The Proposal
Jon met Jenn at the very end of the 2003-2004 school year. She was just about to graduate from Colby College and he was just about to move out from his first year living at Bridgewater (he had previously been commuting to school). Their first date was on June 9th, 2004 and they went to see Super Size Me at the Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline, MA.
For the engagement, Jon envisioned a scenario that would reflect their first date. He started by renting the Coolidge Corner theater and started inviting 42 of Jenn’s closest friends as well as both their families to occupy the seats.
He spent months with the J&B Productions Crew shooting places that were important to both him and Jenn and even more time in the editing room with Blake finishing up the movie. What emerged was a 10 minute movie called “Ring Hijinx” which showed Jon buying the ring (he was able to get special permission to shoot himself buying the ring from Justin, who sold him the real ring, at Barmakian Jewelers, where he actually purchased the ring.) From there, Joe (dressed as a gorilla) stole the ring and lead Jon on a chase through Jon and Jenn’s memorable places. During the filming, Jenn was completely unaware of anything unusual happening and just assumed Jon was busy with other things.
Finally, the big day came. Jenn’s mom made sure that Jenn was going to be able to get out of her med school rotation at or before 5 so as to not be late for the show (Jenn was, again, unaware). Jon made sure everything was set both at the theater and at Zaftigs where they were going to have dinner. Jon had also made a special seating chart for the show such that no one was sitting next to someone they came with. This turned out to be key as Jenn thought she saw her grandfather but he was not with her grandmother.
Dinner at Zaftigs was delightful and the plan was for everyone to be seated in the dark before Jenn and Jon arrived. That plan was slightly in peril as the guests hadn’t made it into the theater until just before Jenn and Jon were supposed to arrive! Jon had to “fake” sick in the bathroom to stall for time. Finally, the guests were seated, and the show began.
Jon and Jenn walked into the dark theater. Jenn hates being late for anything, especially movies, and was anxious at coming in after the movie had started. Jon went in first and quickly “found” seats. The movie started with the triumphant Funky Fanfare. Then the first few minutes of the movie Jenn and Jon saw on their first date, “Super Size Me.” Just as Morgan Spurlock first says the words, “Super Size Me,” the movie cuts and switches to The J&B Productions logo. At this point Jenn said, “Hey another J&B Productions!” Then, the title frame to “Ring Hijinx” showed up and Jenn was starting to get suspicious. Then she finally saw Jon on the screen. The next 10 minutes are a bit of a blur of Gorillas and jumping into the Charles River. After the movie, special credits done entirely by Jon and showed to no one before the screening played showing off his “A Team.” Then the big question.
SHE SAID YES!
Jon’s office the morning after
Though the employees of the theater who had been monitoring the video feed didn’t see it and were kept in suspense. Then it was time for the special awards Jon had handcrafted for the people who had to deal with him for the many months leading up to this day and made it as special as it was and for those in attendance, Ring Pops!