative proposal ever!
WOW... I have no words.
There are no words.... I can't believe this proposal is even true! Such a beautiful and romantic story!!!
Oh my goodness, that is the most romantic and elaborate proposal ever! Congratulations!
Oh my goodness. Speechless.
This is amazing!
WHAT A LUCKY WOMAN! MEN, TAKE NOTICE!
Robbin Montero
A Dream Weding
Wow.... that's going to take some beating!! Can't see how it would be possible!!! AMAZING stationery from Wiley Valentine!! Congrats to them!
This is an incredible story! It had me gripped from beginning to end. He went all out! Amazing planning and artistry too! Just beautiful.
It doesn't get better than this! A WoW of a story! An expression of love at it's best.
Bravo and congrats!
Paper Suite is totally, perfectly executed with romance flowing throughout!
Joyce Goeppinger
Colorado
WOW. MAJOR chills over here. So amazing.
What a truly beautiful and exciting story and as a major pink-lover... WOW! LOVE the art. And, as always, GREAT work from Walt Beazley...love it!!
The French Bouquet: Custom Wedding & Event Florals
WOW!! Just wow! That was an incredible story! I felt myself getting giddy and smiling with anticipation just reading along! So amazing! Probably one of my most favorites posts I've read on SMP.
Simply amazing!!
What an absolute dream!! I started tearing up when he dropped the (Rome) bomb. Great story.
WOW!!! Like everyone else I am totally speechless, lucky lucky girl!!! I can't imagine a more romantic proposal than this! Amazing!! Congrats & I can't wait to eventually see the wedding pictures!!!
Could not dream this big for your daughter. I'm so happy for them! Tom and Laina will be so happy together. This is all a Mother could want.
WOW that is incredible!!!!
Who wouldn't love this? I totally featured it on my Friday dance!
That is one of the most amazing and romantic proposals I've ever heard. That is so sweet!
WOW is all I can say. Just amazing.