Michelle’s Story
It was June 20th of 2008. I had finished my work day and was heading home, when my boyfriend Joshua, who was traveling to Ponte Vedra FL from Atlanta, text me “I love you and cannot wait to see you”. A few minutes later he text me again…”I am stuck in some traffic, however meet me at 7p on the beach where we shared our first dance”.
I smiled and text back, “I will and I love you”. I will say he was acting a little weird as he shortly sent another text, this time he said “Wear your cute cropped pants from White House Black Market and the top you usually wear with them.” I thought that was totally strange because in the two years we were together he never asked me to wear anything in particular. So I called him and asked him why he was acting so weird he just said he liked that outfit. I reminded him that we had dinner reservations and I was already dressed in a pretty dress. He said ok.
When I got to the beach, he text me to walk around the left side of the hotel which sat there, I took off my shoes and as I walked around onto the beach; I didn’t see him. Then as I looked over to the boardwalk, I saw him walking towards me. We hugged and kissed and I asked him “Why are you acting so weird?”, just then he went down on one knee and told me how much he loves me that I am his best friend and he wants to spend his life with me, he took out a gorgeous princess cut diamond ring.
I cried and said yes, we danced on the beach as he sang the song “Lucky”(which is our wedding song) by Jason Maraz to me. Then he said look to the hotel- the entire spa staff was watching us, he said we are spending the night here at One Ocean. He had arrived very early that day to make sure we had the perfect room, champagne, and that everything was set. We called my dad and grandmother up in NY to tell them and they were so happy. It was so beautiful. In June of 2010 we are getting married on the beach.
Deisha’s Story
It happened: December 25, 2009; the wedding proposal (from my fiance’s point-of-view) – I loved this story the way he wrote it – I have to copy it here! He’s amazing and funny and it was wonderful to have him propose to both my daughter and I.
The lesson to take away from all of this is simple. Guys, on every first date you ever go on, ask the girl what her ring size is, and then tuck that info away somewhere. If she turns out to be the one, and you want to propose someday, it will be SO much easier on you.)
“Because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible” — When Harry Met Sally
It was late November 2009, and I was driving home from work. Not an unusual day or an unusual commute for that matter, just the regular slow as hell drive on 285. Deisha and I had been dating for coming on two years, and she always told me that if I hadn’t proposed by the two year mark, that she would pack up her stuff and leave me. Not that I’ve ever been fond of ultimatums, and I didn’t really believe her, but that’s what she said, so keeping that in the back of my mind, while I was driving down the road, I started thinking about what life would be like without her.
I tried to imagine coming home that day, and walking inside, and not seeing all the familiar stuff strewn about. No toys on the floor. No piles of mail on the table. No cute little kid bed in the extra bedroom upstairs. No clothes and female shoes on the floor of the bedroom. No kid with eyes lighting up and running towards me, and I suddenly felt very terrified of the prospect of that becoming reality. I realized that under no circumstances could I let these two beautiful girls out of my life.
And then for me there was only a sense of calm. Just like that, I had made up my mind while going 15 mph on I-285 that I needed to marry this woman, and be a good step dad to her child, and I was not nervous, instead I was filled with resolution and determination, and I knew that I was going to make this happen by Christmas Day.
Now the problem for me was the whole ring size thing. Well, that and I have absolutely no clue when it comes to jewelry. I realized that to ask her what her ring size was would be a total tip off on what I was thinking, and I wanted this whole thing to be a surprise
Deisha had been talking about her friend Pennie, who she went to college with, and who also is a ring maker. I would commission a ring from her, knowing Deisha would really love a Pennie McBride special ring, that wasn’t too flashy, but just subtle and exquisite enough to be the perfect ring.
I wanted my first contact with her to be somewhat informational and emotional, but I was getting to the point where all I could write was, “Need ring now” in order to send the email.
“What’s her ring size”? Right, I’ve got to figure that out.
The next day, to my amazement, there was a plastic ring sitting on her nightstand. I didn’t know where it had come from, but I thought it must be a present from the Gods. So, I did the measurement, converted to metric from standard, consulted the chart Pennie sent me, and there it was. Size 7. She replies saying It’s way too big. I must have measured wrong, or done something wrong, and that I needed to figure out what it really is.
