A marriage proposal at the Met
 

I'm taking my girlfriend on a day trip to new york city to see the Met. She loves museums and is really excited. I've decided to make this the place to ask her to marry me. I've got the tickets and the ring. Now I just need the location. Does anyone out there know where the best place in the museum to "pop the question" might be? It's going to be the saturday b/f christmas so I'm sure there will be a ton of people around. Know any areas of the muesuem that might be considered especially romantic and not so busy? Think time of day will make a difference? Thanks for the help!

When you say the Met, do you mean the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Metropolitan Opera?

If the former, I think the room where the musical instruments are located might be the least crowded. There is/was a display case with 5 priceless violins: 3 Strads, an Amati, and a Guarneri.

Or perhaps in the corner by the Baroque period harpsichords toward the back.

OK, if she loves museums, then I guess it is the Metropolitan Museum of Art :)
There are so many spots that would work, although there will be people everywhere, especially a Saturday before Christmas.
The Tree is up, that is so beautiful but not sure where in the crowd would be a good spot to pop the question.
The area where the Tiffany collection is could be more quiet and definitely you will be surrounded by beautiful objects :)
I will tell you my favorite ( ok, one of them) room in the museum, and it is most often kind of quiet..
The Asian rooms.
There is a room with just Buddhas in it. I love that room, I love the Buddhas and it is always quiet enough to stand and ponder the state of the world and art and life as we know it...or ask someone you love to marry you.

This might give you an idea..Good luck and Wishing you a Happy Life together..

http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Ar...ment.asp?dep=6

If the rooftop is open, I think that would be gorgeous. Alternatively, the area where the musicians play, as Bob suggested.

You may find it less crowded than you think - with luck there will be lots of folk doing their "last minute" Christmas shopping (LOL)

All good wishes for a happy & healthy future together.

Consider going to view one of her favorite paintings, and proposing there. The painting will acquire a special significance for the two of you.

Woody

I don't know when you're going, but the rooftop garden is now closed for the season. My husband planned to propose to me there one Saturday in September several years ago. It was a picture-perfect night, we had champagne and watched a stunning sunset. Unfortunately, dozens of other New Yorkers and tourists were doing the same! Hubby lost his nerve and ended up proposing to me in the sculpture court. This is all to tell you that Woody is on to something -- wherever you propose within the museum will be terribly special for you.

That being said, I would love a proposal in front of the Christmas tree, in the court of the Temple of Dendur, near the Degas sculptures, just about anywhere!

Oh yes, I should also add that on Friday and Saturday evenings the Metropolitan has a quintet and a bar on the mezzanine. So, you can toast your new engagement once you've popped the question!

Rooftop is closed.

What about after dark in the Temple of Dendur? Gloriously wonderful location!

Definitely in the beautiful, glass-enclosed "room" that houses the Temple of Dendur.

Jackie Kennedy O'Nassis funded the massive room and it was featured in "When Harry Met Sally."

Good Luck!

The Temple of Dendur location is indeed very nice, and it is usually not too crowded.

However, I'd agree with Scarlett and consider the Asian rooms. There's this reproduction of a Chinese courtyard that is just amazing and, for some reason, it is usually empty. It is a really nice room. I'd go later in the day.

Good luck!

How about in the room with the armor displays - you could be her knight in shining armor. - horribly cliched but kind of romantic nonetheless.

I agree with Woody: if there's a particular painting she loves, propose there.

If not, the Astor Court is a reproduction of a Asian scholars courtyard - beautiful, serene, and rarely any people in it!

Best of luck!

Sorry for the confusion! I meant the Metropolitan Museum of Art! Thanks for the help!

Are there any pictures of this Temple of Dendur location that I can view online? What is it exactly? Thanks again for the great ideas, any others??

Have you seen When Harry Met Sally? Remember when they are walking around in the museum and he is saying, "waiter, there is too much pepper in my paprikash?" in a funny voice? That's in the Temple of Dendur.

Bigwig corporos routinely throw million dollar bashes at the Temple of Dendur.

As my grandmother would say,"you'd be pickin high cotton".

I happened to find these 2 photos of Temple of Dendur which I think are a better representation

http://anthonyjhicks.com/ajh/picture...F3004ACA18#pic

http://anthonyjhicks.com/ajh/picture...F3004AC91C#pic

Views onto Central Park in the back.

Personally, I think the Temple of Dendur room would be kinda cold and creepy, and not the sort of place you'd look back at fondly. The setting is deliberately stark, and if you're gong soon, the outdoors will be white with snow.

http://encarta.msn.com/media_4615471...of_Dendur.html

The knights in armor are scary; I would choose a setting that's more romantic, in the traditional sense: A painting that you could use as a memento, or one of the room settings that is peaceful or charming.

