Boo! Will you Marry Me?

A pumpkin proposal

Halloween 2010, Kitchener, Ontario

Todd Webb, operating engineer with a Guelph construction company, and Elyse McKillop, a 26 year old elementary school teacher in Waterloo, Ontario, met seven years ago through mutual friends just as Elyse was finishing high school. "One of my best girlfriends started dating Todd’s best friend. That couple married last year and we served as their best man and maid of honour. How amazing it was to have best friends marry best friends..."

They continued dating while Elyse went to University in Hamilton, Ontario and Todd worked in Guelph. "It required lots of him commuting and long distance phone calls," says Elyse. Todd became good friends with Elyse's housemates throughout the years, however once Elyse entered teacher's college, they opted to move in togther, living in Waterdown for a year. "Then I got a position with the school board in my hometown of Waterloo, so we moved to Waterloo... Luckily, it was still just a short commute for Todd to work in Guelph."

After about a year in Waterloo, the couple started setting some priorities. 1. Buy a home. 2. Get married.

"We sought out and bought a new home in Kitchener. After driving by it weekly, we were super excited to move in during November 2009. An engagement was starting to be on my mind, but Todd rest assured that we should have a year together in our new home first."

As time went on, Elyse and Todd talked more often and openly about their future. "I was happily beginning to think Todd was on the same page. But, I had no idea when or where..."

"We 'smack' talked for weeks about whose pumpkin would be better."

Then, as Halloween 2010 approached, Elyse and Todd came up with the idea of a pumpkin carving competition. "We 'smack' talked for weeks about whose pumpkin would be better. Finally, Halloween day arrived and we hadn’t got to our competition yet. We decided to do a hike since it was a nice day before we would get to the pumpkins. Todd seemed a little different on our walk, but I didn’t think anything of it (till later!)." Elyse actually found out that Todd had been carrying the ring in his pocket through the entire hike, just in case the right moment presented itself.

"So when we got home, we got down to our competition. We sat with our pumpkins back to back just a few feet away from each other. I was intensely carving my 'cat' pumpkin, excited since it was the first time I had carved one in a long time," says Elyse. "Todd seemed quiet and just as focused. He even went to the bathroom and took his pumpkin upstairs when he did so, making me think he was really into the competition also! He was done first and seemed a little jittery waiting for me, so he went upstairs with his pumpkin until I called him down to tell him I was done. When I finished he came down and I proudly showed him my glowing cat faced pumpkin, whiskers and all. I thought there is no way this could be topped! Then he said it was his turn, he turned off the lights lit his pumpkin then turned it towards me."

"I couldn’t believe my eyes... glowing from the pumpkin were the words 'Marry Me'." Elyse was in shock. She remembers repeating “What, No, What, No” in disbelief.

"Then he dropped to one knee and I was crying, he shared his lovingly prepared little speech that I tried not to interrupt with shrieking 'Yes!' Phone calls were made, the news was shared and pumpkin carving will always remind me of the day our lives changed!"

Note: Elyse later found out Todd had the ring for about two months. Hidden just inches from her in his bedside table. "He had asked my dad a couple weeks ago over a beer, and my parents were eagerly awaiting the special day that it would happen."

Todd and Elyse are now busy planning their Spring 2011 wedding date. Elyse told The Ring, "The wedding will be fun and family oriented. I care about the little details and making everyone comfotable. It will be nice whites, beiges, taupes and browns. It will be the perfect romantic day in March 2010."