OK, so on to the next plan. Plan B. Somehow get the ring she is wearing off her finger while she is asleep and measure it and put it back on without her knowing. Needless to say, this plan failed miserably. All I did was wake her trying to get it off.
I buy her favorite liquor, Jamesons, I figure if I can just get her drunk, and then work in the ring size question, maybe she won’t even remember it, and she will just divulge the info, and I will be able to send Pennie an email on Wednesday with the correct ring size. I get home, I start pouring the drinks, and she is drinking slowly. Some time a little bit before bedtime, in the middle of the conversation, when I felt like she might just be going to sleep soon, I slipped in the question. She said, “Size 6.5 or 7”, then I tried to move onto another topic as quickly as I could, and hope she would not recall in the morning. I thought I had done this rather smoothly. Deftly moving from one conversation item, to the ring question, to another conversation item altogether in a seamless fashion. She didn’t appear to notice, and quickly followed me along the conversation path without stopping me, or asking me why had I just asked her that question.
I came up with the idea of how I wanted to propose sometime in early December. I decided to have a custom picture frame built, with a little trap door in the bottom which would hold the ring. I would write a nice proposal letter or poem or something, and work out something in Photoshop which would be placed in the frame, and then I would have the frame wrapped, and under the Christmas tree for her.
My friend ended up making the entire frame himself the day before Xmas. We talked on the phone every few hours, and he updated me on how it needing another coat of lacquer, or to be sanded again, and he asked me to call back in a few more hours. Finally at 4pm, he said to come by. It was perfect. It was gorgeous. It was exactly what I wanted. And it was still wet.
Midnight hit, so it was officially Xmas, and I had just enough Jack in me, that I decided this was it. The moment I had been looking for. While Mom, Dad, sis, and Deisha were engrossed in the Wii, I went into the garage, and pulled out the frame from the trunk of my car. Placed the ring in the little secret compartment, and took a deep breathe, and walked inside holding the frame.
No one saw me coming, so I just said, “Deisha, you’re always telling me that we need more stuff of ours to hang on the walls, so I got you this for Christmas”. She was surprised at the early present at first, but then she started reading the poem, and I watched as her eyes darted around and got wide. I saw her skip to the big writing in the bottom right corner which I had written, “Deisha, will you marry me?”, and then I saw her start to try and read the whole thing, then stop, and pull on the ribbon which pulled off the little secret door, and she saw the ring in there.
She just looked up at me, and said “Yeah”, with a big smile on her face. Then she said, “Are you going to put it on”? She stretched out her hand, and I placed it on her finger, my folks and sister stood there dumbfounded, and then Deisha and I went upstairs for a few hugs, kisses, and a good cry.
About 15 minutes later, we updated our Facebook status to Engaged.
Nicole W’s Story
Nick took me to Montaluce Winery in Dahlonega, GA for our four year anniversary/ my 23rd birthday. We spent the morning walking around the vineyard and then ate lunch in the winery’s delicious restaurant. After lunch, we headed up to hang out on the winery’s highest balcony, so we had a great view of the vineyard. As we were looking out over the winery, Nick had his arms around me and we were just talking and enjoying the moment.
All the sudden, I saw a hand reach around in front of me holding a ring. The next thing I knew he was on one knee. He said, “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?” I said, “Yes!” I bent down while he was still on one knee and commenced the hugging and kissing. I put the ring on mid-hug because I didn’t want to let go of him. As the reality set in, I couldn’t stop smiling and began crying tears of joy. I’m glad I wore water-proof mascara!
After our hooplah, we were getting ready to head downstairs for our wine tour and tasting, but a group of people came upstairs. They asked us if we were there for the wedding later that day. We said, “No, but we just got engaged.” They were so excited for us that they made Nick get back on one knee and took a picture for us. After that, we headed downstairs for our wine tour and tasting. It was the perfect celebration because our tour guide began by pouring us a big glass of champagne. I couldn’t stop staring at my ring for the rest of the day.
Peggy’s Story
Every year my entire family (Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins….everyone) goes to Myrtle Beach for our family reunion. This was the second year that my boyfriend Jeremy had come along for the trip. We had been dating about 2 years and had talked about marriage in the future but I was not expecting a proposal this week!