I would take the great recommendations you've got here and then play it by ear. You could encounter screaming children at the place you decide, and you could be all thrown off. Keep a couple of key locations in mind, then propose when it feels like the right moment. Good luck, and let us know how it goes! SG

The area around the tree itself might be crowded, but the little chapel area near there is usually pretty empty and beautiful.

The thing about the Temple of Dendur, which my children used to love so much! is that you will be proposing where there are Mummies :) So if the (dead) company does not take away from the romance, it might be an interesting spot..lol..
I hope you come back and tell us where you decided on..good luck!

*Actually there are no mummies actually IN the Temple, that I can remember...*

I wonder if you contacted the museum, if they would be able to help you. Perhaps they could briefly close off a special place so you would have it to yourselves. It doesn't hurt to ask...

If she likes medieval art, you might also want to consider a branch of the Met called the Cloisters up at Fort Tryon Park (north of the George Washington Bridge).

You could ask her in the room where the Hunt of the Unicorn Tapistries are displayed.

http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Ar...ment.asp?dep=7
((S))((*))

The Cloisters is a wonderful idea, it is a beautiful, romantic place (one of my first dates with my now-husband was spending an afternoon there). Within the main museum I think your best bets would be the Astor Court, or if she is a religious Christian, there is a small chapel near the Christmas Tree. Also, underneath the main staircase, in what used to be a storage room, is a small gallery with beautiful Byzantine are. And finally, there is the Gubbio Studiolo. It is a small study from an Italian ducal palace, recreated in the museum. It's beautiful, intimate and usually empty. Congratulations and good luck!!

The Cloisters is really beautiful, but you'll have to take a long subway ride to get there. I'd stick with the Met. In the Asian rooms, as others have mentioned, you'll find fewer people and in one room a lovely japanese tea garden.

Another pretty area is the Rotunda in the middle of the American Wing. Like the Temple of Dendur, there are huge windows so you can see Central Park. Unlike the Temple (which is huge and open and very stoic), it is much 'prettier' with period furniture, lots of plants, decorative urns, a fountain (I think), etc.

If you want to avoid the vicious crowds around Christmas, I'd go first thing in the morning or an hour before closing.

Good luck and Have Fun!

The Asian Room or the Temple of Dendur. If you don't remember the scene from When Harry Met Sally...more recent is Maid in New York with Jennifer Lopez.

Both are my favorite rooms, though the Temple of Dendur holds a special place.

As mentioned above... call the Museum and ask them. I'm sure you're not the first, nor will be the last.

I love the courtyard where the Tiffany windows are. There are benches in there and a good view of the park.
Also if there is music playing in the great hallway it is wonderful. Wonderful sound there!

KathrynT, that's a great idea. I didnt think to do that. It may be a long shot, but you're right, it does not hurt to ask. I'm going to call the museum in the morning. Thank you. These are all great ideas folks, I'll be sure to post how it went. Please, if other ideas or spots in the museum cross your minds, post them. I'll be checking this up until the last minute. Thanks again!!!

Well, if you are going to call the Met, why not ask them if they could let you get in with the members? Members are allowed in at 9 am, the Museum opens to the public at 10. You'll have a whole hour to get your nerve up and any spot where courage overwhelms you will be the right spot! :) (Just kidding!)

If you can get in early, the Christmas tree, the Christmas tree! That'll be the spot! Beautiful spot, warm colors (Temple of Dendur is a bit austere) - and the Neapolitan angels and figures date back to the 19th century. There's a whole story about those figures and the woman who donated them and insisted on supervising the decoration year after year, even during her final year when she had to be brought in on a gurney! When you see it, you'll understand why. Each figure has a light placed just so to illuminate the figure.

What a terrific idea! Wish I could witness the proposal! Congratulations! :)

Please be sure to come back afterwards and tell us where you popped the question and how she said YES!!

I vote for the Asian galleries too, but more specifically, the Chinese garden court (aka the Astor court). Quiet, there's a fountain, places to sit, and it won't be busy back there. It's tucked back in the Asian galleries.

personally I'd like to be proposed to in the Greek art galleries, but that's just me. ;-)

You will not find screaming children or anything creepy in The Lehman Wing. Enter it on the first floor (back past the Christmas Tree). All the way in the rear of these galleries, donated by a private collector, and to your left, there is a lovely room designed to look like a sitting room in Robert Lehman's home. It has a comfortable sofa facing a masterpiece by El Greco and there are other wonderful old master paintings on the wall. It is both quiet and luxurious. Pick up a floor plan when you exchange your tickets for the day's admission button and have the staff member who handles the transaction mark the route to the gallery that I have described.

Another quiet spot is the third floor Chinese gallery which houses The Bishop Jade Collection. It is a bit more challenging to get to, but that's why it is so free of crowds.

Your lady may never have seen either of these two areas because they are generally off the radar for visitors, so she will be impressed by your savvy as well as your romantic spirit.