I had known my now fiance for years. I lived in Massachusetts and he lived in Ohio. We basically talked sports (we are both huge football fans) while apart, and I didn't think that any relationship would develop because I don't "do" the whole long distance thing. After he stopped in Boston after our first encounter two years prior on the cruise, we really started talking a lot. We were on the phone with each other every night and I just couldn't fall asleep without speaking to him.
Soon after, we started making long trips out to visit each other. He took me to a NE Patriots vs Colts game at the rival stadium in Indianapolis (one of my lifetime dreams), I would drive out 14 hours in Cincinnati by myself to visit on long weekends, he would fly to Boston just to see me every second he got money together for a flight. We were together, but we weren't.
On a trip out to visit me in March 2009, he spontaneously told me that he was moving to Massachusetts to be with me. Even in the bad economy, he was going to quit his well-paying job, his beautiful house, and move to Massachusetts to start all over just so he could be with me. Over the next few weeks I found him an apartment in the city I was living in, and a few days before my 26th birthday, he relocated to Massachusetts leaving his friends, family, and everything behind.
This past April, he proposed to me in the middle of Manchester Airport on my arrival home from a business trip. Our relationship is absolute proof that fate exists.

My fiancé, Steve, took me on a scavenger hunt through Boston the day he proposed to me. I got home from work on a random Monday, and he had left a note instructing me to put on comfortable shoes and take the 55 bus to the top of the Prudential Center (which is a huge tourist attraction in the city). I got to the top, enjoyed the view, and remember the dinners/times we had there. But, there was another note waiting for me at the security desk! I had to get onto the train and was then instructed to go to a gift shop at the Park Street station. At this point, I was sure he was going to propose to me on Boston Commons. But no! There was another note with MORE instructions. I had to get back on the train, sobbing basically. I looked like a crazy person - I was carrying all of these notes, crying to myself and was on and off the phone with my mom and friends. All of the notes had memories, sweet quotes and Steve was just so thoughtful. He was taking me through our city and having me stop at places we had been together. I finally ended up on the Charles River where he was waiting on his knee for me. It was simply amazing. It was night time and with the city lights, it was so beautiful!

My fiancé, Steve, took me on a scavenger hunt through Boston the day he proposed to me. I got home from work on a random Monday, and he had left a note instructing me to put on comfortable shoes and take the 55 bus to the top of the Prudential Center (which is a huge tourist attraction in the city). I got to the top, enjoyed the view, and remember the dinners/times we had there. But, there was another note waiting for me at the security desk! I had to get onto the train and was then instructed to go to a gift shop at the Park Street station. At this point, I was sure he was going to propose to me on Boston Commons. But no! There was another note with MORE instructions. I had to get back on the train, sobbing basically. I looked like a crazy person - I was carrying all of these notes, crying to myself and was on and off the phone with my mom and friends. All of the notes had memories, sweet quotes and Steve was just so thoughtful. He was taking me through our city and having me stop at places we had been together. I finally ended up on the Charles River where he was waiting on his knee for me. It was simply amazing. It was night time and with the city lights, it was so beautiful!

As cliché as it sounds, my most romantic moment with my husband was the day he proposed. I was in my sophomore year in college and started home on a Friday night for spring break. It was a cold and snowy day and took forever to get home. Normally, Mike would meet me at my parents house the moment I got into town, but for some reason he was not there. So I pulled into the garage to unload my car and much to my surprise there seemed to be “potato chips” all over the living room floor, so I yelled at our 5 year old Chocolate Lab for steeling the chips. I finished unloading the car and began to clean up the spilled “potato chips” which were actually yellow rose petals (my favourite flower)! They were trailed back the hall into my bedroom where there, upon opening my door, I found hundreds of red and yellow roses arranged in vases. It was a sight to be seen! There was a card on the bed telling me how much he loved me and that he would be there around 6:00 to pick me up for dinner. Sure enough at 6:00 he picked me up and whisked me away to my favourite little Italian restaurant. At the restaurant there stands one lone table at the top of a balcony overlooking the rest of the restaurant and beautifully painted frescos. On the table there was another 2 dozen roses arranged. We had a fabulous dinner, complete with dessert at which time he arranged for a private violin player to play on our balcony. The most amazing music I have ever heard. As I was enjoying the music, he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. The ring was even in a box that light up when he opened it! It was the most magical experience of my entire life. I still tear up when I think about it and that was in February 2003! We were married in 2005 and just had our first child, a beuatiful little girl! Love is amazing!

