L & L L

I already knew I wanted to marry my wife from the first time I met her. But, I wanted to make sure it was right for both of us so when it was close to a year of us dating. I was ready to pop the big question.

It was a cold winter day on December 9th, 1996. I planned a special dinner at my home. The menu for the evening was Alaskan crab legs and steak with a bottle of champagne.

My roommate's friend worked at the local radio station Mix 103.7. I called her to see if I could arrange for her to call my house that night, so could propose to Lynette over the air. Unfortunately, she wasn't working that night but that she would pass it on to the D.J. that would be on that evening. I told her what song I wanted them to play after I proposed. So we just needed to figure what song could be a cue for me to get ready. I agreed to "Hot Blooded", by Foreigner. Not the best choice of songs but, I figured it would work.

My next call was to family and friends I asked them to listen to the radio 103.7 FM at 7:30 they asked why? I just told them to please just listen. You'll find out then.

I was so nervous getting dinner ready since I never cooked Alaskan crab legs before.

She was to arrive at my house at 7:00 pm. I saw her car lights pull into the drive I hurried and shut the blinds and lit the candles. I greeted her at the door boy was she beautiful, and I took her coat and seated her at the table.

The meal turned out pretty good even though I was still nervous for what I knew was next. I tried to carry on a conversation as best as I could.

Soon, "Hot blooded" started playing on the radio I knew the time was coming to ask the big question. I was already hot and sweaty it seemed like the, song made it 10 times hotter, I didn't think the song would ever end. I was ready, nervous but ready!

I excused myself from the table and then the phone rang on the radio I asked Lynette to get that. Not realizing it was on the radio not the home phone but within minutes the home phone rang. Guess it was a delayed ring from the radio station.

"Hi! Is this Lynette?"
"Yes!"
"Well, this is Mike from Mix 103.7; Larry has something he would like to ask you. Larry, are you there?"
"Yes!”.
"Go ahead Larry."
"Hi!"
"Hi!"
"You know I love you very much?"
"Yes"
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you, will you marry me?"
"YES!"

The D.J. congratulated us and played our song "You're the inspiration!" By Chicago.

I came out with the Ken K box and opened it for her. I'll never forget the smile and tears coming down her face.

It was one of the happiest days of my life with my Valentine.

M & S W

It was January 13th 2006 and after a long day of work, I was more than ready to go home. My boyfriend and I had been together since 10th grade, about 7 years. He was a pilot and was trying to convince me to take a night flight to see the lights of Bemidji. Although I was tired, I had never seen the view at night and thought it would definitely be worth it.

After convincing me to go up, we were finally in the air and after flying all around Bemidji, he said we should fly over my house. I didn't really understand why we would do this being I lived outside of town where there was no lighting. I didn't think we would see anything, but I was mistaken. As we approached my field, I could see a strange orange glow and thought we must be in the wrong place. As we got closer, I could see the orange glow beginning to take shape. It became the soft light of over 200 candle lit luminaries bringing to life the most beautiful words, "S will you marry me?" large enough and bright enough to read from the sky! I was speechless as we circled around and around the most romantic dream come true. As I turned around to look at him, there he sat ring in hand, as I yelled "Yes" over the loud roar of the engine. It was absolutely the most wonderful and unexpected surprise! I guess the view from the sky was even better than anything I could have imagined.

R & M T

After purchasing my ring from Dean at the downtown store as to be secretive since I did not want her to know I was “shopping”. I waited for our annual fish fry that my college roommates had at our place for the right moment. As I was trying to lure her over to me she was reluctant but finally she did and I got down on my knee to tell her that I loved her and asked her in front of all of our friends if she would marry me. She forgot to say yes right away, but her expression had already said it. It was just a coincidence that I proposed on April 1, 2002 but a few seconds later after a friend yelled out “April Fools” but that was only a joke and we were married on October 5, 2002.

M & S W

It was January 13th 2006 and after a long day of work, I was more than ready to go home. My boyfriend and I had been together since 10th grade, about 7 years. He was a pilot and was trying to convince me to take a night flight to see the lights of Bemidji. Although I was tired, I had never seen the view at night and thought it would definitely be worth it.

After convincing me to go up, we were finally in the air and after flying all around Bemidji, he said we should fly over my house. I didn't really understand why we would do this being I lived outside of town where there was no lighting. I didn't think we would see anything, but I was mistaken. As we approached my field, I could see a strange orange glow and thought we must be in the wrong place. As we got closer, I could see the orange glow beginning to take shape. It became the soft light of over 200 candle lit luminaries bringing to life the most beautiful words, "Will you marry me?" large enough and bright enough to read from the sky! I was speechless as we circled around and around the most romantic dream come true. As I turned around to look at him, there he sat ring in hand, as I yelled "Yes" over the loud roar of the engine. It was absolutely the most wonderful and unexpected surprise! I guess the view from the sky way better than anything I could have imagined

D & M S

A Keeper

"So, do you want to go ice fishing tonight?" my entire plan hinged on the answer to this little question. "Sure." she said.

Later that evening, my high school sweetheart and I were dragging my fish house out onto Lake Bemidji to a secret spot of mine where I had never caught a fish. We were set up and had been fishing for about an hour with out a bite.