One afternoon, Jeremy asked me to take a walk down to the point on the beach. We had been outside and in the ocean all afternoon and were still in our bathing suits. We walked and talked for 10 minutes or so until Jeremy wanted to sit down near the dunes. We sat looking at the ocean and talking. Mid-sentence Jeremy asked me if I would marry him and pulled a ring out of his bathing suit pocket! I was shocked and asked him if he was serious! I of course said YES!
Within minutes mom, Diane(my aunt) and Nicole(my cousin) popped out from behind the dunes taking pictures! Jeremy had asked them to come down and surprise me so we could take pictures together! After a few pictures we walked back toward the beach house. When we arrived the entire family, 20 or so people, were standing on the back porch toasting champagne and singing to Bob Marley’s “Could you be loved,” while taking pictures and video taping.
Everyone knew that Jeremy was going to propose except me! (Carole my sister wasn’t supposed to know because Jeremy thought she might tell me but of course one of my cousins let it slip the night before)! Celebrations continued into the night and throughout the week!It was perfect because everyone I love was there to celebrate such a special moment in my life. We have set our wedding date for next June, the same week of my family reunion and will be married on the beach exactly where he proposed with all of our family be our side!
Jody’s Story
Mark and I went to high school together and parted ways after graduation. We’d pretty much lost touch over the last 25 years before we reconnected through Facebook.
Our friendship sprung back to life as we shared our experiences from over the years, and we longed to spend some time together. He (at the time, working in Iraq) had plans to meet up with his little brother in Thailand for some RnR in April 2009. We talked about travel, and he learned that I’d never traveled internationally. The next thing I know, I have a plane ticket sitting in my inbox in my email. I was so excited and wrapped up in making arrangements and looking forward to seeing Mark and Lee after so many years.
After a long 21 hour flight, I stepped off the plane looking for Mark. He was nowhere to be seen…and my cell phone was dead. He’d made arrangements for a car and driver to take me to the Hard Rock Hotel in Pattaya…this was during the riots in Thailand. He thought I’d be safer. The driver and I finally found each other and began the trek to the beach.
As soon as I stepped out of the car, Mark engulfed me in the sweetest embrace. We spent the next 9 days reminiscing about the old days and making new memories. It was magical…we knew we were in love. After the trip, we had some bumpy moments mainly centered around dealing with the long distance relationship. He was still working in Iraq and being transferred to Kabul…me working in central Georgia. The only time we could see each other was when he had RnR time.
We were able to spend this past Christmas together with family and took a brief trip to Las Vegas for New Year’s. He was scheduled to return to Afghanistan on January 10th, so we spent that weekend in Atlanta with friends before he flew out. The night before his flight, we were joking around about getting married. He slipped a ring of his on my finger and asked if I would marry him and told me that I could get a guard or put wax in his ring like we used to do back in high school. I really thought he was just kidding, so I kept laughing and went on about getting things ready for the next day. He took my hand and pulled me to him and asked if ‘this’ ring would be more appropriate and slipped the sweetest diamond engagement ring ever on my finger. All I could say was, “are you serious?” He was. We’ve set the date for New Year’s Eve 2010.
Mark’s now heading back to Afghanistan for another 3 months. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
Sheri’s Story
It was November 1, 2009. I had a big day planned. I was competing in my first marathon… in New York City! The route was spectacular, starting on Stanton Island and going through Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Manhattan. I most looked forward to the last couple of miles – and the finish line – in Central Park.
James had the secret proposal planned for months. He booked a flight to New York. He contacted my travelling companions to figure out hotels and timing. He had a four-foot sign made. He called the New York Marathon organizers with questions about how to get to the highly secured finish line. He asked his mom to track my progress online, calling him with updates every two miles. He even called me in New York from my house in Edmonton the night before to ensure I had no idea this was all happening!
And while he was doing all that organizing, I was training and completely oblivious to just how big a day it would be for me.
James and I had quite different experiences that day, leading up to our meeting at the finish line. James took the red-eye flight to New York, checked into his hotel, assembled his ‘will you marry me’ sign, put on his suit and rushed to get to Central Park. Once in Central Park, he had more hoops to jump through than he realized. He talked to the NYPD, several race volunteers and finally, the head race organizer who let him right near the finish line.
On the other hand, I had been up since 4:30am and was struggling to finish. Ironically, I called my mom with seven miles to go pleading with her to ‘give me a reason to go on.’ Apparently, she had to bite her tongue several times to not give away what was waiting for me.
