Plan

Very loose draft. Last updated Oct 18, 2026.

Goal: surprise her.

Timing and location

• January or March. February is too busy with Sarah's birthday and Valentine's Day, and I missed my fall window in 2026. We're booking the venue for fall 2027, so the fall garden idea is out.
• Location: Ignite Studios. The proposal may be outside on Ignite's roof, which has a good skyline view, but everything else will be inside, depending on snow and temperature.

Who needs to be there

• At the proposal:
  • Her sister, if at all possible
  • Someone to take photos and video (paid?)
  • A Sprocket wrangler
• Dinner Friday:
  • Sam (little boy she takes care of)
    • Someone to help with him (mom or nurse?)
  • Sprocket
  • Her family
  • My family
  • My friends
  • Her roommates, if available
  • MJ and Julie
• Anyone who can't make dinner: lunch at Salerno's (?) Saturday

Friday

1. Get Sarah working from home. Her boss will probably help make this happen, I just need to figure out how to reach them.
2. Sprocket walk on our usual loop.
3. Get her into Ignite somehow, maybe with a wool fest sign or something similar.
4. Propose.
   • Possible glass blowing during/after the proposal?
5. Lunch after: Damato's at my house on Noble.
6. Her boss gives her the rest of the day off.
7. Build in a quiet hour for just the two of us.
8. Low-key dinner that night at my parents' house in the burbs with everyone on the list above: my family, Sarah's family, her roommates, MJ and Julie, my friends, and Sam with his helper.

Venue

• Ask Ignite about glass blowing during/after the proposal.

Saturday

• Unstructured. Chill most of the day, time with her family in town, etc.
• Lunch at Salerno's (?) for anyone who couldn't make Friday dinner.
• Drinks at Koval, then turtle races at Big Joe's, as early as they'll let us (for SGH), ideally around 7:30 to 10:30.

Open question

• How do we get her to dress up and get her hair and nails done for it without spoiling the surprise? Roommates help?