Shropshire woman's proposal surprise - on magazine front cover
Shropshire's Katie Moore opened her Sunday newspaper on Valentine's Day – to find her boyfriend staring back at her, ring in hand, with the headline: Will You Marry Me, Katie?
The romantic proposal was one of the most public this year – and thankfully one that received a "yes" in response. Katie's boyfriend James Grieg contacted the Observer magazine with the idea and reporters then contacted Katie under the pretence of doing a story about long distance relationships.
The couple had their first date in 2013 while Katie, then 28, was living in America. James revealed that they had been introduced at a party years before and ever since he had dreamed of going to New York and taking her on a date.
After a year of constantly being in touch,but spending just three weeks together, Katie moved back to Britain and moved in with James in 2014.
Now, after James' very public proposal the couple, who live in South London are looking forward to planning their wedding.
Katie said: "We've had quite different upbringings. James grew up with his mum in rural west Wales. He was 'wedgied by the rugby team' and didn't get on a plane until he was 18."
She admitted her life had been more "privileged" – a big family, a big house, horses, boarding school.
"We've taught each other a lot."
Katie said the couple spent the weekend in a hotel in the Cotswolds and James had arranged for the newspaper to be delivered with breakfast and champagne at 9am on Sunday.
When she saw the proposal on the front of the magazine at first Katie thought James had organised for a single copy of the magazine to be printed, before the truth emerged.
"It's been wonderful," she said.
