The Deal of a Lifetime: Engaged on QVC!

Posted on April 2, 2012 by 50 Proposals

By Eleanor Eldredge & Adam Mills

Eleanor & I were engaged on QVC on February 24th 2012. Here’s how it all happened…

 From our very first date two and a half years ago when I walked in her house and she had QVC on in the background, it didn’t take long for me to realize how much she was infatuated with the shopping channel.  

 Fast forward to today, if you were to ever walk in our front door you would see the television on ESPN or QVC depending on who had control of the remote. I literally fall asleep to QVC on in the background each and every night. Once I started thinking of proposing to Eleanor, I realized I wanted it to be original and that is when I thought how meaningful it would be if I did something involving QVC.

 In November of last year I reached out to QVC with my idea of being a guest host and popping the question on live television. They responded and informed me it was out of there means to pull it off and wasn’t going to be possible.

 Inspired by my favorite quote by Winston Churchill, “never, never, never give up” I didn’t give up…

 I instead found the contact information for Larry Denney, QVC manager of studio and tours. He was excited about Eleanor’s infatuation with QVC and loved my proposal idea. He jumped right on board, rounded up a group at QVC to help in the planning process and that’s when my crazy thought came to life.

Idea after idea and months and months of planning the QVC proposal was finally set. The hard part was keeping it a surprise, which meant getting Eleanor to the QVC studios in West Chester, Pennsylvania without her suspecting a thing. For our two year anniversary I decided to give Eleanor a QVC a goody package which included two all access VIP tour tickets. She was thrilled, did not have a clue and we were off on a weekend I knew we’d never forget.

 Eleanor and I arrived at the QVC studios both excited and nervous, for obviously very different reasons. With ring in pocket I was ready to go. We took the studio tour, seeing everything from production to a live taping. While on our tour a producer approached and asked if we would take part in a “Customer Appreciation Video”. How could the biggest fan not want to talk all things QVC? She agreed and we were headed to a studio for the big moment. Micked up and cameras rolling Eleanor gushed about her fascination with the shopping network. After several questions from the prouder it was finally my time to ask the most important question of all. With her hand in mine I popped down on one knee, took her breath away, pulled out the ring and she said yes!

 Eleanor was not the only person surprised that day. QVC arranged to have her favorite host, David Venable, come out with a cake and a bottle of champagne to toast the special occasion. With us both shocked and elated we celebrated a moment that was truly unbelievable.

 The proposal was perfect. She was beyond surprised and I was more than thrilled to ask the woman of my dreams to be mine forever.

 Our toes still have not reached the ground. We can’t wait for the many more celebrations to come…

 

See the Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_Or1XGUi0c

 

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The Best Catch: Lake Champlain Proposal

Posted on February 29, 2012 by 50 Proposals
Aimee and Matt, Long Island NY
 
It was May 1st, right before finals and I had a TON of work to do including handing in my thesis proposal. However, I really needed to unwind and do something fun so Matt decided to rent a boat (thought you needed a license…apparently not in the North Country hahaha) and go fishing on Lake Champlain. Of course I brought all my articles to read since I was so overwhelmed with getting it done, but obviously that didn’t happen. Anyways, after about 15 minutes and next to Valcour Island, he asked me if I wanted to start fishing and I did, so I asked him to bait my hook. I HATE touching worms!! 5 seconds later he turned around and was just staring at me with a weird face. I really had no idea what was going on. I didn’t get it for a good 10 seconds, but the ring was on the hook swinging in front of my face!! Good thing he planned this out and fixed the hook so the ring wouldn’t fall off into the water lol. And on one knee he said, “I’ve got the best catch, will you marry me?”

I knew the proposal was coming… taking my dad out for lunch??? COME ON NOW, but he definitely shocked me with when and how it happened ♥

Matt is such a romantic person, he always puts so much thought into everything he does for me….even his cards are lengthy and beautiful lol. I can’t even express how grateful I am, especially having a significant other who drove up to Plattsburgh almost every weekend to see me (sometimes arriving on a Saturday night, only to leave Sunday morning..crazy right????). He made the 6 hour drive in snow, rain, hail, you name it. Both of us said we would never be in a long distance relationship, but not even 2 months before I left to start my masters program, we decided to give it a try. Well, we made it through the 2 years I was upstate and I can honestly say that’s the reason we’re so close. Our Skpye dates, talking on the phone from the time we woke up, throughout the day, and then until one of us fell asleep on the phone at night was how we had to get to know one another. I’m very happy I came back home for my internship though and Matt is too (for driving reasons of course haha). It was tough at times having a significant other so far away, but the saying “what doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger” is definitely true for us :)

I never knew a love like this could exist. The list of qualities that I HAD to have in someone seemed downright ridiculous and never going to happen. I was actually OK with the fact that I would probably be the crazy cat lady. I can’t believe that Matt is everything I’ve dreamed about having in a person. Not only is he the most handsome man I’ve ever met, he’s sweet,loving, and kind to everyone around him. He works hard to be successful and always strives for more. Matt motives me and supports everything I do, always cheering me on to the fullest. He’s my best friend in whole world and I really can’t remember what life was like before I met him.

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When The Lights Come on in California

Posted on February 23, 2012 by 50 Proposals

By Charlene and Johan

I had just recently taken the Bar Exam and was excited to get out of LA and spend some time with family and friends in the Bay Area. For the first two days, Johan seemed like he was swamped with work and didn’t have time to hang out. While I wasn’t really offended, I did find it strange. It crossed my mind that he may have been planning a proposal, but I convinced myself not to think twice about it and carried on.

During one of the days we were back at home, we had arranged to have our good friend and amazing photographer, Dan Chen, take photos of us for a creative shoot that he and Johan had been envisioning to do for some time now. Dan had taken photos of us before, just for fun, so this “photoshoot” did not in and of itself give away anything. 

