Name: Marlo Brooks/Daniel Lutje
Engage Date: 05/2009
Wedding Date: 03/20/2010
Story:: Both having nearly given up on love because of a series of failed romances decided to give Internet dating/matching a try. Upon seeing each others profiles it seemed as if we both had written our profile specifically to match the others. It turns out though that the Almighty God in heaven was answering our prayers to a tee as to what each of us wanted in a mate. I had at last found the man I had been dreaming of and hoping for all my life and he had at last found the woman that he calls the "most beautiful woman in the world" and "an answer to his prayers as well". We met on March 11th 2009 and have not spent a day without talking to each other since. We knew upon just spending the first few weeks together that we each were perfect for one another though neither being perfect. Hence while the date for our wedding was set in May before even we met face to face, that two weeks in we found what we wanted. We just needed time to prove it to ourselves. Now at last on March 20, 2010 our new and beautiful lives will be joined together as one to become one flesh! It seems there could be no other couple more in love than we.

 

Name: Gary McVey
Engage Date: 08/01/2009
Wedding Date: 06/26/2010
Story:: I went in with my dad Joel Turner and was treated amazingly from everyone. Jeremy helped me find the perfect ring to make my proposal amazing. The ring was a great ring and a great price I could not ask for anymore and will always shop at larog brothers. I now tell my friends about larogs because they helped me make my engagement perfect.

 

Name: Maria
Engage Date: 02/19/2009
Wedding Date: 05/16/2010
Story:: My love story is one that I will never forget. My fiance and I had originally met when I was 18 and he was 21 and he was fresh out of the army. We met at a party where we only new a couple of people there. I had commented on him being sunburned from the river and he snapped at me. So, I decided not to talk to him anymore. Later that evening, we started talking finally and hit it off. We started dating and made plans to get married. He then lost his job and felt like he wasn't good enough for me. So, instead of talking to me about it, he broke up with me. He married his ex-girlfriend (which was a mistake and only lasted a short time). Two years later, I married someone else and after the wedding ceremony,my brother told me that he had seen my ex-fiance and that he had gotten a divorce. Later about two years after that, I had called his mother who I had always kept in touch with and he had answered the phone. He asked if I was happy and I lied and said yes. I didn't want him to know I wasn't happy after he left me. Another 2 years passed and I was in the mall with my friend and I saw him pass by, I wanted to say Hi but he was with another girl so I didn't. It was then about 5 years after that, I saw him on the road driving truck and I was on my way to work in Salem. I was running late and I looked up into the cab of this semi as I always did looking for him. I actually saw him. I looked once and thought, what? Was that him? Then I looked again and sure enough it was him and he saw me. I wanted to talk to him but I was already late for work and I didn't think he wanted to talk to me. I had to call my mother and tell her. Then, I didn't see him again for quite some time. I was having lunch with my neighbor and good friend of mine. She is married to a German man and my ex sweetheart is German also and I would talk about him everytime that we would get together almost. On this particular day, she said, "That's it!" "You have to see him gain and get it out of your system or do something about it." She had asked me if I still kept in touch with his mother and I said yes. Then she said, "Call her right now and find out where he lives." I called but she didn't answer. Then she told me, "Why didn't you leave a message?" "Call her back and leave a message." So, I called back and the 2nd time, a man answered the phone. I thought that it was his younger brother and I asked if his mother was there. He said that she just left for Canada and wouldn't be back for a couple of weeks. I asked if he could tell her that I had called and when I said who I was, he said Maria? The Maria I used to know? I was in shock, I couldn't talk and I told my friend, "It's him!!!!" She said, "Talk to him dummy!" So I started talking and after a bit, my friend says over the phone, "There is a park near here. Why don't you meet us there and talk?" He said "Ok, I am on my way there!" We met about 1/2 and hour later. We talked very nervously and then when my friend and I had to go, he hugged me very gently but tightly. I knew then that he still cared for me and I still cared very much for him. We ended up talking and seeing each other a little at a time and then more and more and then we decided we had to be together forever. This all happened 26 years after we broke up. Imagine getting back together with your one true love after 26 years and having a 2nd chance! He begged me to forgive him for being stupid and letting me go. He said he was kicking himself every day for that mistake and wished and prayed for a 2nd chance with me. He even told he wife of 18 years right after they got married, she asked him if there was anyone in his past that she needed to worry about, that he would leave her for and he said yes. She got angry and he told her, "If you didn't want to hear the truth, you shouldn't have asked the question!" We are now planning our wedding finally in May of 2010! We plan to spend the rest of our lives together. The funny thing is, his mother found an article about a couple who had gotten back together agter 25 years and she had saved it. When we got back together, she gave it to us. I still have it. And now, I have my Best Friend and True Love all in one with me for always. Miracles do happen! You just never know when, but they do happen!!! I believe if you ask you shall receive your answer, sooner or later. Just have faith.

