You’re about to read HowTheyAsked’s most popular proposal story , as told by their photographer and dear friend, Susan Lines.

How They Met

Megan and John met through Megan’s older brother Danny. What was a friendship soon became a relationship. They started dating when Megan was still in college and John was living out in Colorado. I still remember sitting next to a bonfire with Megan and some other close friends listening to her talk about how much she liked him. As soon as they started dating it became clear to everyone that they were meant for each other. No one else can embarrass Megan quite like John, and no one else can make fun of John quite like Megan. They have an AWESOME chemistry and are so good at laughing at themselves. They are so much fun to be around and you truly can’t get enough of them two.

how they asked

Megan had a hunch that John was getting ready to propose sometime this year. She was on her toes…as any girl who has been dating a guy for an extended point of time is. Aside from his real full time job, John owns a tacky Christmas sweater company, Skedouche. Every year they add new products and he invites all of his friends to a photo shoot where they kick off the busy season and have fun modeling these sweaters. Megan had one of those mornings where she couldn’t decide what shoes to wear and her power went out while doing her hair. It was safe to say she was a little frazzled when she showed up to the meeting spot for the Skedouche photo shoot. Megan searched outside for everyone. Little did she know that her childhood best friend, Katie O, and I were waiting inside the coffee shop with a note that would change her life. Katie and I freaked out and called john a billion times because she was late patiently waited inside until we saw Megan wondering outside like a lost soul. We ran outside and told her we needed to borrow her phone (she wasn’t allowed to have it all day) and handed her a sweet note with a her first of many clues in a scavenger hunt that would end with a proposal.

The note said:

Dear Megan, I have a confession to make: there is no photo-shoot today. Instead, this day is dedicated entirely to you, the love of my life! I have been thinking about how I would ask you to marry me for quite some time. I know you have had “hunches” that it may be sometime in the fall, so it’s difficult to create that “surprise factor” without being too obvious. Instead of just popping the question out of the blue, I’m choosing to embrace the fun and excitement of getting engaged and have planned a scavenger hunt for you today.

Spoiler alert – if you complete the scavenger hunt, then I will reward you by asking you a very important, life-changing question.

Rules:

• You are not allowed to use your cell phone and you are not allowed to borrow any other cell phone to make calls, post to Facebook, etc.

• At each clue, you must read the clue out loud and someone must film you with a flipcam. So follow the clues that I give you and above all, have fun! Today is all about you!

Love, John

The first clue of the scavenger hunt lead us to the Hyatt in Reston Town Center. When walking to find her first clue, we passed a breast cancer run. Megan, on the other hand thought AM I GETTING PROPOSED TO BY A FLASH MOB?!? No Megan, rest easy. When we arrived at the Hyatt, there was a limo waiting. Here’s a picture of John with the driver setting it all up!

The driver handed her a clue that read:

You can’t go on a proper scavenger hunt without a limo. This chariot will take you wherever you need to go and comes complete with mimosas and a decent Kleenex supply. At the final stop on your scavenger hunt, you will need certain things, so many of your clues will allow you to acquire these key items. Your next clue is waiting for you at 13067 Worldgate Drive in Herndon.

We jumped in the “chariot” and found a bulk supply of Klenex, CDs with songs that they listened to during their “courtship” (yes, there was a crunk-rap CD) and mimosas.

Megan was still a little shocked. She knew what was happening, but as the day went on the tears started falling more and more. This was one of the first times it really started to sink in.

We road our chariot to the next clue…a nail salon! Does this guy think of everything or what? Not only was it just a nail salon…but it was a nail salon with two more of her best friends from college waiting for her! Hellooo LBG and Savino!

There, they handed her another clue that read:

Can you imagine getting engaged and having ugly and damaged nails? Me neither! Use the cash provided to get everyone’s fingernails “did”. (hint: for yours, go with French Tips). Your next clue will be given when you are done. Not only did Megan get her nails done, but he treated ALL of us!

The next clue said:

Do you remember the time we first kissed? Sharing a poncho has never been as fun as that was! Your next clue is waiting for you at that very spot.

We all jumped into the chariot, with our newest additions, and headed to the Wolf Trap! Megan said she didn’t think John would be there, but she DEFINITELY was getting nervous driving up there. That was the best part of the entire day. WE knew when it was ending, but Megan thought that at any stop John could be waiting for her. Little did she know this was the first of many stops! Waiting for her, sitting in the same place they had their first kiss was Megan’s high school friend and college roommate, Chelsea!