Satisfied that my secret spot still wasn’t producing any fish, I told her that I was going to try a different rod I had set up outside. Earlier that day I had purchased a brand new rod and reel that I had set up with 30 lb. test super line and an 8 inch steel leader …just in case. While I was outside getting my "Marlin" rod, I pulled the ring out of my pocket and snapped it to the steel leader while I gave myself a little pep talk. I walked back into the fish house, turned my back to Megan and lowered the ring down the hole, starting to seriously doubt the intelligence of dangling this shiny new lure in Lake Bemidji, which has claimed my car keys and my cell phone in the past. "WHOA, I've got a bite Meg! Come reel it in!' "Should I reel it fast or slow?" she said. "SLOW" I said back to her.

Relieved to see the ring come out of the hole, I got down on my knee, hands shaking, partly because I still had to undo the ring and get it on her finger without dropping it down the hole. As she stood there teary eyed in disbelief, I popped the question and got the answer I was hoping for. The rest is kind of mushy, and I know you guys don’t want to hear about it. So in retrospect, it probably wasn’t the safest way to propose, but it landed me a keeper.

D & M T

"Walk in the park with me?" I asked her.
"It's already dark."
"I know. I've got something to show you." I prodded her out of the car and grabbed her sweater, hiding a dozen roses underneath. Dusk had sunk into the early July night by the time we arrived at Weaver Lake Park in Maple Grove, Minnesota. The lights around the parking lot formed cones of wispy yellow light as we headed up the path. She began to hit her stride, and I stopped and dropped down on one knee. She took a couple of steps before realizing my absence. Turning around, she saw me on my knees with a ring in a maroon velvet box and roses in hand.

"Will you marry me?" and an eternity passed as she brushed away tears. Her eventual smile emerging from behind her hand, communicated her answer, making her words an echo, really. She pulled me up and hugged and kissed my relief.

We returned to the trunk of the car, where I had chilled a bottle of champagne in a cooler. Just as we were enjoying our first sip, a spotlight illuminated the bubbles within our glasses, and the police cruiser made the corner into the parking lot. "No alcohol in the park. Park's closed." The grim lines in his face softened as her hand thrust out, the new diamond sparkling her joy. The officer had to interrupt her twice to tell us we had to leave, before quickly driving out of the park with a smile, seeming to have forgotten about the infractions. We laughed until his tail lights disappeared. That was fifteen years ago, and I still feel as though I've gotten away with something.

T & T K

My wife had a work seminar scheduled in Las Vegas late January 2003. Spouses and significant others were also going on the trip. I had arranged to have an engagement ring made for Kristin through Ken K. I picked out the diamond and had great help deciding on the style of ring to put it in.

Now, with the ring in hand the plan was finally sent into motion.

She and her coworkers were in seminars for four hours that day. I arranged with the gondoliers at the Venetian the scenario I wanted to produce for the proposal while she was in seminar. Made sure the gondolier sang an appropriate song and was okay with me taking the seat belt off in order to get down on my knee.

I also schemed with the spouses and significant others to have everyone wait in a specific bar in the Venetian hotel for us to arrive after the big proposal.

I met up with her after the seminar at the Stratosphere Casino around 6:00 pm. We talked for a few minutes, trying to figure out where to go, what to do I suggested the gondola ride back at the Venetian. In line at the Venetian, I told her I was going to jump up to the front of the line and ask if it was okay that we bring our drinks with us on the ride. Really, I was giving them the heads-up that I was there and ready to propose to her. In the gondola, we talked and listened to the gondolier. As the gondola was to go under the famous bridge, (supposedly if you kiss under this bridge, your love will last forever) I undid my seatbelt, got down on one knee and told her how much I loved her and wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. I pulled the ring out of my pocket and presented it to her.

She said yes, cried, her hands were shaking I think I really surprised her!!

Afterwards, she was still shaking and very overwhelmed. So I suggested we go up to the bar that overlooked the canals and relax for a bit and get glass of wine.

As we entered the bar, everyone that was with for the seminar was standing there, cheering congratulations to the both of us. Her best friend Lynn and her hugged and cried for what seemed like forever. Lynn is the one who introduced us in the first place, so this was a special moment for her as well.

We have been married for 4 ½ years now. We just had our first baby together and couldn’t be happier.

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B & A E

I was a young crop duster who had watched many sunsets from the cockpit of an airplane. It was there that I got my inspiration, my only problem, I was single. But having the winters off, I decided to attend Oak Hills where I met A. W. from Bemidji. Our first date was an Oak Hills sponsored Valentines Banquet at Calvary Lutheran. After several months of dating, I finally felt confident enough to ask her to marry me.

I rented a small two seat Cessna 150 south of Bagley and took her for what she thought was just another ride. We landed at a very quiet Bagley airport and shut the motor off at the end of the runway to watch the sunset. As the sun started to sink below the horizon, I pulled out a diamond ring and asked Audrey to marry me. That was our first sunset but she didn't say anything so I started up the plane and took off. As we climbed in altitude we watched the sun rise in the west. After climbing for about ten minutes we were over a thin layer of clouds. The sun was just orange and huge. As we began our descent back to Hoiland’s air strip we watched the sun sink in pinkish colors a second time below the clouds. When we got below the cloud layer we saw the sun sink below the horizon a third and final time in big reddish colors. All that evening since the time I had given her the ring she hadn't said a thing. She just sat there soaking in the sunsets speechless and gazing at her ring.

Finally after we were on the ground she finally said yes. That was Oct 10, 1984. We were married March 30, 1985. We were kidded at our wedding that I threatened to push her out if she didn't say yes or that I had threatened to jump. But this year we will be celebrating our 23rd anniversary, still in love.