Man Proposes to Girlfriend in Front of Thousands

It’s the classic story of boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, boy proposes to girl in front of 15,000 strangers.

Following a performance by The Cadillac Three on Oct. 5, Joe Rotyliano of Columbia led his girlfriend, Sara Van Bibber, onstage at Columbia’s Merriweather Post Pavillion under the pretense that they would introduce the next musical act. Little did Sara know what would happen next.

As a part of the “Get Engaged Onstage” contest, Joe had submitted an essay of 50 words or less to the Baltimore country radio station WPOC-FM stating why he deserved to win an engagement ring and propose to his partner in front of 15,000 people at Sunday in the Country.

In his touching submission, Joe wrote to WPOC that “my girlfriend of three years does so much to help others and make their lives better as an Army Wounded Warrior advocate. I’d like to make her life better by asking her to marry me. I love her with all of my heart.”

The winning entry was selected by staff members at WPOC and judged on sincerity and and persuasiveness, according to the station’s promotions director, Dustin Sugar-Moore.

As part of the contest, Joe won a diamond engagement ring from Little Treasury Jewelers in Gambrills, which he presented to his now-fiancee. The couple will be at the jeweler’s trunk show on Nov. 8 to speak with shoppers about their experience, Little Treasury Jewelers owner Steve Hammalian told Patch.

The radio station also provided the young couple with extra tickets to the concert so their friends and family could witness the special proposal.

See the video of Joe’s heartfelt proposal here.

Photo of the happy couple courtesy of iHeartMedia and WPOC

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