COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. (WLVT) - When it came time to pop the big question to his girlfriend of nearly two years, one Montgomery County man saw stay-at-home orders as an opportunity.
Sean Murphy knew this was the year he wanted to propose to his girlfriend, Alyssa Caffarelli, but stay-at-home orders put a stop to some of his proposal ideas -- he even had to order the ring online.
''Here’s the funny thing about quarantine, it’s really hard to get out of the house without a good excuse. So, I had a feeling that Sean had ordered my engagement ring online,'' Caffarelli told PBS39.
TURNING TO TECH
Murphy started to consider how technology could help. After all, he met Alyssa on a dating app.
''We met using Coffee Meets Bagel. A couple of weeks went by, and I was like, oh my god, I forgot to answer her! So, I reopened the conversation and was like hey, I'm sorry, I didn't’ realize what happened here! So, we reconnected,'' Murphy explained to PBS39.
The pair say they connect most on family values.
''We’re very different,'' said Murphy, ''but if there's one thing that we have in common, it’s that family comes first, and that family is everything to both of us.''
He knew having family be part of the proposal would be important.
''THAT'S MY CUE''
''I talked to her parents and asked if they could set up the Zoom call. I said, if you guys can send the invite, that might throw her off a little bit,'' recalled Murphy. ''About 10 minutes into the call, her mom says, what’s new with you guys? So, I’m like, that’s my cue!''
The couple says they’ve learned a lot about the love they have for each other from being in quarantine together at their Collegeville home.
''Being in quarantine with one person adds a level to the certainty spectrum that just didn’t exist before,'' said Caffarelli.
A LITTLE ADVICE
For any other lovebirds thinking about getting engaged right now, the couple offers this advice: ''It doesn’t have to go according to plan to be perfect,'' said Murphy.
The future Mrs. Murphy agreed.
''Life doesn’t always go according to plan, and we couldn't have planned for a quarantine. We can’t wait to tell our kids and grandchildren this story.''
The couple is now planning for their big day by taking virtual tours of reception halls. They hope to wed in fall 2021.