The
Proposal
Mark’s Decision for Marriage
I chose to propose to Laura because, after years of being together, I have watched her grow into the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.
She is beautiful inside and out, intentional in the way she loves and cares for her family and friends.
I have seen her make countless sacrifices – for her siblings, parents, friends, coworkers, and even for me. She is brilliant, hardworking, and a source of joy to everyone around her – whether on her team, in her school, church, workplace, or any space she’s a part of.
In her own quirky and beautiful way, she has become my rock, my confidant, and my best friend.
Life Lesson No. 1: God will use anything and anyone to fulfill His plans.
Permission from Laura’s Parents
Months before proposing to Laura, I reached out to her father to share my intentions. Even though we had discussed this before – where I assured him that I planned to marry Laura once I was stable in my career and finances – I was still immensely nervous.
Thankfully, he was gracious and gave me his blessing, expressing that he would love to officially welcome me into the family. He also mentioned that, in keeping with African tradition, we would need to have a knocking ceremony first – a gathering where both families exchange gifts, share laughter, and formally meet before the Western-style proposal.
With that in mind, I sought advice from my best friends, who had already gone through the proposal process. I also reached out to Laura’s best friends, Zee and Naomi, for help. Zee played a huge role in selecting the perfect ring, using insights from her conversations with Laura. Naomi, along with her sister Uyi (the event planner), was instrumental in organizing the proposal day.
My best friends, Clyde and Joseph, helped coordinate logistics and shared advice for the big moment. Laura’s sister, Victoria, was an incredible confidant and even designed the digital invitation sent to our guests.
With the support of our loved ones, everything was set in motion to make this day unforgettable.
Life Lesson No. 2: Never say never, because God has a sense of humor.
The Proposal
After months of planning, countless calls, and a few well-placed “lies”, everything was finally coming together. We secured the venue, mapped out the logistics, and coordinated every detail. The plan was simple: pick up Laura from her parents’ house and surprise her.
The morning of the proposal, I was filled with nervous energy – carefully choosing my outfit, double-checking my plans, and making sure everything was set. I reached out to the vendors to confirm their arrivals and checked in with family and friends to ensure no one accidentally spoiled the surprise.
As expected, we were running behind schedule. When I arrived at Laura’s house, she wasn’t quite ready yet, so I waited another 30 minutes before finally taking her to the proposal location.
Walking her through the doors, I felt an overwhelming sense of joy and relief. Seeing her genuinely surprised, surrounded by loved ones, made every bit of planning worth it. In that moment, I forgot my rehearsed lines and steps – I was too caught up in her emotions and excitement. She wanted to greet everyone, and I completely lost track of where I was supposed to stand for the camera. But none of that mattered.
It was a day I will never forget – one of the most important and best decisions of my life.