As I entered the last mile, I could hear the entertainment at the finish line. As I rounded the final corner with 200m to go, I suddenly heard the announcer ‘looking for Sheri Segin.’ As I waved, I heard the band playing ‘Going to the Chapel’ and saw the big yellow, ‘Sheri Segin, will you marry me?’ sign held up by two race volunteers. And right underneath the sign was James, my wonderful boyfriend, in his navy suit, down on one knee, holding out a ring box.
I must admit, I’m not one for a spectacle but James was able to make this about ‘us’ and not about the show. I immediately forgot about the 26 miles behind me. James took my hand, asked me to marry him, and I’m happier than I’ve ever been, something that’s been a common theme in our relationship for both of us.
Kara’s Story
We went to Las Vegas for his convention and on the way back to the room, we stopped in the elevator lobby and got down on one knee and said, “Kara Mia, will you share our lives together forever?” I couldn’t help but say “yes” through the tears as it was a total surprise and absolutely what I wanted! I love him with my everything!
Amy S’s Story
Robert and I have been together now for about 7 1/2 yrs. Well last year on Christmas (‘08) he finally proposed in a way that I would’ve never thought that he would have done it. We went over to his sister’s house that evening, as we had planned, to exchange gifts. Once everyone had opened their gifts Robert stood up and said “Now for the final gift of the evening”. He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and and began to read a poem. Then he paused for a brief moment and looked at me to say “babe this is for you”. I had to chuckle a little because he was so nervous. It was kinda cute! Then he continued with…..
Endless Love
Through trials and war we still manage to work. Love I’ve taken for granted, wishes I’ve excert. Years have passed I’m still here flirting and hanging till dawn, nothing left to fear. I want you to know my love is real. So what do I do to seal the deal? I’ve gave you my rib and now I give my heart. This is the beginning of a brand new start. I know my love is not always what it seems. I want to be one with you and the husband that you dream. The decision is made, my mind is set. I want you to marry me, Will you accept?
Now to me it was the perfect proposal!! I could not have imagined it any more perfect! Of course I said yes. We are now planning our wedding on what was his mother’s birthday. That day falls on a Saturday in 2010 and that is why we have decided to wait till then.
I truly hope that you enjoyed my story. I couldn’t be more proud to share it with you!!
Akeelah’s Story
I have always been the “career minded” woman. So much so that my parents I don’t think ever really planned for me to be getting married so soon. I relocated back home(Atlanta) about four years ago. I had gone to school in Nashville, TN, began teaching(my chosen career path) and earned my masters degree all by the age of 24. Needless to say, my parents, family, and friends all figured I was on my way to being an assistant principal and soon a principal. I worked long hours, took lots of work home, coached cheerleading, volunteered at community centers and everything else you could imagine to improve my resume in education.
I was pretty lonely though. I began dating more frequently and started to see the light at the end of the tunnel, when my sister began to call saying that my mother was ill. I made plans to leave Nashville and my new found dating popularity behind.
Every one on earth(it seemed like) said “oh you will never meet a man in Atlanta.” I wasn’t actually worried about it. So I joined the Atlanta dating scene; then began to believe the hype;I really wouldn’t find a man in Atlanta. So I began teaching at the high school around the corner from my apartment. I have been there for three years now and out of no where I fall for a guy in my building. He asked for my number. Hunh! he had already given me his number the first year I came to the school and I never called. That would not be the case this time around. I called him and he asked me out. We were both skeptical at first since we worked in the same building, but my classroom was in a trailor and his was in the building. We were cool and pretty much inseparable since. This year we began by some twist of fate my classroom was moved inside, across the hall from his. We realized that we were meant to be together, because all the earth’s signs kept bringing us closer together. It was pure luck that we kept finding each other and finally acted on what the universe was trying to tell us.
Melissa S’s Story
It was New Year’s Eve and we were at a friend’s house for a party with all of his Biker Buddies. I was visiting and having a good time when his best friend told me to turn around. When I did, he was down on one knee and in front of everyone he told me he loved me and then said the words I never thought I would hear, “ Will you Marry Me?” This was a big surprise because we had both been married before and we agreed that we didn’t want to get married again, but deep down I always wanted to hear those words. It made it more special because he was willing to go out in front of all of our friends and ask.
