Mandy and I hit it off from the start. The first night, I met her sister and dad (a Baptist preacher). Later, I found out that after the third date Mandy had wanted to stop seeing me because she was falling in love and got scared. But her heart would not let her do it.

It was funny, we had been dating for about two months and we were head-over-heels in love with each other and scared to say it. We both would say we are in "strong like" instead of love, until one special day! I wrote the words down and asked Mandy to read what I wrote. She read it before she thought about what it said. I always tell her that she said it first. About a week later I slipped and said it, too. I did not want to say it first, yet I was about to bust with my love for her.

After we had been dating for about five months, I knew that I wanted her to be my wife. But I knew that I could not propose in some plain way. Mandy loves the television miniseries "North and South." I had an idea. I asked Mandy's mom, Linda, if she could make a Civil War ball gown. Searching online, I found a Civil War officer's uniform. Mandy's birthday is July 5. That would be the day. I wanted to ride up to her on a horse, dismount and ask her to marry me.

I wrapped Mandy's dress and took it to her mom's house. I put a note on the box telling Mandy to put on the dress and to be outside her house at 6:00 -- no questions asked. I had asked the man to bring the horse to me at 5:40 p.m. At 5:50 p.m. I was getting scared because he hadn't arrived. Two minutes later he and the horse appeared. I rode around from behind her house to meet Mandy. I had a big speech planed, but when I saw her, my mind went blank. All I could do was get down on one knee and ask her to marry me.

I thought July 5 was the best day of my life, and it was -- until last January 14, when I saw Mandy walking up the aisle to become my wife.

Do you have a love story to share? Let us know!