Proposal Season

Proposals are like snowflakes, no two are ever the same. Whether it is a carefully planned, perfectly executed surprise or a spur-of-the-moment occasion, a marriage proposal is one of the most memorable events in a person’s life.

Valentine’s Day is arguably the most romantic day of the year so it is no surprise that it would be included among the most popular dates to propose to someone, second only to birthdays. Valentine’s Day marks the end of what theknot.com has referred to as proposal season, the time of year when hearts are most inclined to pop the big question begins just before Thanksgiving and concludes around Valentine’s Day.

It is easy to see why the time frame is popular for popping the question since it aligns with holiday gatherings and big family celebrations. Family and friend support often adds to the magic and excitement of the moment. However, proposals come in all shapes and sizes and are not limited to a certain time of year. Unsurprisingly, Enid is home to couples with amazingly unique engagement stories.

Will You…

Missy Brickman’s other half nearly missed out on the elaborate proposal he so carefully planned. She said her now-husband went to the restroom right before they announced his proposal to her as she put it “on the Jumbotron…at Yankee Stadium….against Boston….in front of thousands of people.” She said she was sitting there “By MYSELF, hearing my proposal, trying not to feel dumb” when as the proposal was just about all read, she saw him frantically on his knee right beside her trying to play it cool. 

A ring delivered with breakfast in bed was the idea behind Tammy Carter’s proposal, however, the execution may not have gone as planned. Her significant other made her breakfast and sat the food down on the bedside table, along with a ring. 

When she walked out of the room later her significant other asked “Where’s your ring?” to which she responded “What ring?” The conversation continued back and forth. “I gave you a ring” to which she replied with a swift, “Nope, never had a ring given to me, what was it for?” He explained, “It’s your engagement ring, my Grandmothers ring that we got sized?” She responded with an aloof, “Oh that? You didn’t say anything, I didn’t know what it was for, it’s right where you left it.” He tried to salvage the moment, went and got the ring for her to put on her finger. She let him know that was “NOT how it works”. His response was “after seventeen years, it ought to be how it works.” She laughed and said  “NOPE” and he finally asked, “will you marry me?”  She relented, “It sure took ya long enough.”

Heather Ferguson waited thirteen years for her husband to pop the question. One day out of the blue he showed up at her work and got down on one knee. Despite having a bad knee, he sacrificed so she could have a traditional proposal on bended knee. She was very happy.

Megan Moore returned to her apartment after a college class to find her significant other with a meal from Sonic set on the table. She said “I turned around, there he was nervous as can be, tears in his eyes, on one knee with a little red velvet box. His voice was shaking as he asked me.” The bonus, she says, “I got my tots with it!”

April Foster and her boyfriend Rich met at a New Year’s Eve party and had been dating three and a half years when he proposed. April was alone at work in her office listening to the KATT morning show when Rich asked her to marry him live on the air. She could not believe it. She was totally surprised. The couple will celebrate twenty-nine years in May.

The proposal for Heather Zweifel was a complete surprise to her as well. During a last-minute trip to Medicine Park in July of 2020, her husband Chad told her he loved it there, so they decided to return during fall break. She planned the trip which included an invite for his entire family. Little did she know, the whole family was in on the surprise and kept it a secret. 

While taking pictures against the beautiful background atop Mt. Scott, she turned around to find him down on his knee. As soon as she realized what was happening the words out of her mouth were actually, “shut up.” Everyone looking on burst into laughter. It was a great memory for the couple who married later during a ceremony at Indian Creek Village Winery in Ringwood.

Paige and William Hauser discussed marriage a lot during the three years they dated before getting engaged. The engagement was a surprise for Paige although she said she had a feeling, “because he was secretive and nervous” during what she remembers as a five-hour surprise trip. He would not let her look at the GPS.

He rented a cabin in Maryland on the Potomac River. Paige recalls how beautiful the area was. They spent the first two days exploring and spending time on a few secluded beaches however the water was ice cold. They walked through a beautiful park that was filled with wildlife. She recalls a turtle William caught just so the animal lover in her could hold it. 

On the final night of the trip, he told her to stay downstairs in the cabin while he was busy with something on the second-story balcony that overlooked the water. He soon guided her up the stairs while blindfolded. When she removed the blindfold, she discovered he had the whole balcony lit up with candles and flower petals. He lit and launched a lantern before getting down on one knee and telling her how much he loved her and asked her to be his wife. She was impressed he even remembered to set up his phone to record it all. She said yes immediately. As she put it, “of course! who can say no to that? He’s the best.”

Brenna Dunham and her significant other were training for a half marathon while in Texas visiting her parents, who live on a lake. They needed to get our long run in for the week and he had asked her parents for trail suggestions. They started fairly early to find the trail which entailed a lot of driving around a lake and never finding it. He was adamant about finding a place to run. It was starting to get hot outside so they discussed going to town to eat breakfast instead but ultimately decided to just go back to her parent’s and run around their neighborhood loop.