My fiance and I had a rough start to our relationship. We both had class all day and could only hang out on nights or weekends. I am not a late night person and he worked until 10:30 every day. I would usually wait up, we'd watch TV or a movie and I would fall asleep on his lap. One day, I was especially tired and he wanted to stop by. I said I was too tired, but he said it would only be a few minutes. Reluctantly, I gave in. He stopped by 20 minutes later, gave me long, wonderful kiss, slipped something into my hand, turned and left without a word. Tucked into my hand was a note that said "The last 2 minutes were the highlight of my day". This was within the first month of dating but even then I knew that he was really special.

Three years ago, a friend from high school got engaged. Her boyfriend took her out for a romantic dinner and then for a walk on the pier and proposed in front of both of their families. I told him about it because he asked what I awwed about and I thought it was the sweetest thing. Three years later, at a Mother's Day BBQ, in front of my whole family, he knelt down on one knee and said, "Heather, I love you so much. You're the love of my life and I want you to be the mother of my children. Will you marry me?" I had completely forgotten about that proposal my friend received but he, who usually doesn't remember anything, didn't forget and went through weeks of coordination and planning with my mom to make sure all of my family was there (he even included my best friend and made it so it wasn't awkward for her to be at a family Mother's Day event)!!! It was the most romantic and amazing thing and I am lucky to have this fabulous story to share with our kids someday about the day I said YES, ABSOLUTELY to their father. :)

Our first date was a disaster... like, an absolute disaster.

He had just graduated from college, and was living with his parents about 40 minutes away from where I lived with my parents (I had just finished my sophomore year and was home for the summer).

Being the gentleman he is, Dan insisted on coming to pick me up for our date... I was already nervous (he was the big man on campus, I was shocked he even knew who I was!), the last thing I needed was him picking me up at my parents' house (oh the embarrassment that could have ensued). But, he wouldn't take no for an answer (I tried to convince him to let me meet him), so I gave in.

It just so happened to be POURING rain, not just pouring, but cats and dogs, sheets, torrential downpour, borderline monsoon. In my lots and lots of years of living in that area, I've never seen anything like it.

Dan's car was... scratch that, Dan's car had a lot of "character" - and by that, I mean that the driver side door didn't work, so he had to climb in the passenger side (it was a two door Firebird convertible, 1991 I think), the top didn't work unless you replaced the fuse every time you wanted to put it down/up, etc. Anyway, again, being the gentleman he is, Dan insisted on getting out and opening the door for me... in the pouring rain. (Thank you to the rain, by the way, for not allowing him to come inside or my parents to come out... crisis averted!)

Dan opened the door, hopped back in (over the center console into his drivers' seat), I hopped in, happily out of the rain. We were going to the mall (which was about 5 miles away) to see a movie, since we were in my neck of the woods, he asked me the best way to get there. Considering the fact that the sky was falling, I figured it'd be wisest to stay off the highway and take back roads (people drive all crazy in weather like that, I'd rather not be surrounded by idiots going 65 mph in a torrential downpour - sounds like a good idea, right? Not so much...), so back roads it was.

We're driving about 25 mph down the road and see flares in the distance, he slows down, next thing we know we've pretty much driven into a rushing river. WTH!? We were driving down the street I grew up on, it has NEVER flooded like that, ever, in my 20-some-odd years of living there. (the flares, by the way, were on the OTHER SIDE of the massive flooding raging river, that helped... thanks to whoever put them there)

Well, the water was rushing like I can't even explain... it was higher than mid-window and the car stalled. Are you kidding me!? First date from hell, right?! Get's worse. So, my door is the only door that opens (how convenient) and so Dan decided we had to get the car out of the street...

Dan climbed over me and kicked off his shoes, took off his khaki cargo shorts and shirt (scandalous) and hopped out my window (water was too high to open the door). In almost chest-high water, he yelled at me to get behind the wheel (oh, lord I was freaking out) and steer. The man pushed that damn car about 150 feet UP HILL into a driveway... through rushing water.

We called my parents (gulp, so much for crisis averted) and asked my mom (who drove an SUV) to come get us. Dan put his clothes back on and spoke to the homeowners (he was in their driveway) and they said that as long as the car was out by 6am, he could leave it there.

Up drove mom, who picked us up and harassed and teased us the whole way (by this time the raging river was gone and we looked and sounded like we were out of our minds nuts) back to the house, where we picked up my car and drove (on the highway) to the mall to see a movie.

