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Groom's Proposal Story
Melanie and I had been dating for less then a
year when I was confident I was going to ask her
to marry me. That first year was great
getting to know Mel, I was happy to have her be
a part of my life. We spent that first
year learning that we had very similar morals
and values. This was very important to
each of us. I felt very lucky to have met
such a wonderful and caring person!
As we approached the 1st year anniversary of the
day we met, we decided to plan a weekend to
celebrate our new friendship and commitment to
each other. We planned to drive up the
scenic "North Shore" for a fun weekend to enjoy
the shores of Lake Superior. I decided
that on this weekend, I would ask Melanie to
marry me. This would be a very special
weekend for the both of us, and a surprise for
Melanie!
In the
months prior, I had been telling Melanie how
much I loved her and the discussion of marriage
had come up a few times before. During our
first Christmas together (2001), we were
shopping together and I decided to swing by a
jewelry store with Melanie. As we passed a
jewelry store at the mall, I asked her if for
fun she would be interested in looking at
engagement rings, with a surprised but happy
look, Mel said yes. Innocently I began to
quiz Melanie on the style of engagement
rings she liked, it was fun and I felt great!
During the next few months, I had been
researching engagement rings with my friend Rick Heimbach of
Bagley's in
Duluth. He was happy to answer the many
questions I had and also provide me with
additional facts I had not thought about before.
Rick was great in helping me design the
engagement ring that I would soon present to
Melanie, to begin my life long commitment to
her.
As
Spring arrived, I started to think about how I
wanted to ask Melanie to marry me. I had
made reservations for the Grand Superior Lodge
near Two Harbors, but I did not have a concrete
plan for where I would actually ask her. I
decided I would make that decision when the time
and location felt right on that day. I
also met with Rick, and we both decided on
including Melanie in assisting with the ring's
design. I then invited Melanie to join me
in visiting Bagley's on the following Saturday,
and expressed to her how much fun I it would be
to include her in designing the engagement ring
I would some day present to her. This was
a fun occasion for us; Rick new the right
questions to ask and I felt very excited about
the ring that would soon be designed for
Melanie. A few days later, I met with Rick
again and made the final decision on Mel's ring.
Our
anniversary weekend arrived quickly, and I was
anxiously awaiting for the moment I would ask
Melanie to marry me! We left Duluth on
Friday mourning after we packed up our suitcases
and headed out of town in Melanie's car.
We arrived at
Grand Superior Lodge
and checked into our cabin. After checking
in, we realized we forgot charcoal for the
barbeque grill. I told Mel that I would
head back into Two Harbors and get the charcoal
and a few other items we needed for the weekend.
This was a great situation, as I had a few items
I wanted to have on hand for after my proposal.
One of those items was a copy of Bride's
Magazine for Melanie!
Once back at the lodge, I visited with Melanie
and was very excited about the next day when we
would travel around to different tourist sites
on the North Shore. Our first stop was the
Split Rock Lighthouse.
I had been thinking that this might be a place
to propose, but decided I wanted to look for a
more private place. We continued on the
tour of the lighthouse and then down to the lake
shore where we had a passing tourist take our
picture.
Mel and Len at Split Rock Lighthouses.
After deciding that this would not be where I
would ask Mel to marry me, I decided we should
continue with our travel. After discussing
what to do next with Mel, we planned to get back
in the car and head further up the Lake
Superior's North Shore to
Grand Marais.
I was then thinking that a walk on the lake
shore in Grand Marais might provide a more
private place to propose to Melanie.
During our car ride up to Grand Marais I made a
mental note of a wayside that proved great lake
shore access and continued driving. When
we arrived in Grand Marais, we parked the car
and started touring the many shops. Again,
I decided this would not be where I would ask
Mel to marry me. We decided to have lunch
at
Sven and Ole's.
I had always heard about their restaurant on the
radio and wanted to try one of their pizzas.
After lunch, we visited a few more shops and
decided we should start heading back down the
shore. At this point, I knew the location
I was going to ask Melanie to marry me.
After traveling an hour, we came upon the "Cut
Face Creek Wayside," and I told Melanie we
should stop. We parked the car and
proceeded down to the lake shore. I
suggested we walk down the rocky shore for fun.
Upon walking for awhile, I spotted a large
bolder along the shore. This was the
place, this would be where I would ask Melanie
to marry me. We walked up to the rock and
I asked Melanie to sit down so I could take a
photo of her.
Melanie just prior to Leonard asking her to
marry him!
I then sat down next to her and started to
reminisce about the past year together.
Being very nervous, I periodically got off my
topic of our past year. After talking with
Mel for about 45 minutes, I finally was ready to
ask her...I got in front of her and started down
to one knee. As I did, I said:
"Melanie Kirsten Samuelson, will you marry me?"
Melanie's eye's started to tear and she very
excitedly said "Yes," followed with giving me a
big hug. I laughed as she then realized
she hadn't yet admired her new engagement ring
that I had slipped onto her left ring finger.
She was overjoyed with excitement to have a ring
on her finger, as was I so happy to ask her to
commit to me for life. She then took a
picture of me as I was glowing with excitement.
Leonard just after Melanie said "Yes" to his
proposal of marriage!
We
both then headed back to the car and began the
cell phone calls to our families first and then
our closest friends. It was very exciting
for the both of us. When we got back to
the cabin I presented Melanie a card and her new
copy of Bride's Magazine. We
finished the day back at Grand Superior Lodge
with a candle lit dinner in the "Splashing
Rock" restaurant in the main Lodge. It was
a spectacular occasion for the both of us as on
this day, we began our lifetime commitment to
each other.
Len and Mel celebrating their engagement at the
Splashing Rock restaurant at Grand Superior
Lodge.
Cut Face Creek Wayside on
Good Harbor Bay
On Lake Superior, on Hwy 61, about 12 miles east
of Lutsen. This is a newly-renovated
wayside that features restrooms, picnic tables,
and a cobblestone beach.
Good
Harbor Bay Panorama is just east of Thomsonite
Beach, Highway 61 turns left and reveals an
incredible picturesque Good Harbor Bay, Seagull
Rock and the small town of Grand Marais in the
distance. The wayside rest area and vehicle
pullover area are on the lakeside of the road,
at the height of land or you can stop at the
newly remodeled Cutface Creek Wayside Rest on
the eastern edge of the bay.
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