After an abbreviated long run, they were looking for her mom and his daughter who had taken kayaks to the lake. She was on a mission walking briskly when she heard her name from behind. She turned around to find him on one knee and where he asked her to be his wife. His son had been looking through the window of the sunroom taking in the entire scene and came out clapping. Shortly afterward, her mom and his daughter paddled up to the shore and her dad came outside as well. His son then announced to everyone what had happened.

The whole morning, she recalls, she just couldn’t figure out why he was so persistent about finding a trail to run on until after he proposed; then it all made sense. She later found out he had her grandmother’s ring in his running belt and had planned to ask her to marry him during the long run. When things didn’t quite go as planned, he rolled with the punches.

Brenna said, “it could have been an omen of what was to come.” They got married in Colorado in March of 2020 in Rocky Mountain National Park. Two days later they shut down all national parks due to Covid. They spent their wedding night eating food delivered to them in their hotel, followed by spending the first two weeks in quarantine.

Taylor and Justin Blasier’s engagement could be the script for a romantic comedy.  In fact, there is a video on youtube to prove it.

Taylor was a middle school computer teacher at Chisholm Middle School. During the first hour on the last day of school, she was in the middle of an activity with her class when the principal came across the intercom asking her to go to the office to discuss something that could not wait regarding an upcoming conference. A coworker who was also her fiance’s co-conspirator, Rocky, stayed to watch her class while she was out of the room. 

Taylor was in the office for quite some time, as the principal was in on the plan before she started making her way back to her classroom. She noticed the principal and another teacher walking behind her and started to wonder what was going on. When she made it to the classroom, it all made sense. There in front of a room full of secret-keeping sixth graders, was her boyfriend Justin on one knee with a ring and the computer monitors in sync displaying the words “Marry Me?” Taylor immediately said yes. Justin even had Taylor’s mom tuned in via facetime to witness the momentous occasion. Justin’s co-conspirator assisted by setting up several go pro cameras around the room to capture the proposal on video from several angles. 

The classroom was the perfect setting as an emergency teaching certification and teacher shortage was what brought Taylor back to Enid and allowed her to meet Justin in the first place. A major highlight of their wedding was the two tables full of sixth-graders from her class that joined in the celebration. One of the best things to come of the union of the two, their daughter Stella Rose.

Ringing in a Yes!

The centerpiece of any engagement is, of course, the ring. According to Brandon at Ediger’s Diamonds in Enid, most men are quiet when shopping for the perfect offering they hope will seal the deal. Over the thirty-eight years they have served Enid, Ediger’s has seen a little bit of everything when it comes to engagements, however for the most part Brandon says the guys are often nervous and quiet.

One of the benefits of having a jeweler that has been in the community for as long as Edigers, is the relationship that develops initially and carries on throughout the years. They get to know their customers and often continue to serve needs that move past the wedding bands, all the way through fiftieth wedding anniversaries and more. They specialize in exquisite jewelry as well as services that cover a wide spectrum of needs.

When ring shopping, it is good to be prepared. There are a few things to consider.

Know your fiancée’s preference in jewelry. Do they prefer sapphires, or rubies instead? Consider the design of other jewelry she loves or ask her mother or close friends for an idea of her preferences.

Diamonds are the hardest substance known to man and have more brilliance and fire than any other gemstone. They withstand daily wear and look beautiful for decades making them the traditional choice of stone for engagement rings.

Sapphires and rubies are also both very popular engagement stones and their high degree of hardness, second only to diamonds, makes them durable for a lifetime. Emeralds are not as hard or as durable as sapphires, rubies, and diamonds, however, if they are set with a gold rub-over setting, this will greatly help to protect the emerald in the long term.

The number of prongs and how they’re constructed is very important. There should be four to six prongs securing the stone. Assess the durability of the prongs, especially on a pre-worn ring. If they are made of thin metal, a claw can get caught on clothing and be bent backward; if the ring only has four prongs, you could lose your stone.

The decision to select a ring in yellow, white, or pink gold versus platinum is a personal one. Platinum is slightly more dense, making it heavier than gold, and some people enjoy this more solid feel. Platinum will dull a bit with age but can be polished, while white gold brightens with wearing. Platinum is more ductile, and therefore it is often used in delicate settings.

This is just a sample of some of the information behind choosing the right ring. It can be overwhelming to someone who does not know jewelry which is why the motto used by Ediger’s applies perfectly. “If you don’t know jewelry, know your jeweler!”

So whether it is on a long run, trying to find just the right trail, or in a classroom full of kids, here’s hoping your engagement story is one of the ages!