 

Name: Katie Matthews
Engage Date: 09/18/09
Wedding Date: TBA
Story:: It's been a awhile since I have told our story but, how I relish in being able to do so. I had been living in Florida for 12 years when I decided it was time to switch employers in the Medical Sales industry. I decided to begin a new with a company located in Vancouver, WA. RS Medical immediately flew all new hires out for three weeks of vigorous training. It was the second week that my life would change forever. See, we as Account Managers worked with someone at the Corporate headquarters via phone, fax and email. This person was responsible for gaining approval for all of our clients products through the insurance companies. They were called Sales Operatives and I would be talking with him or her everyday from Florida upon returning home. The second week it was announced that we would be meeting this person and having a group lunch with our region. No big deal, right? Upon walking into the room my gaze immediately fell on a man standing to the back of the enormous room. I found myself unable to look away. Completely out of character for me, I turned to a co-worker next to me and said, "if he is our SO, I'm in big trouble." The next thing I knew we were being ushered to a table to greet....HIM. My stomach began to twist itself into knots, I just hoped my words would not fail me. I repeated in my head again and again what to say..."Hi, I'm Katie, nice to meet you." No good, you have to be more cleaver than that. I mustered out the words and he replied..."Jamie, nice to meet you." I decided, as my heart tried to leap out of my chest, that silence was my best choice, for now. I watched as he spoke and found myself wondering..would he be interested...no he is way to young..come on Katie he's not even that cute but, he was. I listened to his monotone voice as he engaged in conversation with the other AM's, making clear his dislike for his job. At least it sounded that way. So then it hit me..."do you like your job?" Jamie hesitated a moment and turned to me in thought and said.."no." Very blunt but, very honest. I respected that. I paused and then the words just came out of my mouth. "What if I send you a joke per day, every morning by email. Would that cheer you up? And then it happened, he smiled. A grin that would stay in my memory forever. A grin that made me melt inside because I had made him happy. I couldn't explain why it felt so good to make a complete stranger smile for a mere moment but, it did. There was casual conversation after that and we parted ways saying the usual goodbyes for one of these things. "It was a pleasure, I look forward to working with you, blah, blah, blah." I flew home to Florida and I didn't forget my promise. My first work day I sent off a George Carlin joke thinking it would appease his obviously satirical humor, it did. And each day there after we would send jokes back and forth, one upping each other, learning more about the other until 3 months went by and it was time to return to Vancouver for more training. I never told Jamie the way I felt the first time I met him and I thought this time I may. We agreed to try and hang out sometime while I was there. We did and upon returning home to Florida we talked and we talked and we talked some more. Two hours+ on the phone every single night and it happened, we were in love. A kind of love I had never experienced before, although before this experience I would have told you I had, I was wrong. We gravitated towards each other with a force that was unexplainable but true. It was like being in love for the first time again. We would watch movies on the phone together, we would fall asleep together and there wasn't anything or anyone that could pull me away. It was decided another 2 months after this relationship started over the phone that I would come out to Portland to visit. It was December 28th 2007. I stayed with Jamie and he guided me around Oregon, which I had grown to love in my last visits. This was just icing on the cake. I had been playing with the idea in my mind, "could I live here, would I be happy?" Then our trip took a turn. I received a phone call form my father on January 1st, 2008. My sister, who had been struggling with an addiction was in the hospital and there wasn't much time. I found out that day that I would have to say goodbye to my big sister over a phone, she wouldn't make it through the night. My world crumbled as I held onto Jamie for strength. We had driven to to the coast and my parents had tried to reach me all day. Reception as you know is not all that great out there. Jamie and I had made it out to Neahkahnie Point when my service kicked back in and I received my fathers tearful call. Unable to leave the area, fearful of losing reception, we walked down to the point on the cliffs that overlooked the vast Pacific ocean. It was calming and I knew I was here for a reason. Here for this moment with Jamie's arms around me. I couldn't make it without him. I couldn't make it through anything anymore without him. I struggled to say good bye to my sister, but what choice did I have. We started our descent back to Portland, which seemed to last forever. I made arrangements to board an earlier flight. All I could think about was getting home but I decided I couldn't leave without having told Jamie what I came all this way to say..."I love you." He looked at my tear stricken face and said.."I know, I love you too." Then there was silence. I boarded an early flight and returned home. I didn't leave my parents house for 2 weeks. We were inconsolable. Jamie was never out of reach or out of touch. He comforted me every night. He was the first person I spoke with in the morning and the last before I fell asleep at night. He stayed when most would have ran so early in a relationship. We grew stronger. I knew after that I needed him and he needed me. So we decided I would move out to Portland but only with my parents blessing in light of the situation that had just transpired a month or so ago. Jamie said it was only right if he came down to meet everyone and he did. My parents loved him and I was gone. After being in Portland with Jamie for a year and a half our engagement happened to no one's surprise. My father was out for his second visit and unknown to me Jamie planned on asking for his permission to marry me. I happened to walk in on the conversation and it was settled,all there at once. I can't say we hadn't already discussed marriage prior. It was inevitable. My life has changed and mutated in every way imaginable but, one thing has been constant and always will be, Jamie. That's our story, long winded and true. I hope it has brought a smile to someone's face. I know it has brought one to mine.

