Engagement at the Waldorf=Astoria

I worked in the Waldorf=Astoria business center from 2000 to 2006. It was my first job out of college and I smiled every day I got off the bus on Park Ave and walked past St. Patrick’s Cathedral and into the stunning art deco lobby. I was, and still am, proud to tell people where I worked. Over the years, I walked thousands of miles through the hallways, delivering faxes to our guests, sometimes running into a celebrity or two. On March 15, 2001, near the end of my shift, I delivered a fax that was addressed to a guest in room 1307. I knocked on the door and stood speechless as my boyfriend of 5 years, opened it and immediately got down on one knee and proposed. After a few minutes of celebration, I called down to the business center to let my team know that my shift was ending and to ask if someone could cover my shift the following day. My boss congratulated me and said it had already been arranged, as my, now, fiance had requested a day-off for me. A year later, we were wed, and one of my bridesmaids, a friend who worked at the Waldorf front desk, gave me this framed newspaper ad, which hangs in our home today.

A few years later, the hotel renumbered the rooms on several floors, including 13. Room 1307 became 1322 (I think), but the room at the end of the hall was the one that was always special to me. I remember a couple who where married at the Waldorf Astoria stayed there to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. They sent the hotel a copy of their original receipt and 50 years later, the hotel honored the price they originally paid and made a special red velvet cake to commemorate the flavor served at their wedding. I have 26 more years to go, but I’d love nothing more than to stay there to celebrate our 50th anniversary, room 1307 or not.

It is truly a magical place.