One of the perks of my job is getting to hear how couples got engaged. Every story reveals something fundamentally lovely about their relationship.
Some women don’t like to be surprised and so they have a discussion about marriage and then go with their boyfriend to pick out a ring together and it’s all very low key.
But the majority of brides I meet are blown away by the thought and creativity their fiancés have put into planning the perfect surprise. I’ve heard stories about engagements on the tops of mountains, by the sea, in restaurants, at a Cubs game, at home, and in Starbucks among others.
Some of my favorite stories include the man who took his girlfriend to the park they had gone to on one of their first dates. He had gone there earlier that afternoon and placed bouquets of flowers along the path to make it especially beautiful. When they arrived at a bench on the path, he invited his girlfriend to sit down and then got on one knee, pulled out the ring and asked her to marry him.
Another couple got engaged on Valentine’s Day. They each bought the other an M&M plush toy and box of chocolates with Elvis on the top, not knowing that the other had bought the exact same toy and box of candy!
With a Sadie Hawkins-like twist, one woman drove from Carbondale to Chicago to propose to her man. Since she was proposing, she bought a ring for him. What a wonderful way to say, “I don’t want to have a long distance relationship any more”!
I’ve heard more than one story where a man has the dog deliver the ring. Is it for the element of surprise or to lessen the feeling of rejection should his girlfriend say no?
Some men plan dinner in a fancy restaurant, but if that’s not the couple’s style, the woman is sure to know something is up. I was with a couple last week who has a laid-back style and never go to swanky restaurants. So for their engagement the groom took the bride-to-be to their regular casual restaurant and proposed there.
Women can now say yes to a proposal in the Field Museum’s Grainger Hall. For $350 the museum will put the ring in a display case. As your tour the museum and you get to that case, the man can propose, open the case and present the ring. The wedding proposal package includes a champagne toast.
I’d love to hear your story. How did you get engaged?
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In September 2005 at our housewarming party, we were opening our gifts and having a grand time. I said, 'thank you all for coming, thank you for the gifts.' Shaun stood up and said, 'I have a gift for you.' I pulled him close and whispered, 'I didn't get you anything!'. He got down on one knee and pulled out a ring box. I can't remember a darned thing he said because I went deaf and was, apparently, whispering 'yes yes yes'. Almost five years later, no one at that party would tell me what he said during his proposal. We were married in April 2006 and Rev. Maddi made it an unforgettable and totally personal experience.
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