tieka & eric • Grand Rapids, MI PHOTOGRAPH BY TIFANI LYN PHOTOGRAPHY

Tieka and Eric were exploring a lighthouse in northern Michigan when Eric went to

the end of the pier to snap some photos. “I originally stayed back because it was so cold, but

then I decided I had to see it myself,” Tieka says. As she neared the end of the pier,

she noticed Eric bending down. “I assumed he was grabbing a new lens out of our camera bag,”

Tieka recalls. “I didn’t even say ‘yes’ at first, since I had tears rolling down my face.”

our favorite “will you marry me?”

momentsYou can imagine we’ve heard a proposal or two. BY RACHEL SYLVESTER

k REAL PROPOSALS

julie & marcus •

ChicagoPHOTOGRAPH BY

KELLY BRAMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

While on a spring trip to Wisconsin’s

Lake Geneva, Julie and Marcus enjoyed

dinner at an Italian restaurant

before Marcus excused himself from the

table. It was then that Julie texted

her friend two disappointing words: “not

happening.” Little did she know that

a proposal was coming just moments later.

“Marcus came back to the table and

asked me to spend forever with him,” Julie

says. “I was shaking!”

clint & scott •

Los AngelesPHOTOGRAPH BY

GABRIEL GASTELUM PHOTOGRAPHY

Clint (left) and Scott had been dating for

nine years before Clint popped the question

on a getaway to Palm Springs for their

anniversary. After a romantic dinner, they

made their way to a fire pit on the grounds

of their hotel to warm up and look at the

stars. “I have to admit, I was nervous!” Clint

says. “One thing I knew for sure was that

I’d need the rings and a bottle of wine.”

The two ended up talking all night, listening

to music and looking at the stars until

Clint felt the moment was right and asked

a teary-eyed Scott to marry him. >>

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devin & justin •

MiamiPHOTOGRAPH BY

MELANIE GABRIELLE PHOTOGRAPHY

After just 10 months of dating,

Devin and Justin planned a trip to Miami’s

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens to take

in the sights. As the two toured the estate,

Devin noticed that Justin was much

quieter than usual. “His behavior clued me

in that he had something up his sleeve,”

she says. With a reset family heirloom ring

waiting in his pocket, Justin proposed

once they reached a quiet spot by

a fountain. “As we approached it, he took

my hand and started talking to me

about our time together before he dropped

to one knee,” Devin says.

abbie & andy •

Nathrop, COPHOTOGRAPH BY

MICHELE HART PHOTOGRAPHY

Andy proposed at 6:30 a.m. on a catamaran

in the Bay Islands of Honduras, where

the couple had gone to learn how to scuba

dive. “There was no cellphone or email

service, so we had the whole rest of the day

to sail, relax, be engaged and in love,”

Abbie says. “Also a plus: He didn’t accidently

drop the ring into the ocean!”

emily & joel • Norfolk, VA

PHOTOGRAPH BY ELEISE THEUER PHOTOGRAPHY

Emily and Joel started dating just before she moved to Korea for work. Joel flew back and

forth to spend time with her. “I racked up frequent-flier miles in the ensuing courtship!” he says. To celebrate

Emily’s return to the states a year later, Joel took her to a romantic bed-and-breakfast in her home

state of North Carolina. With their close friends there to witness the proposal, Joel popped the question,

catching Emily completely off guard. “Through tears, she said ‘yes’!” >>

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Have an inspiring proposal story of your own? Email us at editorial@theknot.com

k REAL PROPOSALS

emily & rebecca • Denver

PHOTOGRAPH BY SARAH ROSE BURNS PHOTOGRAPHY

To celebrate Emily’s (left) college graduation, Rebecca planned a trip to Walt

Disney World. “My gut immediately told me, ‘This is it! You’re going to come back with

a ring!’ ” Emily says. Unfortunately, Emily had unexpected surgery, and they had

to reschedule the trip to a few months later. On their first day at Cinderella Castle, the

server revealed an engagement ring inside a glass slipper. “Before she even

asked the question, I just started shouting, ‘Yes! Yes! I say yes!’ ” Emily recalls.

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