If you’ve ever wondered what a book lover’s proposal looks like, Clara and Buck’s New York City engagement is the definition of pure fairytale magic. Set in the heart of Manhattan and wrapped in literary details, Taylor Swift lyrics, and the kind of love story you’d expect in the romance novel section, this NYC proposal is one you’ll be bookmarking for inspiration.
Their Love Story
Clara and Buck’s story begins with the kind of meet-cute that feels pulled straight from a classic romance novel. They started dating their junior year of high school after randomly sitting next to each other at the lunch table, the ultimate friends-to-lovers moment. On Valentine’s Day, Buck walked Clara to her car after school and asked her to be his girlfriend, and they’ve been inseparable ever since.
Across twelve years (yes, twelve!), their relationship has followed them through countless milestones: homecoming court, prom, two college graduations, and a cross-country move from their small Virginia hometown to Los Angeles. They never felt the need to rush into an engagement; they’ve always been confident in their love and in the timing that felt right for them.
This past year brought major career highlights for them both. Clara became the Senior PR Manager at Be Inspired PR, and Buck, a screenwriter, sold his first spec script in a seven-figure deal. With both of them stepping into their next chapters professionally, they knew it was time to step into their next chapter personally. And Buck, alongside Leila and Katie at Be Inspired PR, had the perfect plan in mind.
The Proposal
If you know Clara, you know she is a Swiftie through and through. You also know she’s a HUGE reader, 189 books and counting this year alone, with romance being her favorite genre. So for this NYC proposal, Buck knew two essentials were non-negotiable: Taylor Swift and books!
Clara was in town for New York Bridal Fashion Week on behalf of Be Inspired PR, attending networking events, and doing what she does best. For her final “fashion show” of the week, she received an invitation to a designer’s new “Love Story” collection. What she didn’t know was that the invitation was completely fabricated by her team. They went so far as to include a dress code, event branding, and details on the “collection.”
When she arrived and immediately recognized a client, Liz from Aisle Access, everything felt completely legitimate. Liz led her inside, explaining that the designer had chosen a unique venue for the event, a bookstore.
Inside, she saw a display of romance novels: Bride by Ali Hazelwood, A Winter in New York by Josie Silver, and The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center. Each book included a bookmark featuring Taylor Swift lyrics. Clara still didn’t suspect a thing; she even turned to Liz and said it was the coolest bridal event she had ever attended.
When Clara made it upstairs, she spotted Book Lovers by Emily Henry, her all-time favorite. She opened it to find one final bookmark that read: “Clara, I talked to your dad. Go pick out a white dress.”
She looked up to see Buck walking toward her. Shocked, she blurted out, “What are you doing? This is a work event!” Buck held a custom book-shaped box engraved with their names (and more Swift lyrics, naturally). He got down on one knee and asked Clara if she was ready to write their next chapter together.
She said yes, immediately, and only then noticed familiar faces capturing the moment: her wedding industry clients, Alicia Rinka, The Drakes, and of course, Liz from Aisle Access, who were all quietly capturing the entire moment.
The Celebration
They immediately headed off to Central Park to take engagement photos, and they finished the night at Clara’s favorite dinner spot, Quality Italian. They spend the rest of the weekend soaking up the excitement in NYC, including front row seats to Wicked on Broadway, bagel towers at Sadelle’s, and of course, a trip to another romance-themed bookstore.
It was the perfect ending to a perfect NYC proposal, and the beginning of a brand-new chapter.
The Ring
For a proposal this thoughtful, Buck knew the ring needed to feel just as special. He chose a stunning 3.01-carat emerald-cut natural diamond featuring a hidden halo and set on Ring Concierge’s signature yellow gold Whisper Thin band. The sleek emerald shape paired with the delicate setting created a timeless, editorial-worthy moment.
The Film
Clara and Buck’s NYC proposal proves that the most meaningful moments are the ones infused with the pieces of your love story that make it uniquely yours. From Taylor Swift lyrics to their passion for books, every detail reflected who they are.
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