 

 

 

Name: Stacia Nilson
Engage Date: 12/17/2009
Wedding Date: 11/02/2009
Story:: Evan and I met in our late 20's in San Francisco. We were having a send off party for my friend who was leaving to NYC. He did not know her, but he was dragged along by a friend that night. As soon as I saw him, I was taken. He said the same. I was even more taken when he and i began talking and noticed his awesome sense of humor. I knew he was different when he told me that night he would call the next day. That next morning at 10:45am, I was surprised to look at my phone and see that he was calling. The rest is history.

 

 

 

Name: Sarah Gamby
Engage Date: 11/28/2008
Wedding Date: 08/22/2009
Story:: Jarratt and I had been together for over 4 years when we began to look at engagment rings. I had looked in magazines and knew I loved the Pave type of ring...Jarratt on the other hand, did not like the way they looked. We had heard of LaRog through a family member and after having a bad experience elsewhere, were blown away with your store and especially Denny. She knew exactly what I wanted and it turned out Jarratt loved the Pave too! She worked so hard for us and made us feel so special!! Although we had looked, I had no idea when the proposal was going to happen! Jarratt ended up flying down to a family fuction I had for Thankgsiving and surprising me in front of about 25 family members! It was unforgettable! Working with Denny and the rest of the LaRog team was an experiene I will never forget! I have the best ring I could have ever imagined and owe that to you guys! Thank you so much!

 

Name: Katrina Paubel
Engage Date: 03/18/2006
Wedding Date: 09/03/2009
Story:: I became friends with my fiance's sister because she worked with an ex-boyfriend of mine and she eventually introduced me to her brother. We went on one date in 2001, but we were both at very different stages in our lives. Even though we had a great time on the date, we decided not to pursue a relationship at the time. Shortly after that, I graduated from college and moved to another city that was 2 hours away. I kept in touch with his sister and often came back to the town he lived in to see my old friends. We saw each other a couple times over the next 3 years, but one of us was always unavailable. However, on December 5th 2004 when I was visiting friends in the town my fiance lived in, his sister invited me to go out and play pool with her. I did not know my fiance would be there that night. However, when I showed up we were both very glad to see eachother. This was the first time that neither of us was with someone else, and we almost immediately were drawn to eachother. That night I asked his sister if I could marry her brother someday. (not if I could date him, but if i could marry him!) We have been together from that night on, and we have currently been together for 5 years and engaged for 3 of those years. He proposed to me on the roof of the downtown building he owns on the night before we left on a vacation. We are getting married at Heceta Head Lighthouse on Oregon's beautiful coast and are having a reception at our home.

 

Name: Raechel
Engage Date: 03/14/09
Wedding Date: 07/18/09
Story:: We met on line, which neither one of us took very seriously when we got in to it. We have so much in common, especially our love for the Lord. Even though we have actually known each other for a short time, we feel we have been together for years. We are not looking from younger years as we are "well seasoned" and know we want to spend the rest of our lives together. We are just beginning the adventure!

 

Name: Michelle
Engage Date: 04/2008
Wedding Date: 08/2009
Story:: Todd and I met at work and it was laughter at first sight. He was the jester, always telling jokes and making people laugh and I couldn't help but be drawn to him. Eventually I built up the courage to ask him out for a round of golf. Our tee time got rained out so we spent the whole day talking. It was the best thing that could have ever happened and we haven't stopped talking since!

