Last minute engagement plans
It all started with a phone call from the Executive Chef, @FairmontEmpress in Victoria. “We have a guest who was planning to get engaged somewhere far away but due to factors beyond his control he was going to have to pop the question on site Thursday.” This was Tuesday afternoon. I like to always answer with a “yes” and take my chances I can pull it off. But this was going to stretch us big time. Can we push everything already on the calendar aside to make this happen? Chef Morgan and I talked over the idea of a huge ring complete with a 1000 carat diamond that I sometimes use for engagements. They could place the real thing on a cushion in the center or something. “Okay, I’ll do it.”
Then came Wednesday, day for the carving and day before I would have to deliver to the island. Another call… this time on speaker phone with the fiancée to be, “the ice ring won’t work because she’ll guess what it is before I pop the question. Can you do swan or a couple of swans? And how could we work in the ring in the sculpture?” So now we’re talking two sculptures. But we’ve done this one before, just never for an engagement. We got to work. The plan would be to put them nose to nose (or beak to beak J) and suspend the ring off a ribbon in between them into the heart shaped space below. All set and I got to work.
Swans are common to ice carvers but still some of the most beautiful designs. These two matching birds turned out beautifully. Thursday morning we loaded them up for the trip to Victoria. The ferry is always such a nice journey. And the Empress is always such a gorgeous destination! Three hours later Executive Chef Morgan and his Sous Chef met us at the loading docks and we made the transfer to their walk in freezers, safe, sound and ready for display Thursday evening. Check it out: see below. I couldn’t help following up with a phone call Friday. How did it all work out? And more importantly, did she say yes?” Of course she did. Brings a smile to my face, just being able to participate in the joy of a couple we’ve never even met.
Waiting for the Ferry to Vancouver Island
All safely arrived!!
photo by Derek Ford Photography