Dubai She said ‘yes'. Thirty minutes before Caroline Ruiz did, Lawrence Enderie spoke to Gulf News about how he planned to pop the question. "It has been three months since I realised I wanted to marry her," he said.
The couple has known each other since January last year, and started dating three months ago. "Because of where we are in life, we take things seriously. When it is right, we know it," said Enderie who wanted "to do something special" for Valentines. "I didn't know how. I got the idea from someone in the marketing team at Festival City. It sounded great."
Enderie, a 50-year-old American is an emcee and speaker who works with Dubai Festival City. Ruiz is a pianist and school teacher from the UK. They enjoy attending music workshops.
Nervous
So when Enderie asked her meet to him at the performance area at the Festival Centre where a harpist and violinist were entertaining mall visitors, he knew she wouldn't suspect anything.
"I am constantly hosting shows," he said.
Admitting to being a little nervous, he continued: "Even though I interact with audiences regularly, this is different. As a host, I can improvise if I make a mistake. But today, there is pressure to do everything right."
Cheers
At 7.15pm, Enderie took the stage as he begun to sing Elvis Presley's Love Me Tender. Ruiz was seated at a table in a coffee shop, next to the stage. He walked up to her as he sang the last verse, "Love me tender, love me dear, tell me you are mine, I'll be yours throughout the years, till the end of time," ending the song with his own words, "Caroline, will you marry me."
Ruiz gasped as she watched Enderie hunker down on one knee. He reached out to place a diamond ring on her finger. People around cheered. She nodded, blushed, and said ‘yes'. The LED stage screen had the words, ‘Will you marry me, Caroline?' Enderie stood up, and pecked her on the cheek.
Gulf News learnt later that Ruiz was shocked. "I wasn't expecting it. I am speechless," she said.
When asked whether he predicted Ruiz's reaction, Enderie said, "She is going to freak out, but she will say yes".
The couple plan to have a summer wedding in San Antonio Texas this year. To celebrate, Enderie said, "I can take a deep breath now. This is fantastic. We are going to meet some friends for dinner."
