Engagement Story Contest Winners

Bride & Groom: Wedding Date:
Angela Birchbauer & James Gunja August 21, 2004
Engagement Story:

My fiancé and I met back in Olathe, KS. I was 7 years old, and he was 5 years old and in my brother's kindergarten class. Growing up we knew each other, but we never became friends until I moved to Florida at the age of 14. In high school, we kept in touch through letters and saw each other on trips he made to Florida to see my brother or trips I made to Kansas to hang out with my girlfriends. Anyhow, one day Jim writes me a letter to tell me that he is in love with me. Unfortunately, at the time, I didn,t share the same feelings. Despite the confession, we managed to stay great friends, and over time, Jim became my best friend.

One day, Jim sent me a letter in a light green envelope that he asked me to keep on me at all times. I couldn't understand the request, but since he was one of my best friends, I tucked it away in my wallet and had it in there for years.

Eventually, my feelings started to change for Jim, and we started to date and moved in together in New Jersey.

On Sunday, September 28th, Jim and I went to Baltimore for the Chiefs game, and after an amazing victory, we decided to walk down by the water. So, we went to Fell's Point, found a bench to sit on, and just talked and talked, while looking at the water. Anyhow, at one point, I said "let's go", and Jim said "Okay, but I have a present for you first". Well, he pulls out the letter in the light green envelope, which I immediately recognized. At first I wondered why he had it and when did he take it out of my purse! Well, I guess that morning while I was taking a shower, he pulled it out of my purse and put it in his pocket. So, he gives me the letter and tells me to read it, because he made some modifications. As I read the letter, I realize that it is the same letter he sent me a couple years ago, but he had highlighted the first letter of every sentence. At this point, I am wondering what the heck is going on! So, I put the highlighted letters together, and they spell:

Angela Marie Birchbauer, will you marry me?

Here I had this letter in my wallet for YEARS and never knew!!! As I get towards the end of the letter, I now know what the heck is going on, and Jim drops to his knee and says "Will you make me the happiest man in the world and please marry me?"

Jim said that he knew he always wanted to marry me, so he said that he always hoped one day he could use that letter to prove it to me. And if we never ended up together, then I would have never known the secret message in the letter. I just thought his proposal was so sweet and romantic, just like him!

Prize Awarded:
FREE 2-Hour Wedding Planning Consultation from Memorable Events, Inc. or 25% OFF Wedding Invitations

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