This Proposal Inside The Met Is Going Viral on Reddit: Find Out Why

The proposal alone is a work of art. One man’s thoughtful proposal in New York City’s famed Metropolitan Museum of Art has gone viral on Reddit—and with good reason. The future groom shared his engagement details under a thread on Monday, October 9, along with photos from the thoughtful moment.

One image taken by the man’s cousin, photographer Kelly Joyce, shows the man proposing to his girlfriend, in a red spotted dress, as she looks down with delight. The most special quality from the moment, however, is a painting of presumably the couple displayed right beside a Picasso piece in the background.

“As we walked the aisles of art from ancient times and contemporary alike, they happened upon a room of Picasso’s art (Marybeth’s favorite),” he wrote on Reddit. “My brother and sister in law were able to then hang the painting I had made of himself proposing to Marybeth wearing the red polka dot dress next to a Picasso. After I was given the signal, I brought my girlfriend to the painting where she began immediately began crying when she realized that the painting was of what was about to take place. I bent the knee and she nodded yes as tears traveled down her rosy cheeks.”

However, the moment was cut short. “Soon after I rose back to my feet, we were greeted by a less than happy guard who told them to remove the painting from the wall and suggested that we leave,” he wrote. “After a few more quick photos, the gang left the building and the rest is history or should I say…art history.”

For those miffed by the gesture—like some Reddit commenters noted—the groom used adhesive tape to hang the painting on the wall.

For others confused by how the surprise was planned down to the dress, @krysxvi explained in detail how he masterfully executed the moment. “I knew she’d be wearing that dress because I had her mom buy it a few weeks in advance for her,” he wrote. “And then convinced her to wear it that day. Also I had asked a few other small museums for permission to do this and none obliged so I just said f it and decided I just do it at the biggest museum I could think of and ask for forgiveness rather than permission.”

The couple, who got engaged in September, are now in full planning mode. One Reddit commenter asked if the reception would be taking place in an art gallery. “We are not,” @krysxvi replied. “Old historic home instead.”