August 29, 2002

9:54 AM

Best. Wedding Proposal. Ever.
Congrats to mefi'er Fofer for taking the plunge and winning big.

Warning: first link points to a quicktime movie.
posted by neilkod (55 comments total)

That's so wonderful. Congrats!
posted by jerseygirl at 10:04 AM on August 29, 2002

That is SO cool!
posted by small_ruminant at 10:05 AM on August 29, 2002

Okay I have to admit I got tear-ish. Very very creative and fun. That's what Macs are for!
posted by pomegranate at 10:10 AM on August 29, 2002

Brilliant. Loved it. I got all weepy. Fofer, Congratulations and well done!
posted by jopreacher at 10:23 AM on August 29, 2002

Now that was a proposal. Very nice. Congrats!
posted by cowboy at 10:30 AM on August 29, 2002

How marvelous, and yes, beautifully romantic, both the film and the accompanying story. Congratulations to you, Fofer, and may you and Lainie have years and years of happiness.
posted by Dreama at 10:40 AM on August 29, 2002

And may their wedding photos be this beautiful.
posted by gleuschk at 10:41 AM on August 29, 2002

Wow, very cool and very well done!

And no offense pomegranate, but you don't need a Mac to edit video...
posted by beth at 10:42 AM on August 29, 2002

Simply brilliant! The acting, the music and the storyboard couldn't be bettered. It's funny, self-deprecating and touching. The happy circumstances only make it even more touching. But it would be great without the personal information or MetaFilter context.

I am going to throw this my first "awesome", not in the American sense of "very good" but in the English sense of inspiring awe and wonder! Double congratulations!

And thanks!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 10:51 AM on August 29, 2002

Yo Foferrrr... congrats man .. awesome work, I nominate this short film for the academy awards.

beth: yes u do.. yes u do need a Mac and its nifty lil software if u wanna edit movies at home. and GODDAM I want one .... NOW !!!
posted by adnanbwp at 10:53 AM on August 29, 2002

[sidetrack]
Wow, is this ever a beautiful picture! Well done, Dooce. (btw, anyone know where she went after she shut down her site?)
[/sidetrack]

Let me also jump on the bandwagon and congratulate Fofer for an amazing job. He deserves all that cool swag "Bridal Guide" is giving him.
posted by pardonyou? at 10:57 AM on August 29, 2002

Whoa, seeing the description, I thought the story would go one way, and was suprised at the fourth wall bit at the end. Very cool. Gave me tingles.
posted by mathowie at 11:04 AM on August 29, 2002

adnanbwp: gee, then I guess the movies I've been editing on my Windows box are just uh... uh... figments of my overworked imagination?

Yes, I've managed to avoid Mac envy. Yea, me. (And I hate Windows, I just deal with it for now anyway).
posted by beth at 11:07 AM on August 29, 2002

Yes! Yes! A thousand times over Yes!

...wait, that's not me in the picture. *cries*

Beautifully done, although a disturbing precedent to the proposing population. How are we supposed to top that?
posted by Stan Chin at 11:10 AM on August 29, 2002

Well done.
posted by rushmc at 11:16 AM on August 29, 2002

congratulations!
posted by Hall at 11:18 AM on August 29, 2002

And may their wedding photos be this beautiful.

That's wierd. I was in Yosemite last weekend. Didnt see them though.
posted by vacapinta at 11:18 AM on August 29, 2002

Better start on Aproposal Now now, Stan.

Nice work, Fofer.
posted by liam at 11:18 AM on August 29, 2002

If you would-be husbands want a sure-fire "yes" answer for your proposal, here's a little advice:

It's always in good taste to show up naked at her workplace, and express your feelings in an interpretive dance.

and, congrats Fofer.
posted by Kafkaesque at 11:20 AM on August 29, 2002

Thoroughly impressive. Puts using the Jumbotron at your city's baseball stadium to shame.

Pure class. Congrats.
posted by mrmcsurly at 11:24 AM on August 29, 2002

I proposed via a SCUBA diver at EPCOT. Got an entire restaraunt to applaud.

