We got engaged on Leap Day

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Mossel Bay Advertiser put the word out online and on facebook that it was looking for stories about leap year proposals.

Traditionally a woman may propose marriage to a man on Leap Year Day.

The Advertiser was told about Johann Lourens (31), who proposed to his beloved, Danica de Bruin (24), on Saturday, 29 February.

He took Danica on a helicopter ride. He told her his boss had purchased the helicopter ticket, but was unable to make it, so gave it to Johann.

Johann got his brother to write on the sand on Hartenbos beach, near the lagoon: "Marry me."

The tide had to be just right, in order to do the writing on hard sand and the strip of beach had to be exposed, not covered by water.

The helicopter they flew in.

While Johann and Danica were up in the helicopter and looking down on the beach, Danica said: "Look! It says 'Marry me' on the sand. Someone must be proposing to someone."

Johann replied: "It's me."

But Danica answered: "No, look at the sand. It says 'Marry me.'"

"Marry me," it is written on the sand.

Out of the ordinary
Johann repeated: "It's me." Danica looked at him, confused, and it was only when he presented her her engagement ring that she realised what was happening.

She had not had an inkling what was going to happen when Johann had told her about the helicopter trip. Johan said: "I had thought of proposing on New Year's Day or Valentine's Day, but I preferred to choose a day that was really out of the ordinary."

Johann said it had been quite nerve-racking arranging the date. He had been worried about people letting the cat out of the bag by mistake.

Johann said he had wanted to propose to Danica at Hartenbos because he had enjoyed holidays in Hartenbos as a child. It was a special place to him. What had made the planning even more nerve-racking was that there had been a severe weather warning about wind and he had been worried they would not be able to do the helicopter trip on the day.

"I proposed to Danica at 11:00. When we landed, I asked her for the ring back because I wanted to go on one knee, which I could not do in the helicopter. We had champagne afterwards."

The couple met at Johann's brother's wedding. They both live in George and plan to marry next year.

The ring.