Seniors Tyler Clark and Amanda Dooly got engaged on Dec. 18 at a performance of The Nutcracker. Dooly, a lifelong dancer, was surprised by Clark who snuck in both of their families to the ballet. - Jacki Frost Staff Photographer

Winter is known for being the season of engagements. Many UA students, especially seniors, get engaged over the holidays or during the beginning of the spring semester. A marriage proposal is something unique and something to cherish for the rest of one’s life.

Senior Kalli Parette got engaged in December in China while she and her boyfriend, David, visited her parents in Shanghai. While they were there, David took her on a day-long date visiting all of her favorite places.

“The very last place we went was a boardwalk that stretches for miles on the beach,” Parette said. “We came across a blanket on the beach, covering a guitar. He sang me a song and while he had me turned around, he wrote a huge message in the sand that said, ‘Will You Marry Me?’”

When she turned around, Kalli saw David next to the message on one knee with a ring. She said yes.

“It was especially sweet that he proposed in China, where I grew up,” Parette said, “Even though planning the logistics was tricky, considering that he doesn’t speak Chinese.”

David had contacted Kalli’s parents to find out all of her favorite spots in her hometown. Kalli’s parents also set up the blanket and the guitar on the beach for the proposal. Kalli and David are getting married after the spring semester on May 24.

Tyler Clark proposed to his girlfriend, Amanda, at the performance of The Nutcracker at the Walton Arts Center a day before Amanda’s birthday.

“Amanda had participated in ballet all the way up until college, so it was very important to her,” Clark said. “I bought her a ticket to the Nutcracker performance, and she thought we were just going to The Nutcracker as a part of her birthday present.”

Tyler originally planned to propose to Amanda in some way involving the Christmas lights on the Square. He got the idea to propose at the Nutcracker performance from Amanda’s sister, Chandler.

“[Chandler] told me about a guy who had proposed to his girlfriend at a performance in Kansas City and how she thought it was really cool,” Clark said. “We took what she remembered from that proposal and added some of our own flavor to it.”

Tyler and Amanda arrived at the performance just as the doors opened. Tyler had planned with the Walton Arts Center to propose before curtain call. At the beginning of the curtain call, the emcee announced that they would be giving away prizes. The last prize was a “prize of a lifetime.” The winners of the prize would have a picture of a nutcracker under their seats.

“Sure enough, we had nutcrackers under our seats and we went up on stage,” Clark said. “The emcee told us we would have to work for our prize and that we each have to do our best ballet move.

“Amanda went first and then I followed with my best attempt at a dance move.  When I was done with my move, I got down on one knee and proposed to Amanda in front of everyone.  She said yes!”

Both Amanda and Tyler’s parents were seated in the balcony of the theatre watching the proposal. The story of the proposal was even featured on KNWA. The couple plans to get married in the spring of 2013.

Jessica Hawley was proposed to over Christmas break in Yosemite National Park while she and her boyfriend were visiting family in California.

They decided to take a day trip to Yosemite National Park, where they spent the day hiking and driving, admiring the beautiful scenery.

“Towards the end of the day, we ended up in a beautiful meadow that was surrounded by trees and mountains,” Hawley said. “We were just taking pictures and videos for a little while, when he asked if he could read me a letter. At the end of the letter, he popped the question as he pulled out a ring and got on his knees.”

The couple’s family and friends were not present during the proposal but they all knew about it beforehand.

“Because I am very family-oriented, my fiancé had my parents and brothers all write me letters to read after the proposal happened,” Hawley said.

Jessica said yes, she and her fiancée will be married at the end of June 2012.