Ricky and Deanna’s love story

DeAnna didn’t make it easy for Ricky to propose to her, but he persisted and got the job done, and their love story culminated in a beautiful outdoor wedding in August in Bellevue.

Ricky and DeAnna first noticed each other at a lounge where she worked, but it was at a bowling alley where they officially met. They were with a group of friends and one of them encouraged Ricky to buy DeAnna a drink. They hit it off and a few days later he went to the lounge where she worked to see her again. They set a date.

Their first date was at Olive Garden and a fair in La Vista. DeAnna says she was attracted to his fun-loving personality. She says he made her feel safe. “He took my hand and made me feel protected,” she says. Ricky says he loved DeAnna’s huge smile and energetic personality. Their first kiss involved a garbage Dumpster. He was helping her take out trash at the lounge one night when he decided this was his opportunity to give her a kiss. He says he picked her up and threw her in the Dumpster then laid one on her. It was quite the memorable experience. Their love story was in full swing.

When the relationship continued into its third year, DeAnna was waiting for her proposal. It took some doing. Ricky decided to talk to her father beforehand to ask for Deanna’s hand in marriage. He did so at halftime during a Nebraska football game. He didn’t get his answer right away. Instead DeAnna’s dad waited until the end of the game, leaving Ricky sweating it out for entire half of football. After he got his permission, the planning began.

Ricky took great care in picking out a ring and deciding how he was going to propose. It was November near Thanksgiving and he had decided on a Christmas light show at Midtown Crossing as the place to pop the question. DeAnna, however, didn’t cooperate. She says it was too late and too cold that day to go out. The next day they went to a restaurant and Ricky suggested going for a walk, where he planned to propose. DeAnna didn’t want to, saying she was too full from the meal and it was too cold. Ricky decided he needed to get DeAnna’s mother involved.

Toward the end of the weekend she had made plans with some friends. Her mother invited them over for dinner, saying Ricky’s parents were going to be there. DeAnna was mad because her plans were changed. Ricky picked her up and she felt like something was up. She had a feeling he might take a detour and propose, but they got to her parent’s house and she figured that the proposal would not be coming. Soon after they got out of the car in front of DeAnna’s parents’ house, Ricky got down on one knee and asked DeAnna to marry him. Her family was on hand to witness the scene and take photos.

It was a special time and the ultimate way to continue their love story.