Man Proposes Sweet Surprise at Jack Frost Ice Cream Chalet

What's love got to do with ice cream? A lot, if your name is Julie Martin or Brad Knechtges, a pair of lovebirds who were engaged at in February. With a little planning and the help of Martin's family, Knechtes gave his bride-to-be a sweet memory in . 

“We'd started talking about a rough timeline to get engaged and married,” Martin said. “I knew it would be coming at some point, I just had no idea exactly when, where and how.“

Prior to the big night, Knechtges enlisted the help of Martin's parents and other family members to help spring his surprise proposal. What was set into motion would be a jittery night of family and fun.

On February 17 of this year, Martin and Knechtges planned a family game night with Martin's parents and family at her parents home. Before the games, the couple made a stop at for dinner. Throughout the dinner Martin noticed Knechtges seemed anxious and rushed to make it to game night on time.

"Brad was uncharacteristically anxious to get going, even considering canceling our order or taking it to go," Martin said. "He said he really wanted to get to game night on time. I kept telling him to just relax, it's a casual evening and we're not going to miss anything by being a few minutes late."

After their meal, Knechtges hinted to Martin that he had a taste for ice cream as they drove down 159th Street and 'noticed' a large heart shaped light hanging from Jack Frost. Pulling into the parking lot, even though the shop was closed for the season, Martin began to suspect something was up as Knechtges jumped out of the car and asked her to come along. 

"I got out of the car and Brad pulled me up to stand right in front of the building,” she said. "I knew by now, so I started getting emotional. Brad gave me a huge hug, then turned me around to face the building. There was now a projected light on the front of the building that said, 'Julie, will you marry me?' in a heart."

The question popped and the answer received, Martin's family then surprised her by popping out from a neighboring building to celebrate the special occasion before heading to her parents' house for a more official celebration.

"We did still go over to my parents', now for a sort of ambush mini-engagement party," Martin said. "I couldn't stop smiling, crying and staring at my beautiful new ring, he did an amazing job picking that out. We had a champagne toast and took lots more pictures, and even did still play some games. All in all, it was a magical, wonderful, perfect night."

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