STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Annadale resident Frank Chiaramonte, 26, didn't get down on one knee in the TV section of Best Buy in New Springville because he wanted a 70-inch flat-screen.

Rather, Chiaramonte assumed the position for the purpose of asking Annadale resident Alyssa Simeone, 25, his girlfriend of three years, to marry him. And, wouldn't you know it, all the store's TVs played a montage of photos from their last three years together -- including his bout with stage-three Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"I was beyond surprised. I thought I was going to pass out. I thought we were looking for a small television for our apartment," said Ms. Simeone, who works as a cocktail waitress.

"Frank said he wanted to look at a 70-inch television and I have a one-bedroom apartment. That wouldn't even fit through our door. ... Then all of a sudden I saw a picture of us on the screen. And then I turned around and everyone in our families was there," she marveled.

Next came the video, accompanied by the song "Marry Me" by Train. And before Ms. Simeone knew it, Chiaramonte was on one knee and he uttered the words every woman in love wants to hear: "Will you marry me?"

"When we were together for six months, I was diagnosed with cancer. She stuck by my side through chemo and several surgeries, every step of the way. She didn't miss one thing. She pushed me to keep fighting," said Chiaramonte, who works as an electrician's helper for the New York City Housing Authority.

"The photos showed everything from our first-date photo to pictures of us when I was going through chemotherapy," he added.

As to why he decided to propose in Best Buy, Chiaramonte said he has always been a TV enthusiast.

"I went to Times Square and they weren't able to do it, and when I went to Best Buy they were happy to do it for no charge," said Chiaramonte, who is involved with many organizations on Staten Island, including his work as an "advocacy ambassador" for the American Cancer Society here.

"I wanted a proposal that was different; now, in the future, when we drive by Best Buy we will always remember it," he said, noting the couple has yet to make plans for their nuptials.

And it seemed to be the weekend for wedding proposals. West Brighton resident Frank Laino, 25, popped the question to Christie Patterson, 26, his girlfriend of 10 years, on the South Beach Boardwalk.

"We met on the boardwalk in South Beach 10 years ago," said Ms. Patterson, who lives in West Brighton and is a teacher at PS 105 in Brooklyn.

"He's a firefighter, and he pretended the FDNY was having a mortgage raffle, which I thought was kind of bizarre," she added.

When she arrived in the parking lot in South Beach she saw her families' cars. As they walked toward the boardwalk, she was greeted with signs held by her friends and family. They read: "Will you marry me? I love you."

"When I turned around, he was on his knee, and I collapsed into my hands, hysterical-crying," she said. "He made the day absolutely perfect. It was more than I could ever imagine."

The couple hopes to wed in the spring or summer of 2015, she said.