25 Jan 2015 Will you?: Unique proposals of 501 couples

by Callie Sterling

In the day of Pinterest, marriage proposals are becoming more ornate and glamorous.

Many brides secretly hope their significant other will plan an elaborate, unique proposal. Although all proposals have the same objective, not all are created equal.

Some grooms whisk their brides away to a foreign country to pop the question.

University of Central Arkansas graduates Clay Parker and Molly Gardner got engaged this past December after spending six months apart.

“We met in May of 2013 when Clay was home visiting,” Gardner said. “We dated long-distance for about a year and a half while Clay has been living 8,000 miles away in Rwanda. I visited Clay this past June and fell more in love with him.”

Months of prep work often goes into planning a proposal, especially when it is away from home.

“We met in Europe for a vacation to Prague and Paris,” Gardner said. “Our second day in Prague, Clay took me to the Hanavsky Pavilion. We had the most phenomenal view of Prague. That is where he asked me to marry him!”

When planning, the groom should consider time of the day, the place and if they want to have the proposal photographed or filmed. Many grooms choose to hire professional photographers and videographers to capture this life-changing event.

“Clay had been planning this for some time now and had planned for a photographer to capture the moment,” Gardner said. “The photographer was able to provide us with pictures we will cherish forever.”

Kayla Gustafson of Cabot and Bo Britton of Mayflower became engaged in Paris, France, on New Year’s Eve.

“It was the most romantic trip,” Gustafson said. “We were both soaked from head to toe from searching in the rain for a restaurant. We finally found an Italian restaurant on Champs-Elysees. Toward the end of the meal I was looking around the restaurant trying to take everything in. The place was full of culture! Bo took both of my hands and began expressing how much our relationship meant to him. At the end, he pulled the ring out of his pocket and asked me to marry him! I loved the fact that here we both were surrounded by people from all over the world in a Paris restaurant on New Year’s Eve! Yet, it seemed in that moment that it was just he and me. After we told our friends, we went to the Eiffel Tower to bring in the New Year as soon-to-be husband and wife! It was a perfect night on a perfect trip!”

Others may find it enticing to propose while on vacation. A family cruise was the unique route that Landon Miller chose to “pop the question.”

“Landon and I went on a cruise with his family during spring break in 2012,” Taryn Miller said. “I had not seen Landon almost all day until it was time for dinner. Little did I know that he had been planning all day about how he would propose!”

His then girlfriend of six years never envisioned that he would propose in front of so many people. When it comes to proposals, grooms can often be surprising and come out of their comfort zone.

“Two of Landon’s cousins had auditioned and made the talent show for that night and his mom wanted us to go for support. After a few acts, the cruise director came on stage. She told some jokes and then I heard her calling out mine and Landon’s names to come forward.

“The cruise director asked us several questions like how long we had been dating and what Landon was waiting on since we had been dating for almost six years! The director asked Landon if he had anything he wanted to say to me and gave him the microphone. I could tell he was nervous as he began talking about our relationship. Then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course I said ‘yes!’ It was such a surreal and special moment that I will never forget!”

An additional perk of proposing on a cruise during a talent show is that the cruise line often records the shows. The Millers were able to obtain a video of the unique proposal to watch again and again.

While Europe and a cruise are amazing places to pop the question, our very own United States has many beautiful locations to plan the perfect proposal.
Shaun Rase of Jacksonville proposed to his future wife at the top of a mountain overlooking Arizona.

“We went and climbed Camel Back Mountain in Phoenix,” Hannah Janiece Paige Moore said. “It was so hot I really didn’t expect it to happen because Shaun kept offering to turn around when I kept asking for breaks. I was so overwhelmed by finally making it to the top. When he asked me I was not expecting it at all. I was so excited I didn’t even reply and he had to ask me again!”

If staying in Arkansas is more appealing, the Natural State has so much to offer when it comes to unique proposals.

Zach James of Jacksonville proposed to Brook Bolin of Sherwood in a very creative way. He put his art skills to use during the prep work before the proposal.

“I made 10 signs of why I love her and put them on stakes,” James said. “I then made a walkthrough for her. At the end, the last sign said ‘I love that you are gonna be my wifey.’ I thought it was unique and special to us.”

Some choose to incorporate music into their proposals and Bryan Purifoy went above and beyond for his proposal to his wife LeeAnn Purifoy.

“I am a huge fan of The Temptations. I have seen them 31 times in concert since 2000,” Purifoy said. “Over the years I have become good friends with them. As we approached one year together as a couple, I knew it was time to ask The Temptations for a big favor. I got in touch with their manager and asked if they would help me propose. He told me that after the years of support I had given them it was the least they could do. I came up with the idea to have them record a video singing their classic song ‘My Girl’ and have them say, ‘LeeAnn, Bryan wants to know if you’ll forever be his girl.’”

Matt Conger also got artsy by making a book when he proposed to his now wife, Jackie Conger of Greenbrier. With the help of a friend who owns a design company, Matt Conger created an authentic cover for his handmade book that he used to propose.

“In December of 2009 we had just attended Matt’s work Christmas party,” Jackie said. “We went to Books-A-Million after to get some coffee with our friends. While Matt and I were in line to get coffee he would not let me leave his side. I thought he was being really clingy. To my surprise this is when his friend was hiding the book in the children’s section. We went to the children’s section searching for a Christmas present for his niece. He picked one up called ‘Matt Meets a Mate.’ We laughed because it ironically had his name in it. It had so many coincidental life events in it. I really should have caught on sooner that it was about him. When it hit me I started thumbing through the book and when I got to the end, the ring was taped inside! It was super cute and totally unexpected!”