Chelsea handed her the next clue:

Because we were in a long distance relationship, we definitely did not have a typical dating schedule. In fact, our first date was actually AFTER we officially started dating. I remember it like it was yesterday – we checked the wait at two restaurants with the agreement that we would go to the one with the lower wait time. As chance would have it, we ended up enjoying a flight of beer at the spot where your next clue is waiting.

Onward to Tysons Mall to Gordon Biersch! Of course it’s not just any other lunch, that’s not John’s style. We walked in to find her older SISTER, Katie K, sitting at the table waiting for her. This is when the tears really started flowing. THEN, out popped another college friend who flew up just for this special day. I didn’t get a picture of this because we were just as surprised as it my Megan. But just for the record- Regina was hiding in a bush.

After lunch, we gave Megan the next clue.

I hope you enjoyed the lunch! For your next clue, you don’t have to go far…it is waiting for you at Francesca’s boutique in the mall. (This also included a map of the Mall. Thanks John, although I’m sure Megan has the layout of that mall engraved into her memory by now.

As we walked through the store (hesitantly), we noticed 4 little feet coming out of the dressing room in the back. Oh hello there little sisters!

They handed Megan another clue that read:

Before you are given your next clue, you must first buy a nice dress and a pair of shoes for tonight. Given the size of your posse, you should have a wealth of opinions.Your dress should be classy and elegant – just like you! Feel free to shop around at any store in Tysons, but remember you only have two hours until the limo departs. So find a nice dress, grab some shoes, and you will be given the next clue once you are done. Happy Shopping!

LET THE SHOPPING BEGIN!

After we did some damage at Nordstrom responsibly shopped, Megan was given her next clue. This is where the real nerd in John comes out…

Fun fact – did you know that I have owned the domain name “megankaplar.com” since April 2011? Let’s just say I’ve had a hunch for a while…Your next clue is waiting for you on www.megankaplar.com.

On this webpage was a picture of them and this note: Your next clue is waiting for you at the place where we shared our first New Year’s Eve together. We then found our chariot and headed to the Gaylord National in D.C. (well, technically Maryland). This may have been one of the funniest parts of the trip. Megan was CONVINCED this was the place John would propose. She even started to fix her makeup in the car. I would be lying if I didn’t say that we all egged her on a little.

Well, we got to the hotel and no John. She started telling us how mean of a trick it was. Meanwhile, she had another important visitor….

Hello Mama!



And of course, Mom had another clue for Megan.

Grab your dress and shoes, and head up to the suite that I have prepared for you. Take a shower and get yourself ready for tonight. But be quick -you have only 1.5 hours until you receive your next clue!

After all of us got dolled up, we headed to the front lawn to take some pictures. I think Megan also thought this may be where John was. Until she was handed another clue.

Tell the girls to pack up their suitcases and take them in the limo. You can leave your stuff in the hotel room. Your next clue is waiting for you at your favorite restaurant in downtown Clifton. And no, it’s not the pub, or Peterson’s. Go there and buy a round of Titanics for you and the girls!

This is when Megan responded, “WE CAME HERE FOR NOTHING?!?!” I think she was ready to see her man. But alas, we had our round.

We all piled back into the chariot and headed Trumer’s in downtown Clifton to get a round of their famous drinks. After a round…or two…Megan was handed her 13th clue:

Your next clue is waiting for you at the place where I met the love of my life for the very first time. We were headed back to Megan’s childhood home.

Megan knew that John would do something creative, maybe transform the backyard with some candles or some nice signage, but she really had NO idea what John had done. We jumped back into the limo for the final time and headed back home. We also jammed out to some Bruno Mars I Think I Wanna Marry You and did some MEGAN! MEGAN! MEGAN! chants.

As we were pulling into her neighborhood, Katie pulled out John’s tie to blindfold her. Megan was a nervous nervous girl. We pulled up to her house and all scurried out of the limo. Katie walked her up to the front of her house where she heard the last and FINAL clue being read to her. She felt someone grab her hand and heard a familiar voice…her dad.

Congratulations Megan! You have arrived at your final destination. We are standing at the very spot where we first met back in 2008. I remember shaking your hand and thinking to myself what beautiful woman you were, and finally understanding why Danny K kept me away from you for so long! I had no idea that day that I had just met the love of my life. As promised, the time has come to ask you a very important question, and there is no better place to ask then here at the place where we first met.

As her blindfold was removed, she walked around back to find the most stunning, beautiful, amazing thing ever….John. And a backyard transformed with chandeliers hanging from trees.



10 hours after the day began, Megan walked through her backyard and said “Yes” to the man of her dreams…