Close Call During Brooklyn Bridge Proposal

Sure, proposing on the bustling pedestrian walkway of the Brooklyn Bridge seems picturesque, but perhaps being up there holding on to a tiny ring with your nervous, sweaty, about-to-propose hands isn't actually the best idea. One would-be-groom has learned that the hard way, and he showed up on the Today show earlier to tell his harrowing tale.

Don Walling got down on one knee in front of his fiancee-to-be, Gina Pellicani, but "then the ring flew out of the box and fell to the roadway below." Whoops-a-daisy! Acting fast (and not so sensibly) he climbed down the bridge to get to the roadway, triggering a suicide jumper alert! Once he convinced the NYPD he wasn't looking to take the big dive, they helped stop traffic and he was actually able to retrieve the ring as his would-be-fiance and her family were watching (and filming) all along through the giant gaps in the walkway planks.

Could you imagine if she didn't say "yes"? The Today segment is after the jump, and it includes the footage the family filmed atop the bridge.

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on April 2, 2009 2:56 PM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

Good thing I wasn't driving acroos that bridge. I don't brake for romance, I lean on the gas pedal for it.

does that make me a bad person?

babyfishmouth

I think this guy's an idiot. I saw the video on NBC last night - he was running into traffic. He risked his own life and the lives of others by doing that. He should get a ticket. And her family was conveniently there filming it all (lame - why not have a private moment alone?). Methinks it was a setup so they could get some publicity and maybe some money for their wedding.

EricGewiz

He's REALLY lucky. If in another spot, the ring could have fallen down the open slats that go straight down to the East River. Imagine THAT jump to save the ring!

valeriob

Maybe next time he will save up for a bigger diamond.

Cheapo ;)

FrankMartin

Talk about bad omen.

At the pearly gates he's gunna ask god why did you let me marry that woman. god's gunna go "dude I popped the ring out of the box and let it slip through a crack and drop down to the street. What do you want, I'm not a miracle worker for My-sake."

Wza

That was a sign man! Don't get married!

JRod5417

Cute story and at least it was a memorable proposal. I almost dropped my IPod through one of those wood boards while I was jogging. That would have been truly tragic...for me.

Jen Chung

The spaces between those wooden boards are HUGE! I bet a flat screen TV could fall through them.

Also, my husband proposed on the Brooklyn Bridge but I was too nervous about taking the ring on the wooden boards, because you can see the traffic below so clearly!

Jen S

Jen, no jogging with your new HDTV.

Kojak

Damn clutz. I hope their kids don't end up like Hans Moleman's from the Simpsons.

ed_Extinct

Best proposal story ever. Good for them!

handsomedevil

OK, right idea. Pop the question at some public landmark that will always be there, not at some swanky restaurant that will close and get converted into a Shoe Mania.