Popping the Question

Engagement stories from both sides of the bend

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A Match Lit in Heaven

Mitch loves cigars, and I love the smell and buying them for him. Every time he smoked one, he'd take the cigar band off and place it on my finger. On our oneyear anniversary, we took a motorcycle ride to a boisterous Irish pub. He lit up a cigar, and as usual, I put out my hand.

He placed the band on my ring finger and asked me to marry him. Once I realized he meant it, I quickly said yes. He asked if I wanted a special ring, and I said yes, but something unfussy that I could wear 24/7. The romantic in him surprised me once again: He designed matching rings shaped like cigar bands with our initials entwined.
-SHANNON MESENBURG
Port Charlotte, FL

Head over Heels (and Toes)

My husband was so excited to propose that he stopped at my pedicure appointment on his way home from the jewelry store. He walked in, showed me the ring and asked me to marry him in the middle of the nail salon. I said yes and gave him a kiss, and he said he'd see me when I finished. The funniest part is that the nail technician didn't even look up.
-TAMMY CARPENTER-FISHER
Dunnville, ON

A Love You Can't Extinguish

My boyfriend called one day with shocking news: His house burned down while he was at work. We'd talked about getting engaged soon, and he told me that he'd bought a ring and stored it in his sock drawer. The site was nothing but ash when we arrived. We ducked under the yellow tape and stood where his bedroom dresser had been, digging through the ash until we came across burned socks. We kept going, soon finding a singed ring box. I opened it and saw the ring. It was tarnished but intact. When I asked what I should do with it, he blurted,