Les & Pri

To be able to capture special moments for others is already such a blessing. However, to be able to capture your own brother’s surprise engagement proposal at Ritz-Carlon in Half-Moon Bay, is something beyond special and an honor. We got the big news a few weeks ago when my sister and I received a phone call from our brother. It was any regular night when I received a group Facetime call. Thinking it was an accidental butt dial late at night, I answered anyways. After some small chit chat, our brother told us some big news.

” I’m going to propose to Pri,” says my brother.

The plan

Excited and elated, we start discussing details for his surprise proposal for Pri who already felt like family. Scared we might accidentally text details on the wrong group chat, we decided on using code words. We went on to create secret codes that might not be easy to guess for Pri, so we came up with the following: “Pollo” for ring to “propollo” instead of proposal. The benefit of being multi-lingual means often times creating our own mix of English, Spanish, and Chinese. Why pollo? why not? Random and not at all suspicious or related (am I right? hahaha). Les wanted an intimate moment, where he would be able to tell Pri how he felt and why he wanted Pri to be his wife. He wanted close friends and family to be there immediately for a shared meal at the Ritz-Carlton in Half-Moon Bay.

When plans, don’t go according to plan

My brother had told us he intended to “propollo” on the day Pri and him met 6 years ago, July 29th, 2015. He wanted it to be private, simple, but thoughtful; and share it with those he and Pri loved most. However, plans don’t always go as planned. Given some venue and “pollo” hiccups and delays, he had told us that it might not happen on July 29th after all.

However, the universe has a way to conspire with you when you speak something into existence. So two days before July 29th, I get a call from my brother updating my sister and I on the situation. The venue was locked in after all and the “pollo” arrived, shiny and, ready to be gifted.

With 48 hours before the actual “propollo”, it was crunch time. While I was making plans for flights and travel, my sister helped my brother practice kneeling and opening the “pollo” box the right way; meanwhile my brother arranged and invited core people “crossing fingers” they were free to join him and Pri.

It’s happening!

The day of proposal couldn’t have been more hectic. With a last minute change to the proposal location, decorators being lost and running late (aka my sister and I), to the couple running late (also a little lost), we finally arrived to the moment we had been waiting for and anticipating. My brother had intended for the moment he asked Pri to join our family to be intimate, private, and memorable. However, he also knew how much their relationship wasn’t just about them, but also about those they loved most.

Something Les is great at, is bringing people together and making them feel special and this couldn’t have been any different for Pri. Les made sure to involve the most important people in his and Pri’s life to make this not just a memorable proposal for them, but also for those they love. From parents to siblings, to close friends, everyone took part in this special day. What I love most about Pri is how welcoming and loving she is. Pri already felt like family before being asked if she wanted to be family.; loving those dearest to us, our parents, grandparents, and loved ones, as if they were her own.

Dear Les and Pri, thank you for bringing people around you together with your love. I’m so proud of the relationship you two have built focusing on loving each other and building each other and those around you up. I can’t wait to bear witness to what the future will bring to both of you.

With much love,

Your sister.