This is the heartwarming moment a couple discovered they both planned to surprise each other by proposing on the same day, during a trip to Edinburgh.
Sally Morton, 39, had organised her proposal to her girlfriend Leanne Stewart, 35, just a few days before Christmas. Little did she know that Leanne, who is from the capital, had exactly the same thing in mind, and responded by getting down on one knee herself.
Both proposals had been in the works for over a year, with the two women buying each other’s rings less than a month apart. In the end, it was Sally’s proposal at the top of Calton Hill that came first.
Sally, a farm manager based in Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk, said: “It was such a special moment. When she got down on one knee, I remember initially thinking she was having a laugh, but then I saw her ring box and realised what was happening.
“I was just so happy that we were so on the same page without even realising it. Especially because I come as a package deal with two kids, even though I know Leanne has a great relationship with them, it felt really reassuring to know she wanted the exact same thing I did at the same time.”
The couple met in April 2021 on TikTok and spent the first year and a half commuting between Suffolk and Edinburgh before Leanne moved into a flat near Sally and her daughters.
Leanne had asked Sally’s dad for permission and told her family about her plan to propose so both families knew what was about to happen and made sure to keep it a surprise.
Leanne said: “Apparently there were many calls behind the scenes between family members laughing at the crazy coincidences of the situation.”
Leanne had planned her proposal for outside Edinburgh Castle, but was thrown off by Sally suggesting a walk up Calton Hill, where she had arranged for a photographer to capture the moment.
One of Sally’s daughters was also given the responsibility of filming the proposal.
Leanne, an assistant manager at a swimming pool, said: “I thought if we got up there and the moment felt right I would do it then but of course had no idea what Sally was planning.
“At the start of the video when Sally in kneeling behind my back, you can see me reach my hand into my pocket and clutch the ring box, literally about to propose.
“When I turned around, my first thought was that she had found the ring I bought and was proposing because of that. But then I saw that her ring box was a totally different colour to mine and I honestly couldn’t believe what was happening.
“Sally gave a wonderful little speech and asked me to marry her, at which point I got down on one knee and asked her right back. She beat me to the proposal by seconds but I am quite happy to have gotten the first ‘yes’ out of the pair of us.”
Leanne and Sally are now planning for an autumn wedding with Leanne having already hired a wedding planner.
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