Engagement

Her Story

Brian and I had been talking about marriage for several months before he proposed on Dec 27, 2007. Every year around Christmas time, we drive about 45 minutes to Chickasha to walk around the Festival of Light; this time was a little different. We decided to go out to eat at one of our favorite Italian restaurants in Lawton, Biancos. We both got the fettuccine alfredo, and then we made our way to Chickasha. When we got there, we bundled up and made our way around the park. It was pretty windy that night so not many people were there. We made our way around the pond and over to the new computerized light show and then to the Christmas tree. When we were frozen and ready to leave, we headed around the north side of the pond. On this side of the pond is a "Will you marry sign?" that is not lit up. I thought for sure that if he was going to propose, this would be the place. But no, Brian only said, "I guess nobody is proposing tonight." At that point I did not think he was going to propose. We had stopped to take one final look at all of the lights and the reflection on the water. Before we started walking again, Brian said he had to tie his shoe. He wasn't tying his shoe. The next thing I heard was, "Sarah Marshall, will you spend the rest of your life with me?" At that point, I didn't really know what to say so I said "really!" I was waiting for the tears to come flowing down but they didn't come until we got back to the car. It may have been a cold and windy night, but it was well worth it! I love Brian so much and can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him!

His Story

I was pretty nervous. I had never asked anyone to marry me before. I had gotten the ring a few weeks earlier. I had planned it out, we'd go to her favorite restaurant, Bianco's. She got the fettucini alfredo, of course. Then we drove up to catch the Chickasha Festival of Light, like we do every year. This year we were a bit late because it was already after Christmas, but we couldn't help it because school was hectic and we were visiting each other's families over Christmas break. It was almost too cold to go look at the lights and I had been watching the weather because it was supposed to get very cold and windy. But when we got up there, the wind was fairly calm. It was chilly, but not too bad. We walked around and saw the new synchronized light show, which was pretty neat (just like YouTube). We made a figure-8 around the park, going across the bridge twice. We ended up on the north side of the lake. I remembered from past years that there was a "Will you Merry Me?" somewhere around there, but I didn't know for the life of me how to get the thing started. So, we just casually walked past it. We paused at the very end of the lake, looking across at the reflections of all the lights. This was our chance; there was no one around. We looked for about as long as we could stand staying still in the cold (about 30 seconds), and then I said, "well, let's get in the warm car," as we turned to walk off. "Wait just a second," I said, "I have to tie my shoe," and I bent down to "tie" my "shoe." I fumbled around with the little box in my jacket pocket, trying to remember which way it opened (not upside-down or it might fall out!). "Sarah Marshall," I said, "will you spend the rest of your life with me?" Her response: "Really??" which I don't know if that counts as a "yes" or "no".