A surprise proposal
DATE: March 11 HER STORY: Atena Mia Rosak, 43, was born in Dover, N.J., and grew up in Sparta, N.J. She is a general surgeon at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson. Her parents, Charles and Ellen Rosak, reside in Henderson, Nev.
HIS STORY: David J. Dukehart, 59, was born and raised in Baltimore. He is a financial adviser at Merrill Lynch in Towson. His mother, Katherine Dukehart, lives in Westminster.
THEIR STORY: The two were introduced by a mutual friend via email.
David sent Atena a playful email that read “google me” and the conversation began from there. It took about a month later — April 12, 2015 — for Atena and David to have their first date, which also happened to be on Atena’s birthday.
“He promised me tiramisu,” she said. “It took three more dates until I finally got my dessert!” Their relationship grew gradually. “Neither of us was really looking for something beyond a nice date. And with many nice dates, love evolved,” Atena said.
David won over Atena with his “nice” personality.
“The character of the person is much more important than anything else,” she said.
This was the first marriage for Atena and David. The two live in Rockland Ridge. THE PROPOSAL: Atena and David started talking about marriage and moving in together about eight months into dating.
“I told David I would never live with a guy without a ring,” she said.
It became a running joke between the two of them.
When David would point out a couch for their future home, Atena would chip back: “Ouch, I think I was just hit by a cart flying by.” (A reference to the phrase, “Aren’t you putting the cart before the horse?”)
With all the wedding talk, David planned a surprise weekend proposal.
A week before the surprise trip, Atena wished for a ring when she blew out the candles at her birthday happy hour.
She got her wish at the swanky Inn at Little Washington in Washington, Va.
When David presented her with a card and gift certificate, Atena said she felt a “bit sad” that she “hadn’t received any presents wrapped in a bow.”
He further played with her emotions by taking her to the restaurant’s romantic garden where he presented her with a flat box wrapped in a bow.
“I was thinking, ‘That box doesn’t have a ring in it. It’s flat,’ ” she said.
David gave her another card that instructed her to put the items in the box in the correct order. While Atena examined the plastic horse and cart from the box, David got down on one knee. Atena didn’t remember much after that. “So what’s your answer?” Atena recalled David asking. “I asked, ‘What’s the question?’ ”
Neither could remember if David said “Will you marry me?” so he asked again and Atena said “yes.”
VENUE: One hundred eighty guests attended the wedding and reception at Harbor Tower Events at Legg Mason Tower.
FLOWERS AND DECOR: The theme of the wedding was spring. The wedding and reception were planned by Lee Kendall from Elizabeth Bailey Weddings. Flowers and tables were multicolored.
BRIDE’S DRESS: Atena wore a customized dress from Betsy Robinson’s Bridal Collection. The seamstresses at the Pikesville boutique took the design from the bust of one dress and attached it to the skirt of another.
MATRON OF HONOR’S ATTIRE: Tatiana Birkelund, Atena’s sister, wore a Marchesa dress from The RealReal, an online consignment shop.
MEN’S ATTIRE: David wore a dark blue tuxedo by Hugo Boss from Bloomingdale’s in New York. The groomsman, Steve Young, wore his own suit.
MUSIC: Justin, a DJ from MusicMasters, provided the music. Their first dance was to “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley.
FOOD AND DESSERT: Harbor Tower Events provided the catering. Appetizers included crab dip, crab soup shooters, Yorkshire pudding cups, tuna tartare and mushroom croquettes during cocktail hour. Food stations included antipasto, a beef and turkey carving station, and risotto. Desserts included tiramisu, mini apple pies and chocolate mousse. The three-tier cake — almond with raspberry filling, chocolate and cream cheese, and lemon with lemon curd — was made by a Mary Elliott, a baker from Timonium.
FAVORS: chocolates. Guests received Wockenfuss