How did you or your spouse propose?
By carpenter5
@carpenter5 (6782)
United States
October 23, 2009 1:37pm CST
My husband of now 23 years proposed twice:
The first time we were holding hands on a walking trail enjoying the spring sunshine. He sat down on a huge rock at the side of the trail and stood me in front of him. Looked me right in the eyes and said Will you be my wife? We'd dated all the way through high school. This was a month before graduation.
We had a huge fight 4 months later and didn't speak for over a year. He went into the navy and I went out of state to college.
In October, 14 months later I was back in Arkansas, still in college, but closer to home. He was still in the navy, stationed in Orlando Florida. The pay phone rang at the end of the hall. (This was before you were allowed to have private phones in the dorm rooms) My room mate happened to answer it and asked who it was. I didn't believe her when she literally screamed down the hall. (I'd shared with her late at night in the dark that I was still in love with him!)
We talked for almost two hours, about general chit chat. I couldn't get him to hang up, but his conversations were random and trivial. The girls kept coming down the hall saying "Are you STILL on the phone with him? ooooooooooooooo" (We were 19 what do you expect?)
Finally, he said "I really need to tell you something. I never stopped loving you. My mom still has your engagement ring that you threw at me. I'd love for you to have it back and add a wedding band to it. What do you think?"
OK so it wasn't romantic, but it made me cry!
That was on Thursday afternoon. On Sunday when I went to church, his mother approached me and said We have something for you. His sister and brother and their spouses, his grandmother, and his mom and dad all circled around me. His sister held her hands out to me and when I took them she said. Would you marry my brother and be our little sister? Then his brother's wife popped my ring out of her dress pocket!
It was unconventional but I'll mever forget it!
So what about you? Men, how did you propose to your wife? Women, how were you proposed to?
5 people like this
12 responses
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
24 Oct 09
I love your story; to be welcomed by the family like that would have been wonderful. My husband proposed to me only six weeks after we met and at the time, I thought he was joking and I laughed at his proposal until I realised he was quite serious. I had to decline at that stage because it was way too early but the subject came up again about a year later and this time we both agreed it would be a good time to at least put a ring on lay-by so we went to a jeweller and chose an engagement ring and he put it on lay-by promising that he would have it paid off within three months.
Two days later he asked me out to dinner and eventually out came the ring and a well rehearsed proposal! He of course had picked up the ring early. I accepted this time and here we are with a mortgage and a kid!
2 people like this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
19 Nov 09
My son met a young woman about 5 weeks ago. He came home the day they met, and told me that he thought he had met his wife. He's never been like that before. He's funny to watch because he and she as well, just appear to be so at ease with each other, like they've known each other 50 years instead of 5 weeks! I catch him looking at her and in his eyes is just pure love. I don't think she sees him watching her like he does either.
I've come to believe that time, as well as age, are not always relevant in a relationship.
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
20 Nov 09
It is just funny to watch the both of them with each other. She's coming up tonight after she gets off work. He's spending the night at his friend Seth's. He won't stay here if she's up for the weekend. He told his dad that he can't take a chance on someone saying something that would hurt her reputation. I am wondering how I got so blessed where my children are concerned.
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
20 Nov 09
That sounds so lovely. Love is in the eyes and the way a couple look at each other. I hope she is aware of how he looks at her because by the sound of it, she is a very lucky girl and it was more than likely meant to be. Good luck to them both!
1 person likes this
@VANILLAREY (1470)
• India
24 Oct 09
I said, "Marry me or give me back all the chocolates I gave you."
She said, "but I have eaten all the chocolates"
I said, "Since you can't return my chocolates, you have to marry me"
She said, "I guess I will have to marry you then"
Just kidding.
Just kidding.2 people like this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
19 Nov 09
I started reading this and for the first two sentences I was thinking you were serious! Then it went on and got silly from there and then I paid attention to who had written this response...and should have known better! hee hee.
I'm kidding too. I hope you know that. I only have one other question for you about this. what kind of chocolate did you give her?
