This Couple Got Surprise Engaged In The Middle Of The NYC Pride Parade, Now Hear The Story
Yesterday, amidst the jubilant displays of Pride promenading down the streets of Fifth Avenue, high school history teacher Erik Sudduth, got down on one knee in the middle of 5th Avenue to propose to his boyfriend of 2.5 years, sportswear designer, Sam Branman.
Spoiler alert: He said yes!
Sudduth shared the story with us of how yesterday's proposal came to me:
I ended up making up a terrible lie to keep him from coming over and spending the night (I said I had injured my shoulder at the gym, and I told him I was afraid that sleeping next to him would be super painful–he believed me and I still feel guilty about lying), and I stayed up most of the night and used 7 yards of muslin and like 5 rolls of rainbow duck tape to create the banner on my apartment's hallway floor. I also made flyers (see attached) that I gave to several friends of mine and Sam's to hand out to the crowd–though in the end I don't think many were given out.
The whole way down 5th Avenue I was completely dry mouthed and nervous–I was waiting for the moment when we would get to 5th and 8th and make the turn into the Village. When we reached that point, I grabbed Sam's hand, and ran in front of our group. Standing in the middle of the street, I told Sam how I love him more than the air I breathe, and how I want to spend the rest of my life with him. I then spun him around to see the banner the group had unfurled for us. Iwent down on one knee and asked him to marry me
In that moment, I didn't hear anything around the two of us–all I saw was Sam's eyes as he said, "YES!"
Asked to recount the experience, Branman had this to say:
I was actually not interested in going to the Parade at all. Erik really wanted to march if the Supreme Court decision legalized same-sex marriage, so I agreed to go. When we got to 5th Ave and 9th St, Erik gave our bags to one of the people we were marching with and grabbed my hand, and we ran out in front of the the banner and told me how much he loved me, then turned me around so I could see the proposal banner he made.
It was flabbergasting. I was not expecting him to do anything like that, and even though there were people screaming everywhere and we were surrounded by photographers, I wasn't paying attention to anything but him. Then he proposed with his grandfather's ring and I told him yes, of course.
It was a pretty insane adrenaline rush and I was shaky and pale until I got some food and a beer after we got to the end of the parade route.
As for the outfit (which our Facebook commenters seemed particularly thrilled by):
I was wearing a a t-shirt designed after Sailor ChibiMoon from Sailor Moon. Erik got it for me from Amazon, along with another Sailor Moon shirt for Pride, because I am a very big fan.
She actually is not my favorite character (that would be the lesbian couple, Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus), but she has super cute accessories, and I wanted something that would match my pink hat and purple mesh shorts (both of which I made).
You can't see in the photo, but I am also wearing a super cute version of her Time Key made by Kumacrafts. We're both big nerds, and I've been getting him into anime.