 

Name: Louise Sharman
Engage Date: 12/2008
Wedding Date: 03/2009
Story:: Three years ago we met through my mother's dear friend and neighbor, Mandy. Chad, my soon to be husband was Mandy's daughter's ex boyfriend in high school. They stayed good friends through the years and when I was going through my divorce they (being Mandy and her daughter) thought we had a lot in common and would hit it off. I said no for over a year. Just getting over my divorce and having a newborn at that time I was not ready to date. Well, I finally did say okay and of course expecting to say thanks for the date and goodbye. But no we did hit it off and have been together since. Over time, Chad has taken my son in as his own and well years later our son keeps asking when will we get married? And we decided why not... so our journey started years ago and now continues with excitement.

 

Name: TyAnn Hunt
Engage Date: 02/14/09
Wedding Date: 12/12/09
Story:: Kirk and I met online for the first time in 2007 but he was too soon out of a divorce and still struggling with his emotions. We had a brief e-mail exchange in which I told him he seemed like a great guy but that he didn't seem ready for a relationship quite yet. He thanked me for my honesty and advice and we wished each other the best. A year later (and still single) we ran across each other again online. I knew he looked familiar but couldn't quite place him. I e-mailed him and we began to correspond a bit back and forth. After a short time he said, "You know, you gave me some pretty good advice about a year ago, and you were right." Then it clicked. I couldn't believe I had picked the same man as a year before. We started dating and it has been wonderful ever since. We believe that there was a bigger plan here and it was just a matter of timing, and when it was the right time, we were reintroduced. We just celebrated our first Valentine's Day together and proposed to each other:). We knew it was right and we're ready. We're getting married on Dec. 12th in Jamaica and can't wait.

 

 

 

 

 

Name: Tya Robinson
Engage Date: 03/13/04
Wedding Date: 08/05/06
Story:: James and I met in high school. We always new we would get married but never knew when and never really kept track of the time. The night before our 10th wedding anniversary he popped the question. 2 years later we got married. In August of 2009 we will have been together 15 years and married for 3 years. My ring came from LaRogs and my sales associate was Linda Brickel...she's a great person... 

 

 

 

Story:: Adrian and I met in the Portland, OR temple in 2004. We were only 17 years old, it was love at first sight. We dated for a year and tortured ourselves by going to seperate schools. He had to go play baseball at UW and I went to school in Utah. On top of that he made a deal with the University that he would play for 3 more years when he got home from his two year mission. We could only write letters and emails for the entire two years. I never forgot about him though I would have boyfriends during that time. When he got home, we saw eachother and knew we were right for eachother. Now 21 years old, slightly wiser we are getting married in december. Thank you! Corinne and Adrian

 

Story:: Joe and I were complete strangers until the second we met. But from that point on we were instant friends. Though he is in the military and rarely home anymore we keep high hopes and strong dreams of our future together. A mutual friend had us meet, with no intention of having us like eachother--let alone fall in love. After spending his whole week and half of leave from the military together we just knew there was something there to be had. Once he called me from his base overseas, he asked me if I was willing to be his girlfriend. I abliged and from then on it's been a dream. Yes, I really don't like the goodbyes and I hate the endless nights of loneliness but with us getting married soon, all these issues will go away. So from this point on no one can tell us to be apart.

 

Story:: Phil and I were introduced 5 years ago through mutual friends. It was amazing that we didn't already know each other! We grew up in the same small town, went to the same high school, and the same college. Neither one of us were interested in the other. Over the years we attended bbqs, birthday party's and dinners at our friends house. We were pleasant to one another but nothing more. Then in the summer of 2006 at a birthday party we both just felt a spark. I attended a few of his baseball games and after another bbq he gave me a ride home. We talked for hours about anything and everything. We were inseparable from that moment on. After dating for a year he took me to the beach for a week to celebrate my birthday and proposed.

 

Story:: We were spending our last college spring break on the island of Kauai. Our four year "anniversary" had just passed but we chose not to really celebrate because we were trying to save money for our trip. He started our special day by surprising me with side-by-side massages in a cabana at a local resort just off the beach. He told me that he wanted to do something special because we didn't get to celebrate our anniversary. On our walk back to the beach after massages he informed me that the surprises weren't over and that we were going out to a fun dinner. We walked out to the parking lot and there was a Mustang convertible waiting for us to use. He had gone to the airport early that morning, and rented the car, all before I was even awake! And, didn't tell me all day! So, we were cruising the mustang and he said that we were going to the Hyatt to get a drink and watch the sunset from a cliff overlooking the ocean. We hiked up to the best location to watch the most beautiful sunset (also famed for the Harrison Ford and Anne Heche plunge from the cliff in "6 Days and 7 Nights"). I was in such awe of the gorgeous scenery that I didn't notice Dan getting down on one knee. He proposed there, on Shipwrecks Cliff. We finished the night with a delicious dinner at a great restaurant right on the water.

