Great Engagements

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Two years into Lorena Chavez and William Kaplan's relationship, Lorena moved to the East Coast to pursue her graduate degree. After enduring a long 18 months of criss-crossing the country, she returned to Seattle, ready to once again enjoy the "joie de vivre" of a same-city relationship, and the graduation present that William had planned -- a trip to Paris, France.

On the third day of their trip, a chauffeured town car greeted the couple at their hotel and drove them south of Paris, to Dourdan, France. After arriving at the Dourdan train station, they were met by a man with an SUV and trailer, who drove them to the middle of an open field in the French countryside. As the couple watched, the driver opened the trailer, revealing a huge basket and an even bigger, bright, tent-like object: a hot-air balloon. In the midst of their flight -- and just as the sun began to set -- William exchanged a secretive nod with the pilot and handed him his camera. He then turned to Lorena and asked, in her native Spanish: “Quieres casarte conmigo?” ("Do you want to marry me?"). Lorena, of course, answered, "yes."

The couple, who live in Seattle, will marry Sept. 4, 2010, at the St. James Chapel, followed by a celebration at the Sorrento Hotel.