We get to the mall and they have power, walk in and the only part of the mall that lost power was the movie theater. Really!?

At this point it was about 15 til 10pm and we had yet to really go on our "date" - so we decided to have a quick dinner, but all the restaurants were only open until 10pm. We promised the nice folks at Coastal Flats that we'd be quick and they agreed to seat and serve us. Phew.

Well, Dan kept drinking tea and going to the bathroom the entire time (he later told me he was drinking tea to throw me off in hopes I'd think he had to pee, turns out he felt crazy sick), we were rushed, and worrying about the car. Dan pays and we leave.

We head back to the car, it won't start. So we let it sit there to hopefully dry out and we go to a diner for some coffee... tell me how a 24-hr diner is OUT OF COFFEE!? For some reason, we had to wait 20 minutes for the coffee... whatever. Dan's phone rings, it's the police. Wondering why his car is in someone's driveway and they're calling to complain about it. Really!? Again, nice first date.

Dan explains our unique situation to the officer, who chuckled and just told him to be sure it was gone by 6am. Ok, it'll be gone, give us our coffee.

Coffee break over, go back to the car, damn thing still won't start (it's been sitting for 3-4 hours). We go back to my parents house and sit on the couch in the basement to watch TV for an hour or so... go back to the car, STILL won't start. At this point, it's probably about midnight or 1am and both the crazies that own the driveway and Dan have to work the next day, so we start trying to find a 24 hour tow company.

We finally find one, and they let us know they'll meet us at the car within 45 minutes and will call when they're getting close. THREE hours go by and I wake up (after having fallen asleep on Dan's chest) to the phone ringing, the truck is about to be there... we took my car and met the driver (at this point it's past 4am).

The driver decided to bring his girlfriend along, so he could tow the car, but not take Dan with him. Nice. So, I offered to take Dan in my car, following the tow truck, all the way back to his parents' house... 40ish minutes away... at 4-something in the morning. Nope, that's not all.

It was a flat rate for the tow and then $3-4 per mile. I set my odometer (right, odometer?) and we head out... we get to his exit off the highway and it's CLOSED for overnight maintenance! Really!? Again! Really!? The detour is an additional 6 miles... no problem; unless you're paying an idiot tow truck driver per mile.

We finally get to his parents, the driver lets Dan's car down onto the street in front of their house and crunched the bottom of the front bumper. Great.

Well, at this point, we're about $300 into the date (dinner and the tow), it's 5:30 in the morning and Dan has to be at work by 7.

In our first date: I saw him half naked, he met my parents, I met his parents, we slept together (on the couch, clothed), ate together, had coffee together... Craziest first date I've ever had.

When saying goodbye he told me he wanted to kiss me but that it'd be awkward because his dad was watching, so he'd have to take a rain check. I was ok with it, after all it was 5:30am and I was tired... wanting my bed. He thanked me for being so kind and wonderful and tolerant and asked me out on a second date.

I decided to give him a mulligan... and if you would have told me I'd be spending the rest of my life with this man, I would have laughed in your face. But, I guess after such a crazy first date, things can only get better!

While this may not necessarily make you say "awww," it sure is one hell of a love story... and 4 years later we're still going strong, still laughing about that night, and still crazy in love. I said it that night, and I still bring it up every so often - our kids and grandkids are going to get a kick out of this story.

My fiance, Dave & I have a 2 year old bulldog (Rupert) who is a big part of our life. We might be a little obsessed. I always loved when Dave referred to the three of us as a family. I was completely surprised when one evening in February, I was puttering in the kitchen after work and he proposed. Dave and Rupert came back from a walk and Dave asked me to look at Rupert's neck because there was something wrong with it. Rupert is constantly getting scraped up and sick, so this was no suprise...except on his neck was a ribbon with the mostly beautiful ring. Dave got on his knee and asked me to be his wife. I was so happy and shocked I was speechless.

Thanks to all of you who shared your most romantic stories for the Swarovski chandelier earrings giveaway. The stories were all very interesting, entertaining, and most definitely full of that "awww" factor that we were looking for. It was a difficult decision, that's for sure!

Congratulations to April O'Connor who is the winner of this giveaway. That your fiance would change his whole life just to be with you had a significant "awww" factor for us.

You all have some really sweet and romantic guys in your lives, as evidenced by your romantic stories, and I wish you well in your journeys with your great men.

Thanks again for sharing! Feel free to check out more of my jewelry at www.merryalchemy.etsy.com.

Sincerely,
Lisa Walbridge
Merry Alchemy