Now I feel outdone. Thanks a lot.

Congrats. Many happy years. Being married kicks major ass.
posted by bondcliff at 11:28 AM on August 29, 2002

He's a lucky man. She didn't call him an "asshole."
posted by ColdChef at 11:30 AM on August 29, 2002

That's very cool. Good job! Very romantic.

Why do QuickTime movies always appear so dark?
posted by internal at 11:32 AM on August 29, 2002

i almost cried.

Quicktime movies appear dark because you're probably using a PC, which (normally) uses darker gamma settings on the monitor.
posted by schlaager at 11:39 AM on August 29, 2002

pardonyou? : Don't know what's up w/ Dooce, but her archives is here.
posted by DenOfSizer at 11:42 AM on August 29, 2002

Call me a softie, but I almost cried too. That was great. Congratulations.
posted by waxpancake at 11:52 AM on August 29, 2002

Oh man, now I've got my family and friends crying too. That was so beautiful, and unique, and completely deserved winning the Bridal competition.

Congrats to the very lucky couple, I wish you all the best.

*sob*
posted by precocious at 11:53 AM on August 29, 2002

Hmm ... this certainly beats my "roll over and drowsily mention marriage before falling asleep" method of proposal. No wonder I never had much luck with it.
posted by rks404 at 11:55 AM on August 29, 2002

I can't listen (no sound card at werk), but it looks great from reading about it.

I always wanted to do the Teletron thing at a hockey game. Now that's class.
posted by adampsyche at 12:03 PM on August 29, 2002

beautiful and well done, congrats for the accomplishments both in creation and results!

btw, loved the Chaplin homage :)
posted by LuxFX at 12:04 PM on August 29, 2002

Thanks a whole freakin' lot, Fofer. Way to make the rest of us look like insensitive clods. I can hear cries of "Why couldn't you do something this nice?" all over the world.

PS: Just kidding. I admit to getting a bit teary myself. Good work!
posted by RylandDotNet at 12:04 PM on August 29, 2002

"this certainly beats my "roll over and drowsily mention marriage before falling asleep" method "

It also beats my "roll over and drunkenly realize I got married the night before" method.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 12:07 PM on August 29, 2002

umm beth... could ya email me about your setup for video editing on a windows platform. Thanks. would help me a lot.
posted by adnanbwp at 12:13 PM on August 29, 2002

adnanbwp: gee, then I guess the movies I've been editing on my Windows box are just uh... uh... figments of my overworked imagination?

The software is free (and better due to iMovie) on a Mac. Maybe that's what he meant.

Great job. It made more sense when I read that he played it at a movie theatre. It wouldn't have the same impact if it was playing in a 400x300 window on a computer.
posted by jragon at 12:17 PM on August 29, 2002

All this "happy" "love" blah-blah-blah makes me sick. At least I can take some perverse joy in the fact that they probably make an ugly couple.

Oh. Nevermind.
posted by pardonyou? at 12:19 PM on August 29, 2002

Positively brilliant. Amazing that someone with no filmmaking experience could producing something this well done. The continuity was correct, the editing was flawless, and the pacing was excellent - a wonderful homage to Keaton and Chaplain!

Unfortunately, this film has also made me realize that I absolutely must invest in a DV camera - something I can't at all afford.
posted by aladfar at 12:21 PM on August 29, 2002

I almost cried. But then I remembered that I have a penis. Great job, though. And congrats!
posted by horsewithnoname at 12:31 PM on August 29, 2002

Dammit! Not what am I gonna do when it comes time to propose??
posted by trillion at 12:34 PM on August 29, 2002

from the above link:

Marriage Proposal Ideas
1. Arrange to meet her in a beautiful park near some riding stables. Rent a knight's armor from a costume shop or theatrical company and pick it up on the way. Rent a horse at the stables, don the armor, ride up to meet her and offer to be her prince. Present the loose diamond with princely flair on bended knee. You could have someone in the bushes nearby ready to play Holst's "Jupiter" as she starts to see you in the distance.

