The Perfect Proposal

Universal Studios Home Entertainment and 5 Minutes For Mom are hosting a contest in honor of the June 24th release of Definitely, Maybe. Post your proposal story and you could win a set of 3 DVDs to include “Definitely, Maybe”, “Love Actually” and Notting Hill. You can find the rules here . And for a $5 off coupon to purchase “Definitely, Maybe” visit their site here.

So, without further ado, here is our story, sans pseudonyms, because it seems silly.

Ed and I began dating during the summer of 1994. Although we saw each other nearly every day, our relationship wasn’t “official”, as things had to be back then, until August 14th. It was Woodstock Weekend and our mutual friend Melissa (along with her father) was hosting a weekend long party complete with pay per view to celebrate. I was 15 years old and was sure that I knew everything; was sure that despite my age, I was more of an adult than a child. I can still hear my mother’s endless chant “You are 15 and he is 18. You don’t know what love is. You are a child.”

I knew better though. Ed was the one for me. We entered in to our respective Junior and Senior years that fall and were quickly seen as being inseparable, you know, that couple. We were somewhat of an unlikely pair as my past boyfriends had leaned more toward dangerous and unstable. Ed was responsible and a genuine nice guy. To be honest, I’m not sure where I would be today if it wasn’t for him.


My Senior Prom 1996

Years passed, and we each graduated high school. Ed waited a year after graduation, and we both started college together in 1996. We had many serious talks over the years and we both knew we would be married and eventually have children. We knew where our lives were headed and agreed that once we were done with school, we would do the whole engagement thing.

After a year of college, on my 19th birthday, we took the next step in our relationship and moved in together. We both still hold fond memories of our basement apartment with the blankets over the windows and mish mosh of hand-me-down furniture. We were both working 2 jobs and going to school full time, and for me, soon school fell by the wayside.

We moved in to our house, then owned by Ed’s father, in 1999. As we approached 5 years of togetherness, I started getting the itch. It was time to be married. It didn’t help things that my best girlfriend, who had been with her boyfriend for about half as long as we had been together, was planning her own wedding. I was her maid of honor and while I was thrilled for her, I was devastated for myself. “It should be me……”, I thought over and over again. The breaking point was after attending a bridal fair with her and being happy all day. I came home and collapsed in our bed and just sobbed. I was honest with Ed about why I was upset and he reassured me with “someday……”

I still don’t know if it was that day that got him in to gear, or if it was already in the works by then. On our annual trip to Cedar Point, on our 6 year anniversary, Ed finally proposed. We were sitting on a bench in Frontier Town, just outside of our favorite cookie shop, taking a rest. He was behaving oddly, but I chalked it up to the heat. Before I could even process what was going on, there he was, on one knee in front of me. His words were simple, “Sara, will you marry me?” Of course, I said yes. The ring was perfect, simple, a heart shaped diamond that he had picked and arranged the setting for himself.



Horrible posture, I know


The rest is history. I married my best friend and soul mate on September 14, 2002, after 8 years of being together. We had a gorgeous, simple church ceremony, and threw what our family and friends still refer to as the best reception ever.







Possibly dancing like Elaine from Seinfeld...


This coming August, just after we welcome our third child, we will have been a couple; a unit, for 14 years---nearly one half of my life. I did know what love was, even at the age of 15, when I was really more of a child than adult. I wouldn’t have it any other way.



My 10-Year High School Reunion, August 2006