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I proposed on April 22, 2007 to my longtime girlfriend, Sarah of over 7 years. The reason I wanted to make it such a special occasion was because...

Sarah is such a great person and deserves nothing less. She is a very giving person and in addition to our relationship gives 110% to her job, her friends/family, and even strangers. She has also made me a better person along the way, which I must thank her for, and it is another reason why I proposed as special and memorable as I could!

On April 22nd, she was attending a charity walk at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey (right across the river from NYC). I decided to plan everything for this day! After 7 years of dating our parents oddly have never met; not because of anything bad or negative just because of really busy schedules. Her parents are from the mountains of northwest New Jersey and my parents are down south by the Jersey Shore, which also didn't help.

So I made sure that her parents would be attending the walk, and I told Sarah at the last minute I could not join her, as I had to help out a friend whose house got flooded. In the meantime, I had scheduled my parents to come up for the day to be witness to the proposal and to meet Sarah's parents for the first time! I told Sarah previously that we would attend the 2007 Orchid Show in NYC at Rockefeller Center, so we changed the plans to pick up her and her parents "after I helped out my friend".

My parents arrived at my house in Jersey City at 11:30 a.m. I had scheduled a white stretch limo to pick us up at noon, and then we proceeded to pick up Sarah and her parents at Liberty State Park. I kept 15-minute updates with my roommate who strategically attended the walk to make sure Sarah was at the correct spot at the correct time; he notified me when she was walking towards her car, and then we rolled up in the white stretch limo, blocking her car.

She was staring at the limo with a curious look on her face; I jumped out and asked her if she was ready to go to the orchid show! Obviously she was shocked and surprised, but not as shocked as when she stepped into the limo to find my parents taking pictures and video taping the event. Her parents entered, they finally met, and we then proceeded to the show.

At this point everything was going smoothly, but she wasn't as surprised as I was hoping, and made the comment "I can't believe you picked me up in a limo, and finally got our parents to meet after all these years… This is going to be so much fun riding in a limo to the orchid show, thanks so much Adam!" After she said this to me, I whispered to my dad… "She has no clue I am going to ask her!"… So my surprise was still a surprise in a sense!!!!

We got to the orchid show, and Sarah stayed in the limo to change, as I brought her a nice outfit, some jewelry, and perfume (remember she did just finish a 4 mile walk!!!).

While she was changing in the limo, I realized my plans had just come to a complete halt and some modifications would have to take place… The orchid show in 2006 was held down in Rockefeller Center, with the fountain and statue as a backdrop. The orchid arrangements were all around the lower section (usually where people ice skate in the winter). For some reason this year, the show was being held on the streets above, and no one was allowed to be down there… All entrances were securely guarded by police officers, and I began to get very nervous and light headed!!!!!!

We had an hour and a half to get back to Jersey City before the limo service would begin charging extra and I had to ask Sarah to get married within this time frame!!!! Luckily I noticed a little girl and mother taking their picture down on the fountain, and then noticed they were patrons from the only restaurant that leads to the fountain and statue… the Rockefeller Center Café…. This is when I realized plans had changed and I needed to get down to that restaurant ASAP!!!!!

While Sarah and all the parents were walking through the orchids on display, I snuck away from them and left frantically to work my way down to find the café… I approached the manager at the hostess table and asked to speak with him for a minute… As a nervous wreck I said, "I brought my girlfriend of 7 years here to propose at the orchid show that should have been held down below Rockefeller Center around the fountain/statue… this year they changed it and it's up on the street… I have the ring and both sets of parents here, and would just need 5 minutes for you to let me not eat in your restaurant and use the fountain to propose to her." Philip generously said that would not be a problem and told me to let him know when I had everyone and he would walk me out there.

Relieved, I promptly called Sarah and asked her to bring everyone downstairs right away. Once she came down I took her by the hand and she asked me what the rush was… I did not answer and proceeded to the restaurant doors with her parents following… I saw Phillip and he asked if everyone was present, and I said yes! He then walked us through the café and opened the doors to an empty Rockefeller Center.

Sarah asked what was happening, and then her parents stayed back a bit taking out the cameras and camcorder as I had asked them to do… She looked back and saw them preparing for pictures and video and then said, "Oh my god, is this what I think it is?" I sat her down on the fountain's ledge in front of the statue, proceeded to say some very mushy things, and then finally asked her to be my wife!!!! Because we were the only ones down by the fountain everyone atop Rockefeller Center and eating outside the restaurant began to clap and cheer for us!!! After the applause settled she said YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thanked Phillip on our way out with a tip and we rushed to the limo, after picking up a few orchids. We then made our way back to Jersey City sipping on champagne and raving about the day, just in time with no additional limo charges!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not too many people can say they were the only ones in Rockefeller Center when they got engaged; I am glad it worked out even more perfect and special for Sarah, the love of my life!!!