WTF? Who wrote this, a junior high school girl?
posted by goethean at 1:04 PM on August 29, 2002

Geeze... I hope my wife doesn't see that - the way I did it, was NOTHING compared to that ;-)

Congrats fofer!!!
posted by niteHawk at 1:14 PM on August 29, 2002

Aw, shucks guys -- you're all too kind. Thanks for all the compliments and well wishes. I do owe a lot of thanks to my amazing friends (and Best Men) Craig and Brian for the production help, Apple for the elegant software, and of course Lainie for the inspiration. I absolutely couldn't have done it without them.

MiguelCardoso: Simply brilliant! The acting, the music and the storyboard couldn't be bettered.

[blush] I assure you, my friends, it's all in the editing. I am not an thespian. The outtakes make me cringe in embarassment. I pee in my pants as I edit the "bloopers" reel. I have newfound respect for filmmakers, actors in particular.

The project was a creative thrill from start to finish. Lainie's reaction was something we'll cherish forever. And the Bridal Guide contest, this whole thing's just surreal.

Thanks friends, I'm happy this thing has made others smile!
posted by Fofer at 1:28 PM on August 29, 2002

Anyone else thinking about the Simpson's episode where Apu mounts a Valentine's Day campaign that shames all the other husbands?

It's a truism that the very best art is that made for love rather than money or fame. This film is a charming example of that. Beautiful work.
posted by Nicolae Carpathia at 1:34 PM on August 29, 2002

mazel tov Fofer! and the movie was adorable! enjoy life together!

I worked at that mag a few years ago--contest winners were always really satisfied and happy with the stuff, etc
posted by amberglow at 1:56 PM on August 29, 2002

That is just so incredibly sweet. Makes our "Yeah, let's get married. Okay, Oct 24 1998, sounds good" sound really boring.

Enjoy married life, it's wonderful.
posted by SuzySmith at 3:10 PM on August 29, 2002

wow. props. brilliant, and extremely well done.
posted by sixtwenty3dc at 3:25 PM on August 29, 2002

Most Romantic Couple? Sheesh...that's a lot to live up to! But by the movie, you've got a great start. Congrats!
posted by aacheson at 3:26 PM on August 29, 2002

Terrific. All of it. Best of luck.
posted by mccreath at 3:29 PM on August 29, 2002

Fofer, that was brilliant - congratulations to you both. Really, I just have no words at all - took my breath away.
posted by kristin at 4:51 PM on August 29, 2002

[TLC Junkie Mode] Btw, Fofer, you have to let us know when the Wedding Story episode will air! [/TLC Junkie Mode]
posted by Dreama at 5:10 PM on August 29, 2002

Geeze... I hope my wife doesn't see that - the way I did it, was NOTHING compared to that ;-)

You must have said something right, nighthawk, she married you, didn't she?
posted by essexjan at 5:11 PM on August 29, 2002

Um, and how do I get an intro to Amanda Troop?
posted by chino at 5:57 PM on August 29, 2002

Crap, now I have to go out and re-ask my wife to marry me. The Easter Egg hunt just doesn't live up to this! Congrats.
posted by MediaMan at 9:07 PM on August 29, 2002

a WONDERFUL job, fofer, and both you and lainie have my congratulations. i can just imagine the "totally sweet"-ness of it multiplied by 10, being played at a theatre.

just wish it wasn't in quicktime. i have the gamma turned all the way up on my PC with adobe's gamma tool, and it was still dark. plus, most of my friends probably won't be able to see it, 'cause they don't want to download the player.
posted by lotsofno at 10:52 PM on August 29, 2002

just wish it wasn't in quicktime. i have the gamma turned all the way up on my PC with adobe's gamma tool, and it was still dark. plus, most of my friends probably won't be able to see it, 'cause they don't want to download the player.

Well, then click the prominently-positioned link to Other Formats and watch it in Windows Media or RealVideo instead. :)
posted by kindall at 11:53 PM on August 29, 2002

*reaches for kleenex*

sweeeeet. (and really well done). Congratulations.
posted by dabitch at 6:15 AM on August 30, 2002