The most epic engagement stories of the year, from all of your favorite A-list couples.
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When our favorite stars get engaged, it goes one of two ways. Either the proposal takes place behind closed doors and remains an intimate secret for all of eternity, or it's big, loud, and right out in the open. While we respect stars' use of method one, we're major fans of option two. This makes a lot of sense, since the proposals we hear about are usually elaborate, romantic, and completely over the top.
The celebrity engagements of 2017 did not disappoint. No one went bigger than celebrity floral designer Jeff Leatham, seen here, who proposed to Teen Wolf actor Colton Haynes on a Mexico beach—but only after playing a pre-recorded video of Cher, Melanie Griffith, Serena Williams, Ally Maki, and more sending love to the couple. As Leatham got down onto one knee and pulled out a ring, Bruno Mars' "Marry You" came on in the background and fireworks lit up the night sky. After Hayne's said yes, the newly-engaged couple danced together on the beach, soaking up all the happiness. The only thing more dramatic than the couple's engagement? Their black-and-white-themed wedding, which took place seven months later.
Although there may be standouts, it's impossible for us to choose our favorite celebrity proposal story. From John Stamos and Caitlin McHugh's magical Disney-inspired proposal to Miles Teller and Keliegh Sperry's safari engagement, we're just happy to see our favorite couples so in love. Click through to read about this year's most creative, romantic engagement stories from your favorite celebrity duos.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle opened up about their "cozy" proposal in their first public interview, just hours after announcing their engagement. The couple was at home, roasting chicken, when Harry got down on one knee. "It was just an amazing surprise, it was so sweet, and natural, and very romantic," she shared. Markle could hardly let him finish, she said, before saying yes and accepting the ring Harry had designed himself.
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John Stamos and Caitlin McHugh
star asked his girlfriend of two years, Caitlin McHugh, to marry him at the happiest place on earth—Disney World! Like Leatham, the actor used a video as a prelude to the proposal by putting together a reel of romantic clips from McHugh's favorite Disney films. The mini-movie ended with a scene from The Little Mermaid. When the words "Just ask the girl" popped up on the screen, Stamos got down on one knee. "I asked. She said yes! And we lived happily ever after," Stamos wrote on Instagram, announcing the fairytale engagement.
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Ronda Rousey and Travis Browne
Adventurous globetrotters will love the story behind Ronda Rousey and Travis Browne's engagement. The UFC fighters had spent about ten days hiking through the New Zealand wilderness when the they came across a peaceful waterfall. "It felt like the right place to do it," the MMA fighter shared. Two months after announcing the happy news, the pair married in Hawaii, where they hosted an intimate backyard reception.
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Miles Teller and Keleigh Sperr
For Miles Teller, his suave African safari proposal didn't exactly go as planned. "I had our guide early in the morning tie a rose to a tree, [and we] walked up to this nice scenic vista having coffee," he explained. Unfortunately, Sperry interpreted Teller's romantic gesture as a sign that someone had died, but she caught on soon enough! The War Dogs star gave his girlfriend a handwritten card with the date they began dating—Teller chose the very same day, four years later propose—and then delivered a swoon-worthy speech: "I said, 'This is the day you became my girlfriend and today was the last day you woke up as my girlfriend."
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John Cena and Nikki Bella
John Cena made quite the bold move when he asked Total Divas star Nikki Bella to marry him. He proposed on live TV! Fresh off a couple's tournament win, Cena got down on one knee in the middle of the ring, with a microphone in hand. "I've been waiting so long to ask you this," he said. "Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace, will you marry me?" After accepting, Bella deemed her longtime beau's proposal absolutely perfect—and we'd have to agree.
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Scotty McCreery and Gabi Dugal
American Idol winner Scotty McCreery took his girlfriend, Gabi Dugal, to higher ground before popping the question. While hiking their favorite North Carolina trail, the singer waited until he and Dugal reached a summit before pulling out a custom ring. The only thing more romantic than his mountain-top proposal? Their meet-cute—the couple first crossed paths in kindergarten. According to Dugal, she used to write "Mrs. Gabi McCreery" with hearts in her childhood diary.
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Chase Bryant and Kourtney Kellar
In September, country music star Chase Bryant asked his girlfriend, Kourtney Kellar, to marry him in the exact spot of their first kiss—on the roof of a parking garage. The backstory is necessary to understand the romance of this one. Bryant and Kellar were best friends for years before the singer decided to take things to the next level. He invited the model and activist to star as his love interest in a music video, and the duo shared an intimate moment onscreen. Bryant couldn't think of a better place to take their relationship up a notch, yet again.
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Tiera Skovbye and Jameson Parker
Jameson Parker took Riverdale actress Tiera Skovbye back to his childhood bedroom to propose. According to the actress, this wasn't planned—she's allegedly hard to surprise!—but it was magical, nonetheless. The couple spent the rest of the weekend surrounded by both their loved ones, lounging at Parker's family lake house and drinking plenty of celebratory Champagne.
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Josh Abbott and Taylor Parnell
Country music singer Josh Abbott enlisted the help of his two-month-old daughter, Emery, when popping the question to her mom, Taylor Parnell. Abbott dressed Emery in a "proposal onesie" that read, "Mommy will you marry Daddy?" before placing her on a bear rug with an engagement ring by her side.
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Stephanie Beatriz and Brad Hoss
Brad Hoss chose a pretty spectacular moment of teamwork to propose to Brooklyn Nine-Nine's
Stephanie Beatriz. "Brad and I hosted our first party together this weekend: his friends, my friends, and my sister all came," the actress explained to
People
. "During the party, Brad pulled me aside. I'm thinking he's going to tell me how great the party is going, that we make a great team." And then, Hoss pulled out a ring. He barely got the words out, Beatriz said, before she accepted, announced the news to their dinner party, and popped the bubbly.
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