Valentine and Erich met at a New York City dive bar. To be fair, they were both there for a friend’s birthday party. They were introduced as having music in common – Valentine had a radio show in college and Erich is an accomplished musician. They hit it off.
I met with them in Washington Square Park in Manhattan for their engagement session. They feel New York is very much them and couldn’t imagine doing their engagement session anywhere else. They (especially Valentine) love food, do a lot of exploring around the city, trying out restaurants, theater, and wine.
The park was hopping that day. I witnessed a flashmob-dance-turned-proposal while I was waiting for them and saw a track suit-wearing Daniel Day Lewis just chilling on a bench. There were musicians, bubbles, and lots of people indulging in the fantastic weather.
A quick change later (thanks to their own personal Sherpa, Lela) and Erich was serenading his sweet Valentine.
Their proposal story happened in Paris (you’re already swooning, I know). Erich had gone on a backpacking trip through Europe several years prior and found the spot that he knew he wanted to ask his future wife to marry him. The two were back in the City of Love for a friend’s wedding last September. The next day he took Valentine to the Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre, the cathedral that overlooks the city. The problem was that there were far more people around than he anticipated so they walked away. Valentine wondered what was going on when Erich suggested they go back there at sunset. It was then that he pulled out his late grandmother’s art deco engagement ring and popped the question.
The light that day was so fabulous!
One more change and we took off to wander around Manhattan. Valentine channeled the oh-so-classic Kate Middleton and Jackie O while Erich wore his late grandfather’s Stetson hat and even rocked his fabulous cap toe oxfords. I appreciate a man who can rock a hat like Erich. Erich’s grandfather, Governor Hugh Carey, was quite fond of hats and had several made for him from this one little shop. He gave Erich a gift certificate to the place and Erich visited it as the shop a few days before it was closing for business. As fate would have it, Hugh Carey still had a hat there that he had completely forgotten to pick up. It became Erich’s.
I had a fantastic time roaming the streets with these two and can’t wait to see them again! They will be celebrating two weddings this summer: one in Greece with Valentine’s extended Greek family and another in September at Erich’s family’s estate in Shelter Island.
Leaves are fallin all around
Like a silent film showin on the ground
I fell for you before you made a sound
Said I’m a gonna make you mine.
~ Erich Collins Carey, “I’m a Gonna Make You Mine.”
