My boyfriend proposed to me during a City Council meeting

Yesterday, my wonderful boyfriend popped the question with the full participation of Seattle's city council members.
Yesterday, my wonderful boyfriend popped the question with the full participation of Seattle's city council members.
Four years ago, I moved to Seattle and into the upstairs bedroom of a Ravenna craftsman rented by one Brett Horvath, a playful, energetic and frighteningly smart young entrepreneur and tech consultant. Yesterday, three moves, four anniversaries, one cat, and countless dates later, Brett Horvath proposed to me — at a City Council meeting.
 
Lured to said meeting under the ruse that he was testifying about artificial intelligence in city government, Brett asked me to be his wife through a formal Seattle City Council resolution on "possible relationship rezoning."
 
The full video is below and Publicola covered the logistics here, so for now I'll just say that it involved a hilarious powerpoint, compromising photos, heartfelt declarations of love and live Beatles music.
 
Crosscut archive image.
I love you, Brett Horvath. Photo: Ellen Kutscher.

I'm still reeling after casting the deciding vote on the resolution. (Aye, of course.) Not to mention inspired by the grand collision of love and community, work, play and family that the City Council chambers became for me last night.

Crosscut archive image.

The ring. (Those are foxes, which have special significance for us, surrounding a gorgeous emerald.) Photo: Berit Anderson.

Councilmembers Tom Rasmussen, Tim Burgess, Jean Godden and Bruce Harrell all voted against the resolution. Brett and I haven't started planning the wedding yet or worked out any details, but I know two things for sure: We're not getting married at City Hall and those four no's are definitely NOT invited. (In all seriousness, though, a huge thanks to the whole City Council for facilitating one of the most romantic -- and nerdiest -- nights of my life.)

  

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About the Authors & Contributors

Berit Anderson

Berit Anderson

Berit Anderson was Managing Editor at Crosscut, following tech, culture, media and politics. She founded Crosscut's Community Idea Lab. Previously community manager of the Tribune Company’s Seattle blogging network, her work has also appeared in YES! Magazine and on the Huffington Post, Geekwire, Q13Fox.com and KBCS 91.3 radio. She served as Communications Director at Strategic News Service, a weekly newsletter that predicts global trends in tech and economics, and Future in Review, an annual tech conference which gathers C-level executives to solve global problems. Her weaknesses include outdoor adventure, bananas with peanut butter and big fluffy dogs.