Personally, I like Three Muskateers Bars, and most anything with caramel.
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
16 Mar 10
You my friend are a mess! You make me laugh almost every time you answer one of my discussion posts.
I absolutely adore chocolate. Did I mention this already?
And there is nothing better than Mexican vanilla! Was it clear or the dark vanilla? I am out of clear. My son's friend is from Southwest Texas. His parents are missionaries in Reynosa Mexico. He has promised me that when he goes home for Spring Break next week, that he will bring me more! I make pancakes with the clear vanilla that are out of this world!
@VANILLAREY (1470)
• India
20 Nov 09
First I thought I should tell you that it was special chocolate made from cocoa from Brazil and Vanilla from Mexico. Then I thought enough of the jokes. Fact is I am not married and never was.
My funny bone tends to affect my brain. Hence the funny response. Hope it made you laugh.
Thanks for the best response.
Another fact is I also love chocolates. A girl could get me to marry her with the above trick. As long as she promises to feed me daily with quality chocolates.
Another fact is I also love chocolates. A girl could get me to marry her with the above trick. As long as she promises to feed me daily with quality chocolates.1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
19 Nov 09
There are many families, even here in the United States that use the Courtship arrangement of marriage. My daughter has a girl friend that is not allowed to socialize with boys. When a boy sees her that is interested in pursuing a relationship, then he must go to her parents and ask for a courtship.
I will tell you that there are young men who still respect a parent's right to refuse their daughter's company to them. The man my daughter is dating now, came to us first and ask for our permission to take her out to dinner. It was such a respectful thing to do, and we appreciated that respectful attitude.
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
23 Oct 09
A wonderful story! And how great to be wanted by the whole family. That is a memory to be cherished forever.
I have been very happily married for almost 50 years (March next year). My hubby is wonderful and I wouldn't change a thing about him, but he isn't at all romantic. We had been dating for over a year. He took me home after Church one Sunday night. We were sitting in the car talking about predestination and in the middle of the conversation he said "What say we get engaged for your birthday?" and kept on discussing predestination. I don't know that I said "Yes" but later he told me he'd made an appointment with the jewellers to choose a ring.
As I said, he isn't romantic in the slightest but we are happy.
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
19 Nov 09
Oh wow. My hubby and I were laughing at this. As I read it to him, he looked at me very innocently and said..."Sounds reasonable to me. Maybe he thought she was predestined to be with him." Why is it that men stick together at times like this? HaHaHa.
But seriously, I'm amazed at those that manage to stay together 50 years. That is awesome and you are blessed. I hope to celebrate that anniverary with Mike in 27 years as well!
@hellcowboy (7374)
• United States
27 Oct 09
I remember the day I proposed to my wife like it was yesterday even though technically I proposed to her like three times,the first time I gave her my class ring and told her I promised her we would get married in the future,the second I lit candles in our room,put So Small our favorite song on the CD player,and then I had her come in and I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me,and then we got a nicer ring,and I asked her to marry me again,and she said yes all three times,and we got married about a month ago and we are very happy,and we are going to be married forever.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
24 Nov 09
Yes, the second time when he got down on one knee, he was going through the house picking up candles and I didn't even notice. I was in the den watching t.v., my eyes glued firmly to it, and so it was definitely a surprise. We've been married nearly two months if I guessed right.
2 people like this
@hellcowboy (7374)
• United States
22 Dec 09
I am glad you think it was romantic and I do not think I could write a book on romance I just do what I feel,and we have been married almost three months and we are gonna be married for the rest of our life,and I think anyone is romantic when they show the person they love,that they love,them,and why they are special too them since a lot of people do not do that enough.
1 person likes this
@hellcowboy (7374)
• United States
22 Dec 09
Yeah I made sure you did not know what was going on because that was the way I wanted it and I know the television distracts you so it is a good device,just like if we want to get something past Rickey we just have to get him to watch television and he will zone out,and not notice what is going on around him or behind him,we could probably set his hair on fire and he might not notice lol,but he would kill me if I tried.
