My fiance and I met in China. He was there teaching English while I was there on a trip to help orphans at a local orphanage. It was amazing how I actually gave up on relationships until I met him. I actually told him I was thinking about adopting a child because I thought I would be single even to an old age. Our initial meeting was at the Great Wall of China. My friends whom I met from Texas and his roommate at the time took a trip to the Great Wall and brought us along. My initial impression of my fiance was that he was a handsome, tall and friendly man. In the beginning, we starting keeping in touch via email. Then, he would call me once a week from China. Eventually, I went to visit him and he visited me in the United States. He was there for about a year before we could be around each other more permanently. I am amazed that I met such a man who is so funny and easy going. Also, I felt amazed I could meet someone so special! I can't wait to go back to China with him to capture our memories on the Great Wall of China! =)

George and I went out to dinner with some mutual friends at the Georgetown Waterfront that evening. We already had planned to go to the movies to see "Inside Man" after dinner...but instead of going to the more convenient-- Loews Georgetown Theater, George had plans for us to go to the Potomac Yard Theater (about 15 min) away. This is the theater where we first met-- on Sunday, October 3, 2004. So, upon arriving at the theater...as we were getting ready to walk in the door, he reminded me that this was the exact spot where we first met each other. He then took my hand to hold me close and told me that "if he had known on the night that we met what he knows now, then he would have had a ring for me on that first night..." Meanwhile he pulled out this gorgeous ring and was putting it on my finger. In between crying, hugging, and kissing him, of course I was saying "SI!!!!"

My boyfriend and I had broken up after 2 years of dating because he was not sure he wanted to get married. After 7 weeks of not seeing each other, I had gone out on my first date sine the break up. On my way home from the date, I was really missing my boyfriend and was going to drive by the frozen yogurt store he frequents to see if he was there. He wasn't, so for some reason I started driving toward his apartment. While driving, he called me on my cell phone and stated that he missed me. He asked me where I was and I said I was driving over to his place just to be near him. I pulled up to his driveway and I asked him if he was going to come out and see me. He immediately hung up the phone and came outside. We hugged and cried for 10 minutes. He then said, "I need to see your eyes." and impulsively asked "Will you marry me?" I immeidately said, "don't play with my heart that way." He replied, "I'm not" (while he waited for a small lightning bolt or heart attack to get him out of this). When it didn't happen, he asked me to stand with him on a small wall and to pretend we were on top of a mountain with a beautiful view, got down on one knee and asked to marry me. While he was staring at the starry night behind me, I had a view of the garage drainage system. I asked if this was for real and he said, "yes we can drive to Vegas right now to ask your parents." I suggested that we call them instead (since we live in Los Angeles). I said yes and we went inside to call our parents. This was December 2003 and we got married in October 2004. I couldn't ask for a better husband.

Amanda and I were high school sweet hearts. I was a junior in high school and already ahead of the game in regards to credits, so I was assigned to be a teacher assistant to a freshman biology class. I met Amanda in this class, and we both disliked the teacher. We would talk occasionally, and I would help her pass notes to her friends.

Amanda’s best friend Heather happened to live down the street from me and we would talk every once in a while. Amanda mentioned to Heather in passing one day she thought her teacher assistant was cute and Heather called me right away. Our first date was setup and we hit it off right away.

After the teacher learned of our budding relationship I was transferred out of the class as the teacher assistant and was even given a C grade!

We dated for 8 years, and lived together for 4 of them before I finally popped the question.

For our two year anniversary of dating, I took her to a really nice restaurant on the water in Old Towne Alexandria Virginia. During dinner I presented her with a promise ring with a really small diamond. Despite the small size, and it only being a promise ring, she still wore it everyday on her left ring finger.

Six years later, it was finally time to pop the question, but I wanted to incorporate her promise ring into proposal.

I wanted to take her back to the same restaurant I gave her the promise ring at, but after being together for 8 years, she would know something was up. I wanted it to be a surprise. So one day on my lunch break, I drove over to the restaurant and talked to the manager. I made reservations with her, and worked out how exactly it would all go down. To keep her from not suspecting anything, I picked up a gift card while I was there since it was around Christmas. She would not suspect anything if I made her think we were going there because somebody gave me a gift card.

I sent her an email when I got back to the office and told her my boss had given my team gift cards for various restaurants, and that I just so happened to get the one for “our” restaurant. She was excited, and I told her I would go ahead and make reservations for us the following Friday.

We spent Christmas at her family’s house, and I told her parents and mine what would be happening on Friday while she was in another room. I put my mom in charge of setting up a lunch for us on the Saturday after.

After 8 years of dating and still no popping the question, I had to do something a little over the top. She has been waiting for this moment for a long time, and I didn’t want to disappoint. I decided to hire a photographer to hide out in the restaurant to capture everything as it was going on.

