Couple reveal how they realised they’d both planned to propose at the SAME time
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A couple has shared how they both chose the same moment to propose, while enjoying a snowy vacation in Eastern Europe.
Dr Bee Nichols, from London, had planned to get down on one knee and pop the question to her ‘soul mate’ James Kavanagh, and was delighted when her partner, who uses they/them pronouns, did exactly the same moments later.
The double proposal happened when the couple, who went to the same schools but lost touch for years, were on vacation in Latvia.
Plant scientist Dr Nichols, 29, explains: “While we were away I organized a trip to go dog sledding and visit an observation tower and my idea was to propose at the top.
Dr Bee Nichols and her partner James Kavanagh revealed how they had both planned to propose during a trip to Latvia… and Dr Nichols, 29, from London, managed to get James into the post.
‘When I got there it was quite busy and I felt nervous and was very quiet. But then James did, too, and I thought, “Maybe they know I’m about to propose.”
Soon after, she realized that the reason for the reassurance was that James also had something up his sleeve.
Dr Nichols said: ‘They said something to the effect of ‘I hope you don’t mind, I was planning on proposing to you too’ and I gasped. I was so surprised that I said no completely by accident. But I wanted to say “No… I can’t believe you’re doing this.”‘
Another tourist caught the moment on camera and Dr. Nichols tweeted the photos, which have now been viewed millions of times.
The computational plant scientist, who uses simulations to look at the impact of climate change, went to the same schools as James in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, and even inadvertently ended up at the same university.
Your turn! Moments later, Dr. Nichols was on the receiving end of the question.
A passerby snapped photos of the couple, wearing matching hats, after their blissful moment in the snow, and their story has since gone viral.
The rings: The couple exchanged rings -both with green stones- after their double proposal
She hadn’t seen them for years when the University of Leicester graduate, who completed an MA at Imperial College London, temporarily returned to her parents’ home in 2020.
James, 28, a doctoral student at Imperial College London, had also returned home when the pandemic struck. They ended up meeting by joining the same running club.
“I recognized them from somewhere and realized I was playing football with James’s brother and my brother was in Scouting with his parents,” Dr Nichols told the BBC.
The couple, former schoolmates, ended up meeting during lockdown when they returned to their parents’ house and later joined the same running club.
Snowmance: Both hatched the proposal after a husky sleigh ride in Latvia
Dr. Nichols said: “We knew [getting engaged] it was the next step but not until 2023. But he looked so romantic and he had found a ring [for James] that matched mine’
‘We had a lot of mutual friends in high school and college; we almost met, but not quite.
‘It was very sweet. James’s mom still has a tea towel we made in grade school that has our names and our selfies on it.
The couple started dating and bought Dr. Nichols’ engagement ring last year, before traveling to Latvia in the middle of last month.
‘we knew [getting engaged] it was the next step but not until 2023. But he looked so romantic and he had found a ring [for James] that matched mine,’ said Dr. Nichols.
The photos on Twitter have now been viewed 4.4 million times.
Dr. Nichols caption read, “I don’t know much about soul mates, but we had the same idea and wore matching hats.”
Supporters have praised the moving story, with one commenting: ‘Congratulations! This really is the most adorable engagement story I’ve ever seen.” Another said: ‘How nice!’
Dr Nichols added: ‘Seeing this make people smile really lifts our hearts. Thank you for the enormous outpouring of love! We are really overwhelmed.
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