1 person likes this
@complexkid (48)
• United States
24 Oct 09
Wow that sounds nice. Me and my now ex-wife wasn't romantic at all. We both had taken "mood enhancers" and made love for 6-7 hours straight. It was amazing for both of us and after we were done we both laid there naked holding eachother. She looked over at me and says,"we should just get married and get it over with". I said that we should. We did.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
20 Nov 09
Well, for my husband and I it was just something that a lot of people kept on hinting at as in how serious were we, and had we thought about getting married, etc. when it just happened one evening after we had just gotten back after being out of town and were sitting there talking when all of a sudden Rod says they might be right. "Why don't we get married, that is if you want to marry me," and it was sort of unexpected, and a little scary but I did say yes. We had only known each other 4 months at the time, and were married 3 months later. It has now been almost 11 yrs. and some of the Best yrs. of my life for sure.
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
25 Oct 09
That is really cute. Sort of a second proposal by proxy because he coudln't be there. I'm glad his whole family was on board with it. :)
As fr my husband and I, we were long distance for quite a while, because of work, etc. He proposed to me just before I went back to Canada the first time (we'd known eachother on line for years, but only in person for a couple of weeks LOL) and we looked for a ring on bidz.com because neither one of us had a penny to spare. haha I found one I liked in our price range, bid on it through his account (he told me to just sign in and find one) and had it sent down there to wait for me when I came back in a few months.
Knowing full well that the ring was just the final piece, he looked at me and said "why don't you see if this fits?" I've been wearing it ever since. LOL
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
19 Nov 09
OH! That it too sweet!
Mike is laughing at me. I'm reading these outloud to Lauren, Kristen and Whitney (James' girlfriend) and we're laughing at the funny ones and then the sweet ones we're all going "aaawwwwww" Whitney just looked at James and ask if he was taking notes! You should hear his sisters giving him grief over it!
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
15 Feb 10
In October we will have been married 9 years. On Valentines Day my now hubby took me to the jeweler. He had me pick out my entire wedding set and we both picked out my engagement ring. When we returned to the car he said "I plan to propose on the Ides of March". I was dumbfounded. I replied, "It's Valentines Day, you plan on making me wait until March!" We were already living together at the time. Long story short, he proposed before we got out of the car.
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
16 Mar 10
Oh how funny! I guess some would say that it was only two weeks, but geez..that's a long two weeks! My son is engaged, they're planning to marry July 10th. He bought Whitney's ring on my anniversary (Nov 23) and was going to propose Christmas Eve. The next day, (Wed) he tells me he can't wait and is going to pop the question the next day at the family Thanksgiving dinner!
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
16 Mar 10
no, it doesn't sound weird at all. I commend you for finishing your education before getting married. I say this because I was in school when we got married, and 23 years later, I'm still trying to finish. One thing after another has stopped me from taking classes. I go back for awhile, and then something else happens.
I did get a two year degree, but one day would like to get my bachelor's. My hubby makes enough that I don't have to work, but it's a piece of mind thing you know?
Keep studying hard!
@larish (2191)
• Philippines
28 Jan 10
My now husband propose first to my parents. So the moment he propose to me my parents and siblings already know about it. It was very sweet of him to do that. It was nothing really special but he got me a ring after he talk to my parents then the following day, we started planning for the wedding.
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
16 Mar 10
My husband had also already talked to both my dad and step-mom and my step-dad and mom. He wanted the blessings of both parents. I'm so glad he did this. We suggested to our son that he ask permission/get blessing from Whitney's parents as well. He grinned at us and said..."Duh mom...I've already done that!" Sure enough when I talked to Whitney's mom, she said he had called about a week before the day that we went with him when he bought her ring.
@barbara7321 (240)
• United States
23 Nov 09
Awwwwwwwwwww that is very sweet. I still believe in marriage event though I am divorced and try not to think about that time he asked me. I do however like to read about others and their story of romance.
1 person likes this
