“Mommy, will you marry Daddy?”
Jennifer “Jen” Mortimer had been hinting at her boyfriend, Travis Harrad, for months on end. After three and a half years together they had a loving home in Hosmer, an adorable baby boy named Charly, and a relationship that could go the distance. Jen felt like the time was right to take the next step as a couple.
Bride's name: Jennifer “Jen” Mortimer
Groom's name: Travis Harrad
Proposal Location: Hosmer, BC
Proposal Date: May 8, 2022
When Travis said he was going to Cranbrook to pick up her Mother’s Day present, Jen had an inkling that perhaps he would be buying an engagement ring. However, when Travis arrived home with something obvious and large in the back of the truck, Jen gave up the thought altogether.
A first Mother’s Day
When Mother’s Day arrived, Travis made a special breakfast for the family. Then he told Jen that he was going to take Charly over to his parent’s house so she could have a relaxing morning to herself.
But Jen didn’t want to spend some quiet hours on her own! This was her first time celebrating the holiday now that she was a mom, and she wanted to spend time with her family.
Jen was insistent that she tag along—a sure sign that she had no idea about Travis’ plan—but the boys won out, regardless of Mother’s Day. Feeling secretly annoyed, Jen reluctantly stayed home.
The boys and their surprise
When Travis and Charly finally came home they walked in the door and asked, “Okay, do you want to come to the shop and see your Mother’s Day present?”
The shop contained some planters—the decoy gift that had come home in the back of the truck. Then Travis handed Jen their son—who was wearing a jacket—and said, “Charly has a new shirt he'd like you to see.”
“I thought it was so weird when Travis told me Charly had a new shirt he wanted me to see,” said Jen. “I had bought Charly and I matching ‘first Mother's Day’ shirts, so it seemed strange that Travis would have changed him.”
Andrew and Amanda recreated their proposal
on the Rails to Trails path near Cranbrook BC (Photo by Krevan Photography)
It all becomes clear
Jen unzipped Charly’s jacket and looked at the shirt. It read, “Mommy, will you marry Daddy?”
Then Travis got down on one knee, opened a ring box, and asked, “Well, what do you think? Do you want to marry me?”
The ring, which Travis did buy in Cranbrook at Jewels on Ninth, was a gorgeous princess cut with a double halo and diamonds down the side of the band.
“For months I had been sending Travis pictures of different rings that I liked,” said Jen, “but the ring he chose is better than any of the ones I picked out!”
It was only after she was happily engaged that Jen learned the true reason for her morning alone. The shirt Travis had ordered for Charly hadn’t arrived in time. So, in a pinch, Travis’ mom had made a shirt to use instead. Travis and Charly had to go alone so that they could pull off the plan without ruining the surprise.
And surprised she was.
Even though Jen had to spend some time alone, her first Mother’s Day with Charly will always be a cherished memory of the day Mommy got engaged to Daddy.
“The ring he chose is better than any of the ones I picked out!
— Jen”