Sometimes the stars are aligned just right. That seems to be the case for U.S. Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.) and Jeanne Vander Myde. Not only did Warner propose to Vander Myde on his parent's wedding anniversary [August 15] , but the place he proposed, St. Margaret's Chapel in Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, was significant as well.
"What John didn't know was that it was my mother's favorite chapel, which was very special," said Vander Myde, adding that both she and Warner's families have Scottish ties. Warner's son, John Warner IV, accompanied them on the trip.
"We were with a group of people, and he asked them to leave us alone for a minute. I thought, 'What's going on?'" said Vander Myde. "It was very romantic, very sweet."
While she wasn't totally surprised at the proposal, she wasn't expecting it just then. Warner gave her his mother's amethyst and diamond ring.
Their planned wedding date, December 15, is also significant, in that it is Warner's parent's wedding anniversary. Vander Myde said that they both picked a date. She selected February 18, which is Warner's birthday, and he selected the December date. They are opting to go with the December date.
This is assuming that they will be able to secure the Bethlehem Chapel at the Washington National Cathedral, which is where Warner was baptized and where they are hoping to have the ceremony.
"We haven't called yet, but December 15 is a Monday, so I'm hoping that it won't be too busy," said Vander Myde, who is planning to have a small wedding.
"We'll have family and a few friends," she said. Warner has one son, two daughters and two grandsons; Vander Myde does not have any children.
IF AVAILABLE, they'll hold the reception in the cathedral's reception room. Vander Myde said that she hasn't worked out any of the details, such as food or her dress yet. The couple has only been in town a few days; after returning from their trip to Scotland, they left immediately on another trip.
Vander Myde is a realtor with Coldwell Banker Pardoe and currently lives in Belle Haven. She said that they will probably put her house on the market and move to the Alexandria House, where Warner currently resides, after the wedding.
When asked how she has dealt with the press since she started going out with the famous senator, Vander Myde said, "It's been fine, he [John] is very sensitive to that."
Perhaps she's used to being somewhat in the limelight. Her former husband, Paul Vander Myde, held high-level positions in four presidential administrations. At the time of his death, he was a top executive with VSE Corporation. Vander Myde was introduced to Warner by her late husband when he was an assistant secretary of commerce in the Reagan administration.
Vander Myde and Warner's first date was on September 10, 2000. It was a few months after Vander Myde's husband died and the date of her brother's birthday. The couple played a few games of tennis and then started seeing each other.
"All of us who are her neighbors and friends for years are just delighted," said Stan Krejci, managing consultant with the McCormick Group. "They are an attractive, sweet and delightful couple. They both really care about their friends. We've always admired him [John] from afar; getting to know him has been a pleasure."
"Everybody's been so supportive, it's just wonderful that everybody is so excited," said Vander Myde.
Senator Warner was not available for comment on his upcoming nuptials.