12PM, August 17th, 2011. Millbrae, CA. 

On the day we had scheduled to do the photoshoot, I stopped by my cousin’s place unannounced, as I often do, to play with their kids, Jayden and Chloe. While I was there, Chloe (age 3 at the time) said to me, “I know something but I can’t tell you.” Instinctively I asked, “What is it?” Without me having to probe any further, she answered that she was going to see Johan’s house (or something along those lines).Jayden, who is 1 year older and quite a bit better at keeping a secret, quickly yelled, “Mui, you weren’t suppose to say that!” Unfortunately, Jayden’s attempt to silence his sister came a little too late—Chloe had confirmed my suspicions that something big might just happen that day.  

2PM, August 17th, 2011. Lake Chabot, CA. 

I went on to meet Johan and Dan, and we spent the afternoon in the East Bay taking these amazing photos. I tried not to think about the possible proposal, hoping that if he was going to do it, that it would still catch me by surprise.

I did find myself wondering if it was going to happen at several times throughout the day though, especially during those moments where we got to just sit in admiration of God’s creation, and enjoy each other’s presence. Needless to say, it didn’t happen then. I’m glad though, because little did I know, he had something even more beautiful and so much more meaningful in store.

Fast forward to the end of a long but fun day, we decided to go back to Johan’s parents’ house to unwind. Suspiciously, Johan forgot his keys ..but he NEVER forgets his keys. He went around the house to check the back door and told me to wait. I played along and yelled at him to just call his parents. Inside, my heart was pounding. After a few minutes, he walked back towards me, told me the back door was open, and led me around the house through the pitch blackness. Suddenly, the lights came on. He said something to me that I can’t remember, and the waterworks began.

All along the back of the house were notes, letters, and pictures, each meticulously framed and carefully hung for display. In the center of the backyard was a “living room” set up, complete with a leather couch atop a vintage rug. To say that I was overwhelmed is an understatement. We spent the next 20 minutes or so walking around the backyard, looking at every picture that my friends and family had sent in, and reading through each note that they had written to me. Well.. to be completely honest, I didn’t personally read most of the notes myself—Johan had to read quite a few of them to me because I was struggling to see through my tear-filled eyes.

When we were done, he led me to the couch that was surrounded by pictures of us and notes from him, and sat me down. He reminded me of how much I am loved by our God, by our family and friends, and by him. Then, he got down on his knee, pulled out the most beautiful ring, and asked me to marry him.. and of course I said “Yes!”

The night didn’t end there. Just as Chloe had accidentally divulged earlier, family followed by friends came rushing in to celebrate with us. They got to see their notes hung on the wall, and witness firsthand all the labor that Johan, with the help of his loving family, had put into the evening.

Take a look at our Save the Date Video capturing the day:  http://www.charandjo.com/save-the-date

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Illinois Man Produces Proposal Musical

Posted on February 20, 2012 by 50 Proposals

Engagement rings are expensive, and I did not have a lot of money when I graduated. So I had to save the money. During that time, I wrote one song for Tiffany that would be my proposal. It soon turned into multiple songs and became the “Tiffany, Will You Marry Me?” The Musical! We went to different schools, but we both loved music and participated enthusiastically in marching bands in high school and college. Many of our friends were incredibly musically talented.

I secretly contacted her friends and my own friends and taped the musical proposal about me looking for help on how to propose, with all of our friends presenting increasingly ridiculous proposal ideas. What began as something to burn time became an insanely complex series of clandestine sneaking around to write music, record music, and videotape editing.

On our 7 year, 8 month, 9 day anniversary, I surprised my girlfriend with my song/proposal + musical. It’s difficult to explain, so please just watch:

Categories: Illinois | Tags: | 1 Comment

4 Suggestions for a Romantic Valentine’s Day Proposal

Posted on February 12, 2012 by 50 Proposals

If you know you are ready to take the next step with your significant other, why not consider a romantic Valentine’s Day proposal?  Here are a few suggestions to help get the wheels turning:

Get Outside

Mother Nature can provide you with everything you need for a perfect proposal: beauty, seclusion and tranquility.  Scope out the area, and plan a hike, a bike ride, a ski-outing etc.  Be creative with the presentation.  One of my best friends took his fiancé-to-be for a hike in the beautiful NC mountains.  He lead her up a spur trail to a place where they could look down to where he had arranged “Will you Marry Me” with rock piles.  How can you not say “yes” to that?

Involve Friends

Getting the right friends on board can help you plan a most fantastic proposal.  Caitlin participated in a most phenomenal proposal in Washington, DC.  Her co-worker had planned an elaborate scavenger hunt, and on each stop along the way he had stationed friends to give her a clue that would lead her to a significant place in their relationship.  At the last stop, he was waiting on one knee.

Public Proposals

For those of you extroverts who enjoy being the center of attention, consider a public proposal.  One of my favorite stories comes from Terri, who proposed to his girlfriend right after coming home from a 3-year deployment at a local dinner theater.  He had arranged with them to have him come up to the stage before the show started.  He got to give his proposal speech to a full house, and she of course said yes!

Think About Your Time Together

There is no reason your proposal has to be an elaborate spectacle, especially if you are not the type.  Even if you want to keep things simple with a special dinner at home, try to add a few sentimental touches.  You could make a song list of all of the songs that have special significance to your relationship.  You could bring out some of the memorabilia you have from special moments: ticket stubs, love letters, pictures etc.  You could suggest that you watch the movie that you saw on your first date.   Look for fun ways to relive special moments, and you will have all you need for a beautiful proposal.

We want to hear your story!!  Send stories, pictures and/or video to info@50proposals.com

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