I just got a visit from our lovely Design Production Director Denise Clappi, who told me the best proposal story EVER, straight from the lips of her newly engaged nephew. It goes something like this: Michael and Victoria (who met on Match.com!) had just bought a house together in a charming town in Massachusetts. They decided to tour the house one more time before the big move, and when they arrived in what will soon be their master bedroom, Michael had a surprise waiting for his girlfriend of two and a half years. See below.
In case you couldn't tell from the photo, Victoria said yes.
What gets me about this story is just how sweet and simple it is, not to mention romantic. No elaborate plans, no teeming masses -- just the two of them, beginning their new lives together in the new place they'll call home. It's really the best memory you could ask for.
And now, Bride's Guide readers, I challenge you to a duel. Think you've got a better proposal story? Prove it.
From: Karen | 5/5/10 at 3:09 pm
My husband and I knew each other off and on for almost 12 years before we got back in touch and started dating. In 2005, after dating for almost a year my husband proposed to me on Valentine's Day weekend (the 14th was actually during the week so this was the weekend before). We only saw each other on weekends due to how far apart we lived from each other and work schedules. I was running errands that Saturday and stopped by his favorite restaurant to pick up his favorite dessert as a surprise to him after dinner. The rest of the day went by uneventful and we had dinner (don't even remember what we had)and planned to watch a DVD afterwards. I went to the bedroom and changed into my pj's, washed my face free from makeup and put my long, red, curly hair into a silly but useful (as it got it out of my face) ponytail on the top of my head. I walked back out into the den and announced I had a surprise for him and pulled out his dessert. He didn't want it! What!? Are you kidding? I got this especially for him! After much discussion (for about all of 1 minute I'm sure) I flounced back into the den and pouted on the couch because he didn't like my special surprise and got the DVD ready to watch. He comes to the couch looking all apologetic like a puppy. He gets down on 1 knee and hands me a cupcake with red/pink/white icing and a little plastic heart on top! But, I don't want a cupcake (even though they are my favorites). I want him to eat his surprise. He wants me to eat the cupcake! Who's gonna win? He adamantly asks me to eat the cupcake so I grudgingly relent. I pull the plastic heart off the top and quickly realize it's a plastic heart ring and then lick the icing off of it. When I go to eat the cupcake I FINALLY get what is going on (because a guy down on 1 knee giving me a heart cupcake obviously didn't get through in my poutiness)and see the emerald cut diamond solitaire sitting in the icing. I scream! He smiles and we laugh and suck icing off the ring and put it on! We hug. We kiss. Then, I realize, he never asked me to marry him! But, when I bring it to his attention he promptly asks and he is promptly forgiven for not wanting to eat his dessert after all.
From: Alison | 5/5/10 at 3:48 pm
The first date my fiance and I ever went on, we drove around and looked at Christmas lights. Two years later, after taking me out to a nice restaurant and watching a holiday parade outside, he took me on a route that he had pre-planned to look at all of the best Christmas light displays in the area. At each stop, we read one verse from "Twas the Night Before Christmas". At the final light display, he said that it was the most spectacular display, so he had to blindfold me. He led me by the hand down a path - where he unblindfolded me. I saw right in front of me a huge display he had created using Christmas lights that spelled out "Marry Me?" I turned to look at him and he was down on one knee with the ring box propped open!
From: Nya | 5/5/10 at 3:53 pm
This December while visiting my (now) finance's family for Christmas in Sun Valley, ID, we decided to take a night to ourselves and rent a yurt for one evening (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yurt). After snowshoeing up to our retreat, which was nestled amongst the mountains in south central Idaho, we cooked a delicious dinner of tri-tip steak, sautéed brussels sprouts with red onion, and grilled sweet potatoes with a delicious cab to drink (along with hiking, cooking is one of our favorite activities!). After dinner we decided to go on a moonlit walk to take a look at the stars. When we reached a nearby clearing he asked me to close my eyes. When I opened them again I was surrounded by white candles planted in the snow, and Ryan got down on one knee and proposed under the light of the full moon. After tears, hugs, and kisses, I managed to take off my left glove and he put the beautiful engagement ring on my hand before we headed back to the yurt to enjoy a bottle of champagne that he had managed to smuggle up.
From: Melissa | 5/5/10 at 5:12 pm
My fiance and are high school sweethearts and have been dating for nine years this March, so needless to say I was READY! And thank goodness he finally was too because even though I really would have waited forever for him, it would have been very tough! So on November 14th we planned a date night. He asked me to meet him at Carmel Beach (our most favorite place in the world) where he had a log saved for us and a cooler with champagne on ice and chilled glasses. We popped the bubbly and watched the sunset and just talked and laughed and I suggested we make a memory of our fun evening by taking a picture of the sunset, at which point he got behind and me and asked me to turn around and be in the picture. However me being the stubborn girl I am, I refused repeatedly until he insisted I turn around and when I did he was on one knee holding out the ring with a huge smile on his face and tears in his eyes. Of course I said YES! And to make the night even more memorable he left a small bouquet of my favorite flower for our reserved table at our favorite restaurant, AND surprised me with 14 dozen roses in our home, each with a note telling me how much he loved me and how excited he was to finally marry me.
From: Katy | 5/6/10 at 1:57 pm
My boyfriend and I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. A couple of weeks ago, we were in Maryland for a wedding. On Sunday, when I thought we were packing up to fly home, he informed me that we were actually going somewhere else... Surprise after surprise were in store. We definitely did not fly home to California that day - we took a train to New York City... and then a cab to the Plaza Hotel... and then an elevator up to our very own suite. Another cab took us to "In the Heights" - the Broadway musical I've been yearning to see for over a year. Dinner waited for us at Benjamin Steak House... and the Plaza let us take the house car -- the Rolls-Royce! I was surprised when the check came at dinner and no proposal had taken place. We got back to the Plaza... where I admitted... "I thought we were going to get engaged today." He sort of laughed and told me, "No, sorry babe... the ring isn't ready. This was just a fun trip so that you could see 'In the Heights.'" I was so confused and shocked - I immediately burst into heavy sobs... and couldn't stop. I went into the bathroom to gather myself, and came back out, still sniffling. He tried to comfort me, "Babe, you are the woman of my dreams - the most beautiful girl in the world to me... I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you..." (this was helping me feel better but it was also making me cry more just because it was so sweet) - then suddenly he started to cry, reached behind him, and pulled out a ring. "Will you marry me?" My whole world turned upside-down in an instant. We held each other, crying and laughing. The best moment of my life amidst the best surprise trip to New York City! Couldn't have been more perfect.
From: Keli of I DO Belize Weddings | 8/22/10 at 7:57 pm
Awe!! I love reading everyone's engagement stories. I especially love Katy's "In the Heights" story!
I thought this story we posted in July was also very simple, romantic, and just the two of them like the one in Jennifer's article....except the twist is the BRIDE TO BE PROPOSED!! Brave woman, love this story.
http://idobelizeweddings.com/blog/uncategorized/your-engagementtell-us-how-it-happened/