Beginning the summer of 2023, arriving in NYC, and diving into preparation for the New York Bar, one thing was at the forefront of my mind: asking Hayley to marry me. Hayley had just started a new job and I was studying for hours on end, giving me the perfect cover to travel across the Hudson River every other week for two months to design a ring I hoped she would love. Not only is there the ring to worry about, but then there is the ask. We had a post-Bar Bahamas trip scheduled for the beginning of August, near Hayley’s birthday. What more could she want than a birthday dinner in the Bahamas? In her eyes, that was the plan. We arrived in the Bahamas on August 2nd, 2023, slightly jetlagged but nothing a handful of Mai Tais couldn’t fix. Night One was done, but the Mai Tais couldn’t keep the butterflies in my stomach from continuing to increase their fluttering. Onto Day Two, August 3rd, 2023. Hayley knew that I had arranged a dinner for Night Two but the details had been unspoken of. We spent the day bouncing between the pool and the beach, doing whatever it took to keep my mind off of the event to come so I didn’t spoil the surprise (more Mai Tais). The reservation was at 6:30 PM (you know we love an early bird special). We made it back to our room to get ready around 4 PM. Let me tell you, the vibes were high: music was blaring, singing, dancing, enjoying the little stress that she had. We took a shuttle to the Graycliff Hotel. As we arrive, the staff begins to escort us through the lobby, out the backdoor, passing the pool area, and into a second building. We enter the second building through an old wooden door, descend down a long staircase, and enter the Graycliff Hotel’s world-famous wine cellar. We are navigated through a cellar of thousands of bottles of wine by a handful of the Graycliff’s wonderful staff. Upon entering the main room of the wine cellar, we find a large table in the middle of the room, decorated with flowers and candles, immersed by the aroma of perfectly aged wine and seating arranged at a corner of the table. I’ll never forget Hayley’s face. She knew. She held her bright and beautiful smile on her face for the rest of the night. That moment was worth every effort and penny. P.S. After dinner the Graycliff Hotel informed us that Beyonce and Jay-Z are the only other couple to get engaged there so when they read this I want them to know they are invited to the wedding. - Daniel We're so excited to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with you. See you in the mountains!