CRYSTAL & DAVID
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THE PROPOSAL
On October 11, 2010 Crystal Micchelli invited me to a New York Jets game and our lives would never been the same. We grew so close on that rainy Monday night and have gotten happier together each day since. Three years to the day later, there was no better place to ask Crystal to be my wife.
The Planning: Positive that I had found the perfect girl that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, I had purchased the ring months earlier, waiting for the perfect time and place to pop the question. Two weeks prior to the big day I mentioned to Crystal that our digital team at the New York Giants was nominated for an NFL award. One week prior I excitedly told Crystal we had won! A little white lie so that she would come to MetLife Stadium for a celebration dinner in our honor, to be held Friday, October 11th (complete with an invitation to celebrate with the team and league). Meanwhile, I put together a scrap book of photos from our time together and made arrangements with team at MetLife Stadium to let us into the stadium on an off day. Photographer and Limo booked, and after getting her family's blessing I was all set for the big day.
The Big Day: At 3am I finish work for the night (thanks Giants vs. Bears!) and catch a late-night shave and put the finishing touches on Crystal's anniversary gift and card. A power nap and I'm up and ready to leave for work at 8am. But just before I leave, I tell Crystal she can leave for the Stadium to meet me for "Dinner" by 3pm, and I give Crystal a gift bag and a card with instructions: Do Not Open Until 2:45 pm. I don't go right to work, I drive down the block where Aaron Mizrachi is waiting with his car. My car is parked just down the road from our house, while Alto drives me up to work. You'll know why in just a sec.
2 pm: Well wishes from Dan Salomone and Nilay Shah at work while Ashwin Bhandari drives me over to the Stadium to make final arrangements. The photographer is in place, semi-hiding, and ready to go (takes a few "before" pictures of me!) and the MetLife Stadium team has set us up for an unforgettable night.
2:45 pm: Crystal opens her anniversary card, which thanks her for three amazing years, and reads instructions to look out the window for her first anniversary surprise. A stretch limo courtesy BBZ Limousine & Livery Service Inc. pulls up to chauffeur my future bride up to the Stadium. No fighting Friday rush hour traffic for my girl! While relaxing in the limo, Crystal opens her scrap book to look through photos of us over the past three years together and with little Vinnie.
4 pm. Crystal pulls up at MetLife Stadium. Little bit of rain starting to come down but no biggie, we grab an umbrella and are off to the "party". We walk around the concourse and decide to take a quick stop at Section 126, exactly where we sat for our very first date. The New York Jets graciously paused their gameday rehearsals just for us. I tell Crystal everything she means to me and how happy she has made me since we were together in this very spot three years ago. Out comes the ring, I drop down to one knee, and ask if she will marry me. And she replied with the best three-letter word I've ever heard: Y-E-S!
After a few photos, Mike Falvey from the Stadium gives us the first class golf cart treatment to a private champagne toast at the Commissioners Club, which they have decked out in photos of us and set us up in front of the amazing fireplace. More photos, and its back in the limo to dinner at Buona Sera Restaurant & Bar in Red Bank. Crystal walks in with me expecting a quiet celebratory dinner for two, but Surprise! its a party for 9 with both of our families and little Vinnie waiting for us.
This was absolutely the greatest day of my entire life. I can't thank enough everyone above for all of the support and help in putting all of this together. Thank you so much to our families for celebrating with us.
And thank you now and forever Crystal for saying yes to spending the rest of our lives together.
