… to Denise! Random.org has spoken, and you are the winner of our first ever blog contest! Please e-mail me to collect your winnings: a 2-hour consultation with Aviva Events to help with your wedding preparations, a free engagement session with Fyrefly Photography, a DVD of The Proposal and several wedding magazines. Denise’s story is below:

“Matt and I got engaged on May 22, 2009. Being an extremely good listener, with an extremely good memory, Matt decided to propose at the lake by my parents’ house. This lake was dear to me as I grew up there going for bike rides with my father, walks with my mother, and even spent one summer there training for the Marine Corps Marathon. Matt took my father out to dinner that night to ask him for my hand in marriage, while my mother thought it would be nice if I came over to have dinner at the house with her while the men were out. Matt suggested we go into DC for drinks after dinner, so I dressed up a bit. When they arrived back at the house, Matt asked if we could go down to the lake instead to feed the ducks and geese that lived on a small island there. He had already picked up some bread from the Italian restaurant, so how could I say no? After we finished feeding the ducks and geese, Matt suggested we continue walking to the nearby dock. As the sun was setting, he took my hand and walked me out onto the dock where he got down on one knee and proposed.”

I loved reading ALL of the proposal stories, they were each so unique and sweet! I wish I could give a prize to everyone, and although I can’t, I promise to keep up the regular blogging to bring more advice and tips that are hopefully helpful to anyone who is planning a wedding, in Cincinnati and beyond :)

Do you have a topic you’d like us to cover on the blog? Send a note or leave a comment below!