With all the details worked out, the night finally came and we got dressed to the nines and departed for the restaurant. To keep her from accidentally feeling the ring box or seeing the bulge in my pocket, I stuck it in my sock and secured it with some well placed rubber bands.

We arrived at the restaurant, and I made eye contact with the photographer and he ducked behind the corner. I gave my name to the hostess and got that sly knowingly smile back from her and we were taken to our table. We literally had the best seat in the house. We were right next to this huge window overlooking the Potomac River next to a romantic fire pit. She asked me how I got such a good table, and I responded “It must be because we had reservations”. She was satisfied with this answer and still had no clue what was going to be happening soon.

When she stepped away to use the ladies room, I quickly transferred the ring from my sock and into my pocket.

The meal was great, but the dessert was what I was nervously waiting for. I saw the waiter in the distance approaching our table with dessert and started to prepare myself for what was about to happen.

As the waiter placed the dessert down in front of her, written on the outside brim of the plate with chocolate were the words “Will you marry me?” Just at that moment, the photographer popped out and began taking pictures. She was so caught up in the moment, she didn’t even notice. I stood up and asked her to stand with me.

Holding her hands in mine, I told her “Year’s ago in this very place I gave you a promise ring with promise that I would marry you someday. Well, today is the day I would like to make good on that promise.” I got down on one knee, and presented her the gorgeous ring in the beautiful Abazia’s wooden box.

I’ve never seen her grab for something so fast. Before I knew it the promise ring was sitting in the ring box and the engagement ring was on her finger. She said yes, and we hugged and kissed right there. She really liked the idea of having a photographer there, as now we have pictures of the entire thing unfolding.

We took a few more pictures with the photographer at our table and tried to finish dessert. We were both so happy and excited that most of it went unfinished. Since I had the photographer for a couple more hours, we went outside after dinner and took some more pictures of us together on the docks next to the water. I guess the photographer grabbed the attention of a lot of other restaurant patrons, because while we were walking around docks people kept coming up to us and congratulating us. She didn’t mind this one bit because she wanted to show off the ring!

We called our parents and let them know how everything went, and she was happy that I had taken the initiative to set up lunch with both of our families for the next day. They all loved the ring and nicknamed it the “Rock of Gibraltar”.

The night couldn’t have gone more perfect, and I wouldn’t change a thing!

My fiance's name is Becky and this is our engagement story. Becky and I moved from the Minneapolis area to Dubuque IA in July 06. In September I asked Becky if she would like to go up to Duluth MN (about a 7hr drive) for a long Weekend from October 20-23. I informed her I thought it would be a good idea to stay with friends in Madison on Thursday night October 19th so we could get an early start Friday morning. October 19th arrives and we head to Madison. We stay the night and the next morning get up and get ready to go. We get in the car and we were on our way. We passed I94 and she asks "where are you going" (I94 is the way to Duluth) I respond "Oh I must have missed it, I am looking for a place to turn around." She became more and more upset (down right cranky) until we arrived at the airport in Madison. She asked me what is going on and I told her I just thought we would fly to Duluth. We check our bags and I handed her a boarding pass, she said we are going to Detroit (confused) handed her the second one she said to Boston (a little excited) and I said no actually we are going to rent a car and go to Portland, Maine (she has never been to Maine and has always dreamed of going). She stated "really" and began to cry while hugging me. We flew to Boston and drove to Portland. We arrived at the Embassy Suites late that night and went to bed. We arose the next morning had breakfast and went to Freeport to go outlet shopping all day. We then returned to our hotel and changed, I helped her pack and I had her bring a nice dress and I brought a suit. (just in case we went someplace nice in Duluth) Went down to Fore Street restaurant, it was Sweetest Day and I was unable able to obtain a reservation 3 weeks in advance however, they do accept walk-ins. We sat in the bar/lounge area for a couple hours and talked about the wonderful time we were having, had drinks and a couple amazing appetizers. I let the hostess know that it was the big night and would like a table next to the window. The hostess called our name and we got seated in the perfect location it was a little side room with only about 8 tables in it and we were right in the corner by the window!!!! We ate entrees and ordered dessert while we were waiting for the desserts I simply took her hand looked into her eyes and said Becky you know I really love you and care about you so much. she replied I love you too. I stood up and started walking past the table while reaching into my pocket to get the ring. I got down on a knee took her hand and said Becky will you marry me. She burst into tears, she had a ear to ear smile while crying and finally I asked her are you going to say yes. She said yes yes yes, I placed the ring on her finger and it was a perfect fit. Everyone in our room started clapping and I sat back down. She was still tearing up and kept saying she was so happy. The table next to us of about 8 people bought us a 100 dollar bottle of champagne and we proceeded drank it all (after offering the other table a glass) and had dessert. I thought for sure she would know that I was going to propose when she found out we were going to Maine but she said she thought the trip was a surprise and never expected I would propose in Maine. It was truly unforgettable and the best sweetest day I have ever had. Thank you for allowing me to share our engagement story.