Metropolitan Imageworks

Congratulations goes out to Susan and Scott of Phoenix, AZ as the winners of the Metropolitan Imageworks Unique Proposal contest!!!

“Christmas truly is a magical time for me, and always has been. I make a fuss over hanging lights, decorating trees, listening to Christmas tunes (especially Elvis), and adhering to the advent calendar. Growing up in Pennsylvania, Christmas was ever present between the snow storms, cutting down your own tree in the woods, and the crisp cold weather. Since moving to Arizona, I have sometimes felt the lack of the Christmas spirit due in large part to the warm weather and it just not feeling like Christmas without the cold weather, snow and my family. Because of this, I had created a journal to document one thing daily throughout the month of December that made it feel like Christmas. Whether it be the first time the weather got cold enough to turn on the heat in the car in the morning on my way to work, putting up the Christmas tree, or even just a fun Christmas movie I watched that day, I was documenting “My Christmas 2008.”

Scott and I have a tradition every year of exchanging Christmas gifts alone on Christmas Eve and watching It’s A Wonderful Life. It is our own private celebration of the magic of Christmas, knowing that Christmas day is spent traveling from one relative’s house to another to enjoy the day with family. On Christmas Eve, after eating dinner and enjoying a nice bottle of wine we sat on the dining room floor with the glow from our Christmas tree as our only source of light and turned on some festive music. I gave Scott his gifts: a shirt and a DVD of his favorite HBO series. Then it was my turn. I opened them all until there was only one small box left. Before opening the box, Scott said to me “Where is your December journal?” When I asked why he said “because I think you might want it for this next one.” I was confused, but I smiled and got my journal and then sat back down and placed it on my lap. He then said “go ahead and open it to today” When I opened the journal to the 24th, the page was already complete. The page was decorated with a black and pink glittery letters that spelled out “will you marry me?” and completed with a smiling Santa staring back at me.

Scott later told me that he and his mother had gone to the local arts and crafts store stayed up all night on the 23rd laughing, talking, and decorating the “will you marry me” page of my journal.

I began to cry uncontrollably. After several minutes of holding each other and sobbing, he reminded me there was one last gift for me to open. The box was small…..I was sure it was a ring.  As I slowly unwrapped the package, Scott explained to me that there was no ring in there but that we would have to pick it out together. Inside the box was a beautiful crystal ring holder. As I opened the last package, Santa Baby was playing throughout the house and the part when she says “forgot to mention one little thing, a ring” played as I opened the box which contained the glass ring dish. I told you he always remembers the details.

Not too much later in the evening, Scott reminded me that we had not yet opened our advent calendars for the day.  He brought my calendar over to me as I still sat by the tree. I opened day 24 on the calendar and the ring fell out. I began to cry once again and hugged Scott so hard and he began to cry as well.  Scott purchased my ring from Bailey, Banks, and Biddle which is the same jeweler that my paternal grandmother and aunts in Philadelphia have purchased all of their jewelry from since the early 1900’s. With everything Scott does, he continues to amaze me on how well he knows me, how much thought and purpose he puts behind all he does for me and quietly reminds me that I will always be his number one. It was the perfect proposal for someone like me who absolutely loves the Holiday season and all the hope and joy that it brings. ”

This proposal story gave all of the judges chills and a few tears as well!!!  We’ll highlight images from Susan and Scott’s wedding on April 10, 2010.

I’m excited to see what Scott comes up with THIS Christmas to top this one!