Proposal Stories from DMB Mamas

Though I’ve only held the title of “Mommy” for just shy of three years, it feels like it has been infinitely longer. Most days I can scarcely remember a time before. (Seriously, what did I do with all of that free time?!) But, many moons ago, I didn’t use to be Mommy. Just like my husband didn’t use to be Daddy. 

We were just us before adding a little one to our mix. 

Valentine’s Day always makes me a little nostalgic for those carefree before-baby years full of happy hours, lazy weekends, and staying awake past 10:00 PM! Last year for Valentine’s Day several of the DMB team shared the stories of how we met our partners. This year we are heading back down memory lane as we share our proposal stories. Some are funny and some are sweet, but they are all uniquely ours and moments we will forever remember.

Mallory – My now husband and I went to Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Kentucky during an excruciatingly hot and humid Memorial Day weekend in 2012. One afternoon we rented a canoe and took it out on a nearby lake. I was tired, sweaty, and hangry, so basically I was at my most lovable. As we were out on the secluded water, my husband started jostling around, which made me nervous. I tightened my stylish fluorescent life vest, convinced we were going to flip. He then presented me with a ring (that he thankfully did not drop) and asked me to marry him.  I, of course, said yes, and we paddled happy ever after. #fromthecanoetoido

Emma – It was Christmas 2006, and I assumed he would propose any time. My entire family, except me, caught a horrific stomach bug. Christmas night he asked me if I could go back to Knoxville with him because he had a job interview. On our way back, I got the unbelievably terrible stomach bug and threw up in the car for four hours. When we got to Knoxville, I ran into the apartment, threw up again and cleaned myself up. I came out of the bathroom to find him on one knee. I couldn’t believe it. I was so sick, and he decided to do it then?! Looking back, it is so his personality. He gets too excited and can’t wait to share his excitement. It was the best night of my life, and I had the flu! #throughsicknessandhealth

Samara – After a great time at the Yellow Cab food-truck rally, my now husband and I headed to Century Bar for a couple drinks. If you haven’t had their drinks, beware – they’re really good and really strong! On the drive home I drunkenly professed my undying love and desire to have babies. Kyle looked at me and said, “Let’s get married first,” which made me mad at the time. (I REALLY wanted those babies!) However, we got my ring a few weeks later. #drunkandinlove

Leslie – We were visiting Oak Alley Plantation in southern Louisiana. After our tour, we strolled down the main pathway that leads to the plantation which is adorned by beautiful, centuries-old oak trees. My then-boyfriend suggested that we should go have a seat on one of the giant low-lying branches but, since I’m such a rule-follower & had seen signs that explicitly said *not* to do that, I protested. The poor guy convinced me to sit on an exposed root instead & then began his little speech. Even then, I was clueless as to what was going on until he finally popped the question. #cluelessrulefollower

Becky – My friend was scheduled to take photos of my then boyfriend and I with his kids for Easter. Unbeknownst to me, he’d coordinated with my friend to take photos while he proposed. I think there is a perfect snapshot of him on bended knee and my mouth hanging open. It was a good surprise! #thesurpriseofmylife

Sarah – I was in a bad mood and feeling stressed about needing shorts for summer vacation or something. He wanted to go spend the day together at this outside entertainment complex near our house but humored me and let me run all over town to try to find what I needed.  It took forever! When we got to the entertainment area, there was a caricature artist, and he suggested getting a picture done. I had been a grump that day, so I was trying to be nice and agreed, but there was a consistent line. I kept saying we should just move on, but he seemed excited so I went with it. We finally sat down, and I remember thinking the artist seemed nervous as he started over twice. When he finished he turned the picture around, and it was a caricature proposal with my answer balloon empty waiting for my response. He then got down on one knee and asked as well. Apparently, my shopping expedition threw quite the wrench in his plans that day, and the sweet artist stayed late that day on the plaza to give us time to get there, but all’s well that ends well! #forworseorforbetter

Katie – We had talked about getting engaged around two years into dating and were planning a trip to Chicago. I just knew it was going to happen on that trip, and then it didn’t! I casually mentioned it on the drive home, and he broke down telling me how he had all these plans to propose in Chicago but the ring had been stolen from his work locker the week before. He hadn’t gotten insurance on it yet and didn’t know if it would ever be returned. I couldn’t believe that this was real life! A few months later, we were driving around, and he stopped to run inside a building. He came out and immediately proposed (with a new ring ) in the car proclaiming he couldn’t risk something happening to it again. #stolenring

Casey – He picked me up for a day of Christmas shopping and errands. Hours later, through a well-orchestrated turn of events, we ended up not only in Oxford, but in the Upham Arch. He proposed, I said “yes,” and we ran to the car because it was 0°, and we couldn’t feel our faces. Then, at midnight, in the middle of a whirlwind tour visiting friends and family, we realized we hadn’t eaten dinner, so we had champagne and homemade chicken noodle soup with my SIL and BIL, then met my parents for late drinks. By noon the next day, we had a venue, a baker, a limo, a photographer, and the church was booked. #chickensoupandchampagne

Kim – Adam proposed on the green of the 18th hole at Yankee Trace. I was playing in my women’s golf league with my mom and my best friend. The flag had been switched out from the normal Yankee Trace flag to one that was embroidered by my sister in law and said: “Kim, Will You Marry Me? Adam”. Adam was hiding in the bushes and came out when I found the flag, and my Dad and some of our other best friends were all hidden nearby watching and taking photos, too. It was the perfect proposal for a couple of golf lovers! #IsaidyesbutImissedtheputt

Caitlin – We were living in Columbus at the time, and my now-husband wanted to drive 2.5 hours to our favorite winery from college for a date. It was raining and cold, and I complained like a brat all day, the entire drive up, and once we got there. Then he said he wanted to walk around the property! I threw a legitimate temper tantrum, but he finally convinced me and proposed out by the lake. Poor guy. He doesn’t let me forget that I kept trying to cancel our “date” aka his proposal. #whiningatawinery

Emily – My husband and I met while we were both on the Junior Fair Board in high school. Even though we were “talking” (is that even a term kids still use these days?) our entire senior year, we didn’t make it Facebook official until our freshmen year at Ohio State. Fast forward four years after college graduation…we had reached the point in our relationship where we knew we wanted to have a future together, settle down and raise a family, so an engagement seemed imminent. We were planning a trip to Chicago that summer, and I was convinced he was going to pop the question there, but before that trip was the Clark County Fair. My husband had an internship in Kentucky, so while I was impressed with the great time he made the last night of the fair back to Springfield, I didn’t think twice about it.  Little did I know he had left work early that day to make sure he was there before I got off work. He wanted to take a walk around the fair to get some fried cheese (so romantic, right?) and we just so happened to pass the Junior Fair Board building on our way. He suggested we stop in there to reminisce. The next thing I knew, he was on one knee! Nearly five years of marriage, two beautiful babies and one fur baby later, the county fair still holds a very special place in our hearts.  #loveatfirstfair

Now it’s your turn!  We’d love to hear your proposal stories in the comments below!

Happy Valentine’s Day, Mamas!