A Belle Center area couple and their family are grateful today for the dedication and careful attention to detail by a Bellefontaine Post Office employee and a local jeweler who helped to make a once-in-a-lifetime proposal a reality, just in the nick of time.
Earlier this summer, Tyler Jenkins and his fiancé Dora Bryant had planned a trip with their daughter, Sylvia, age 19 months, to Chula Vista, Calif., to visit his brother Chris Jenkins and family.
In addition to spending special time with their extended family, Tyler also had bigger plans in mind while they were visiting the West Coast, which he tried to keep a secret from his now-fiancé.
He had special ordered an engagement ring from Michael Eller Diamonds in Bellefontaine, unbeknownst to Dora. She had tried on rings a time or two to pick her favorite one while previously working at the local jeweler.
Tyler hoped to pull off an engagement in a scenic spot in California while they were visiting his family, but knew he was in a major time crunch to pull off that feat.
Late in the afternoon Wednesday, July 17, Tyler received word that the engagement ring was ready to pick up at Michael Eller.
However, Tyler was already out in California, so he quickly contacted Dora’s mother, Hollie Hubbard of Bellefontaine, who also was in on the surprise. She picked up the ring just a few minutes before closing that day.
While Hollie briefly considered hopping on an airplane to transport the ring out to California to ensure the proposal could happen as planned, that idea was cost prohibitive considering the price of airfare. So an early morning visit to the Bellefontaine Post Office Thursday, July 18, was in order, with a few nerves accompanying it for Hollie and her husband, Examiner publisher/general manager T.J. Hubbard.
The pair were able to meet with post office employee Catelyn Parker Burnside to find out about shipping the ring overnight across the country. They were calmly reassured by Catelyn that the Bellefontaine Post Office could make it happen.
“Catelyn was wonderful to us, talking us through the insurance process for the package. She sent a variety of e-mails to make sure everything went through as promised,” T.J. said. “We were very appreciative of her extra efforts to us to help us and to ease our worries about the ring arriving safely. We’ll never forget her kindness.”
The package made its arrival in California that Friday morning, and then the next day, Saturday, July 20, Tyler carried out his plans of popping the question to Dora at Sunset Cliffs, Calif., just prior to the couple and their daughter departing the state that night.
“I opened my mouth in pure shock. It was definitely something out of a movie,” Dora said of the memorable day, which also was photographed by professional photographer Lexi Truesdale through advance arrangements made by Tyler.
“It all went off without a hitch and we’re so grateful to everyone who helped make it happen. It was so special to Tyler and I to have his brother and family be part of our proposal story.”
Dora and Tyler are currently making plans for their April 2025 wedding.