When your love story is best told between the shelves of a bookstore. This proposal was straight out of a novel.
Sometimes the most romantic love stories don’t need fireworks or flash mobs. They just need the right person, the right moment, and maybe a few shelves of well-loved books. When one couple chose a quiet, candlelit bookstore as the backdrop for their proposal, the internet couldn’t get enough.
A Proposal Straight Out of a Storybook
When we think of romantic proposals, our minds might immediately wander to candlelit dinners, beaches at sunset, or even surprise trips. But for Luis and Alyona, their love story had always been a little more literary, and their interests were very much bookish. So why not get engaged in a bookstore?
Instead of a big city rooftop or a grand public spectacle, Luis chose Capital Hill Books in Denver, a charming, locally owned shop filled with the scent of old pages and stories waiting to be explored.
The moment they shared has since gone absolutely viral online, capturing hearts everywhere as a tender example of how simple, personal moments can be the most memorable.
Where They Began: Sweet Beginnings and Quiet Intimacy
So let’s rewind just a bit to where Luis and Alyona met. The pair managed to skip the apps and the awkward blind dates. They met organically through mutual friends at a board game night back in September 2022, not long after Luis moved to Denver. Sparks flew fast, and their relationship quickly grew into something deeply comforting and joyful.
They made things official on Valentine’s Day 2023, and from that point on, it was clear that they were meant for one another. The couple thrived in the quiet moments spent together, whether that involved a cozy night at home or wandering through bookstores browsing titles.
That love for simplicity and shared downtime is what inspired Luis’s engagement idea. He knew a big public display wouldn’t suit their style, but a heartfelt bookstore moment definitely would.
Setting the Scene: After Hours at Capitol Hill Books
After scouring the city for the perfect bookstore, Luis found Capital Hill. With fingers crossed, he approached the owner with an idea: a private, after-hours proposal that would feel magical but still authentically them. The owner happily agreed, giving Luis the perfect canvas for what would become one of the most romantic nights of their lives.
Luis personalized the store, adding string lights, charcuterie, roses, and candles, and, perhaps most importantly, he played their favorite song: Meet Me in the City.
And then, he waited.
A Clever Note and a Trip Downtown
The evening began at their home, not the bookstore. Luis left Alyona a handwritten note: a sweet little riddle involving books, rings, and eternity, asking her to meet him “in the city” at 6:15 PM.
He even rigged their old boombox to play the first notes of “Meet Me in the City” while she read it.
As Alyona got ready, she was filled with excitement and a little nervous anticipation, unaware of what exactly awaited her.
When she walked through the bookstore door that evening, everything came into focus: dimmed lights, the smell of old books, and Luis, waiting for her with a bouquet and tears in his eyes.
The Heartfelt Moment
Once inside, Luis started speaking from the heart. Though he had practiced what to say for months, the moment he saw her face light up, he forgot every scripted word. But it didn’t matter, because what he felt came through even stronger.
He told her she was his best friend, that he chose her “today, tomorrow, and for the rest of his life,” then dropped to one knee with a stunning custom-designed oval diamond ring they’d created together with a local jeweler.
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Alyona’s reaction? Pure emotion, tears, and a shaking head yes (even if she might’ve forgotten to say it out loud at first). She melted into his arms, overwhelmed by how perfectly Luis had captured the moment and how true it felt to who they were as a couple.
Viral Love: When the Internet Cheers Along
Of course, the sweetness doesn’t just stop there. The moment resonated with the world. Videos and photos of the proposal were shared across platforms like TikTok and Instagram, instantly going viral.
People everywhere were captivated not by grand gestures or over-the-top theatrics, but by this intimate night that felt like something out of a romantic novel. It was heartfelt, simple, and personal… a true reflection of Luis and Alyona’s shared love for one another and for quiet happiness.
Reflections on Love, Books, and Moments That Matter
After the proposal, the couple soaked in the rush of emotions, from the butterflies beforehand to the pure joy afterward. They took pictures with some of their favorite books and reminisced about everything that brought them to that night.
Alyona described how overwhelmed she felt the second she stepped inside the bookstore, and Luis couldn’t imagine a more perfect evening. He said he was “intoxicated by the smells of the old dusty books and the dim lights,” and that sentiment struck a chord with so many who watched their moment unfold online.
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Millie Ramm
Millie has been writing since she was a child, and has spent more time with her nose in books than anywhere else. She has been ghostwriting novels and editing for the past few years, and when not working she is curled up with her cats, looking for her next read.
