Why wait? Barry decided he couldn’t wait any longer and got down on one knee in the the unlikeliest of places—Walmart
Like many couples before them, Dawn McNamar and Barry Merkl couldn’t afford the wedding ring set they would’ve hoped for when they got engaged. Their quirky-yet-romantic proposal originally took place with a promise ring.
Having her husband choose this gift for her is an experience that Dawn will always hold close to her heart. —Photo by Vincent Photography
Bride's name: Dawn McNamar
Groom's name: Barry Merkl
Proposal Location: Walmart
Proposal Date: 2008
A night out together
It was September of 2008. Already a memorable night, Dawn and Barry had left behind their four teenage children for a date from their home in Creston, B.C., to nearby Cranbrook.
“That evening was very cool. There were a lot of stars in the sky, and the moon was beautiful,” remembers Dawn.
She adds, with a laugh, that Barry was acting like a school boy at the age of 50.
An unusual place for an unlikely proposal
As they neared Cranbrook Barry was acting strange. Still, Dawn was not expecting to become engaged that night. When they first got together her groom-to-be had made it clear that he didn’t plan to remarry. Dawn had accepted his position.
Still, as his love had grown, Barry had changed his mind in committing the rest of his life to the woman he cared so deeply for. He realized that Dawn was his forever and always.
The couple stopped at Walmart once they arrived at their destination. Here the story takes an unexpected twist. They were in the unlikeliest of locations—the bread aisle in Walmart.
“For some strange reason he just couldn’t wait any longer,” said Dawn. “(He) got down on one knee and said ‘I love you, and I don’t want to spend my life with anyone but you. Will you marry me?’”
It was an easy “yes” for Dawn, who remembers the entire evening was beautiful. The couple enjoyed a romantic dinner following the Walmart proposal.
Finding the perfect rings after finding happiness
In 2019 Barry was able to get Dawn the wedding set of her dreams from Jewels on Ninth.
Barry wanted me to pick my own set, but after eleven years I figured he should know me by now and what I would love. He sure did,” said Dawn. “When he said that he loved (the set that we chose), I was so beyond ecstatic because it was the exact set I had picked in my head.”
The engagement ring that Barry picked out was white gold and trinity style with 32 round-cut diamonds in total. The matching band also had 24 round-cut diamonds.
When Dawn and Barry came to Jewels on Ninth to choose the rings they had found out, five months earlier, that Barry was terminally ill.
Having her husband choose this gift for her is an experience that Dawn will always hold close to her heart. She is also grateful for the service and shopping experience that they had together. They felt like friends instead of just customers.
“Jewels On Ninth went above and beyond making sure the set was put on rush. We were on a very tight timeline with not knowing one day to the next,” she said. “Without (the staff) and all they did we would have never been able to make our dreams come true.”
“I thank you again and again for always being such a wonderful group of friends to deal with. I love the amazing service and the most friendly people. It’s been so nice to have our engagement remembered.”