My fiance, Royce, and I had been together for seven years and were living together inHoustonat the time, right out of college. We are both originally from New Orleans and while in town for a friend’s wedding, Royce proposed that we take a carriage ride through New Orleans then walk around the French Quarter while we were there for the wedding. Both native New Orleanians, neither have us had ever done the "tourist thing". At this point in our relationship, I was ready for marriage and everytime we did something romantic or took a trip together, I thought, "this could be it", I would get my hopes up just to get crushed, so when he said a "carriage ride", I thought, here we go again Kellie. We embarked on our carriage ride throught the historic French Quarter, which was great; I would recommend it to any local as well as tourists. All the while thinking to myself, "he’s going to do it"…. The trip ended in front of the St. Louis Cathedral and as I stepped off of the carriage, yet again, I felt crushed! I did not say a word and thought to myself, "just enjoy the rest of the day". He suggested we go to the Cathedral to light a candle. As we approached the Cathedral, there stood a group of around 20 people looking like they were practicing for a ceremony (not uncommon for that spot). Taken off guard, I thought we were in their way and proceeded to walk around them; I was not paying attention to their faces. When Royce told me to take another look at the group. Stunned, the group was there for me….20 of our closest friends and family were looking at me with excitement and seven of them proceeded to hand me roses, representing each year Royce and I had been together. As they handed the roses to me, they each told me about an event in our relationship that had happened during each of those years. In tears throughout the whole thing, I could see Royce at the end of the line with a big smile on his face…Inside I was thinking, "YES, YES, this is it". He handed me the last rose and on his knee he said to me "soulmates are put in our paths to teach and inspire us and I have done that for him for seven years, and asked, would I continue to do that for the rest of our lives as his wife?" He then placed the antique- designed princess-cut diamond ring on my finger (thanks DCI). That was the happiest day of my life. Finally, the man of my dreams will soon be my husband. I Love You Royce!
Kellie Mannina
Houston, TX
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