 

Story:: This June my family, Chris' family and my sister's boyfriend's family went to Las Vegas to celebrate birthdays and graduations. On the third day of our trip Chris dragged me away from the pool to "go to lunch" with his parents. I agreed (pouting) and while we were waiting for his parents to pick us up, a limo arrived in front of the hotel. Chris told me that he got us a limo for my birthday and recent graduation from grad school. I was thrilled and very excited :). As we climbed into the limo he also informed me that he had another surprise. We were going on a helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon (I had always wanted to go!). The ride was amazing and when we landed inside the Grand Canyon we had a fabulous champagne lunch and got to walk around and see the amazing view. Before we had to take back off Chris asked the pilot if he would take a picture of us in front of the view. As we were posing for a picture Chris dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him!! I was completely surprised! Amazing!!! Even better my ring was just as amazing and from LaRog :)

 

Story:: Jeff took me to Salishan, a resort at the beach, and decorated our bedroom in red rose pedals and hundreds of mini candles.. I walk in the room and he's on his knee and asks me to marry him. Of course I said yes and we will be getting married soon. We love LaRog Jewelers. I couldn't be happier with all the help from Denny Lund. We won't shop anywhere else for jewelry. We will be together for three years when we finally tie the knot.

 

Story:: The first time Jonny and I spent time together was the 4th of July, 2004. A group of us gathered to watch the fireworks along the river at Willamette Park. As the show ended and people began to leave, just 6 of us were left - 3 girls and 3 guys. We (the girls) decided we were going to teach the guys to waltz. As it would happen, the first "date" Jonny & I ever had was dancing under the stars until early in the morning. Jonny was more of a romantic than I ever gave him credit for. On March 20th (4 months ago) he "kidnapped" me and took me down to Willamette Park. There I found candles and roses covering the soggy grass. There he knelt down and proposed in what might have been the most shocking and unexpected proposal of all time - it's a long story! But I said "yes" and we set the date for exactly 6 months later. Yesterday we found his ring at LaRog. And in 2 months we'll say our vows...

 

Story:: Kevin and I met in the 6th grade and we got together--you know that lil' crush. I had to change schools so we lost contact, until he found out what school I had moved to and transferred too. So in the seventh grade when we came back from summer vacation there he was. We hooked up again spent about a year "together"--kid things. So we lost contact again because he had to move away. But to this day I still have the teddy bear he gave me when it was Valentines Day! So life moved on and we found each other again in high school and dated again. But because we had different ideas about things, we didn't last. So 2 years after high school I came across him and we started seeing each other again! :) Well by then I had had a kid but he still accepted me and my son. Ever since then we have been together! Now he is my best friend, my son's stepfather (my son loves him to death), we are having a lil' girl coming in the next 30 days or less, and getting everything we wanted together as a team!! Kevin and I are even getting our first house together and he just bought me a car for getting my license! We are so perfect in my mind and we do everything together and best thing is we do not even fight! I even have so much fun calling him my husband now. People consider us already married!

 

Story:: Keith and I met in college, when I was only 18. We became friends through the choir class that we took together. (Neither of us took choir after that, once we found eachother, there was no need.) The day that Keith and I were going to go on our very first date, a found out that I was extremely sick and needed to have an emergency surgery that was life threatening. Keith had a choice. He could stay by my side, even though we were just new friends, or he could go on his way, without any heart ache or problems. He chose to stay by my side. He came and saw me every day that I was in the hospital and recovering. He has done the same every day since. He is my best friend and I am so excited to soon call him my husband.

 

Story:: Josh and I while working at my university during summer last year. We became close friends, and eventually realized we were more than just good friends. We started dating in October and spent all of our time together. Josh proposed in January after a nerve-wracking call to my dad, and we've set the date for August 8. Our families and friends are thrilled for us.

 

Story:: We met 16 1/2 years ago with no intentions of ever taking anything further as he was married and so was I. We saw each other on and off as I worked as a bank teller and he was a customer. We would chit chat and fill each other in on the current affairs of our lives as we were both married with children. He has been divorced over 15 years and I divorced after 13 years of marriage. I remarried shortly after only to have another failed marriage. We ran into each other and I thought to myself, he has been single for over 15 years and he has been in and out of my life and there has been some type of chemistry, I need to see what this is all about. I believe we were supposed to be together but the timing was never right. Now it is, it might sound corny but we have lived it and can not tell you how happy or in love we both are. For us this relationship is different than any other, we are truly lucky!