Mary's Story: The Proposal

As the countdown begins for Raffi and Mary's wedding on October 21, 2017, we are excited to share their story from their first date to their wedding day. In a series of blogs, throughout the next few months, Mary will be sharing her fairytale from one chapter to another. Here is Mary's first blog about how the two met and their sweet proposal story.

It all began on March 2015 when I got a friend request on Instagram from Raffi. I never accepted random friend requests but I decided to accept his and follow him back after seeing his pictures and thinking how handsome he was! Immediately after, with a few comments, private messages, text messages and various attempts to ask me out, I finally agreed to our first date. On Friday, April 17, 2015, we had our first date at Crave Café on Ventura Blvd. We spent 4 hours talking and laughing as if we had known each other for years. We both felt super comfortable. It was love at first sight! I couldn't get my mind off of him, and really I didn't want to either. We were inseparable since then! We continued dating and getting to know each other and every day felt like a new adventure.

A few months later, on June 17, 2016, Raffi's family came to my house to meet my parents for the first time and discuss our future. Raffi and I were so nervous and anxious about what our parents were going to talk about. After all, I am my dad's one and only daughter and I know it would be hard for him to give me away. After talking for hours, eating and drinking, it was apparent that they felt the same connection... it was as if they already knew each other too! Their first meeting went great and everyone was very happy.

About a month later, Raffi came over to our house to talk to my dad. I already knew the conversation was going to be about asking my dad's blessing to propose to me. After their meeting, all Raffi would say was that everything was going to be good. So every day I asked him if he was going to propose that day, to make sure to record it, that my nails would need to look good, and so much more. I was super excited and could not help but annoy him with all the questions.

On August 27th, Raffi and his family started looking at places where they can plan a surprise proposal. As they were searching for places, Raffi's dad received a call from my dad, inviting them over for dinner. Raffi and his family thought that this was a sign and that Raffi should propose that day in front of Mary's entire family.

That day, Raffi texted me asking what I was going to be wearing to make sure I was dressed for the occasion. After a few hours, everyone was at our house. When everyone arrived for dinner, Raffi did not want to eat, saying he didn't feel hungry. Then Raffi's brother, Vicken, took my brother, Daniel, to the bathroom to tell him that Raffi was going to propose. My brother got emotional and excited for me and as they returned, Raffi decided to share a few words. He stood up and began a speech which ended with ""when I met Mary I knew she was the one for me, babe will you marry me?" and he got down on one knee. My family and I were in complete shock because no one but Raffi's parents, Raffi's brother and my brother knew about the surprise proposal. Not even my parents knew. I said yes and shook my head as I hugged him so tight... my body was shaking at this point. He placed the ring on my finger and everyone clapped, screamed, and cried. Both of our parents and they were in tears, tears of joy! I started to cry, a lot! Everything I told Raffi I wanted to happen didn't even matter at this point. I was just ecstatic to call him my fiancé! My grandfather stood up and made a toast to us and our future, he cried from excitement that his first grandchild was now engaged. I am the first child, and grandchild from my family. The festivities continued as we danced tango to Suro's "Be my wife" and celebrated all night.

The next day, we started planning our engagement party. We chose the date, October 28, 2016 and started planning away. Make sure to read my next blog for all the details about our engagement party.