Unique Marriage Proposal
An Evening For Eternity
When I recently scrolled through our Facebook comments under a Spiegelsee post, one comment immediately caught my eye:
"That's where I got the marriage proposal from my husband!" wrote one of our Facebook fans.
This is probably one of the most unique and extraordinary marriage proposals I have ever heard of. In the middle of an underground salt lake, 650 meters deep in a mine. I decided to write them a message and ask Stephanie and Jürgen to tell us more about their memories of this special day. I soon received a reply.
Today, Stephanie and Jürgen tell us all about their dinner in the Berchtesgaden Salt Mine and how it became an evening they will remember for the rest of their lives.
Question & Answer
How long have you been a couple?
We got together on November 16, 2005. The proposal and dinner took place on November 16, 2012. Exactly one year later, we got married.
How did your boyfriend come up with the idea?
He had always been fascinated by the Mirror Lake and the salt mine, and he found the atmosphere simply beautiful – a small lake inside the mountain, the two of us on a boat, first the tour and then a delicious dinner to end the evening perfectly.
Was it your first time in a salt mine?
Yes, it was the first time for both of us. I hope we’ll get the chance to go again someday, but we were so thrilled that we gifted the dinner experience to Jürgen’s parents. They were just as enthusiastic and finally understood how special it was.
Stephanie, did you have any idea or notice anything beforehand?
Months before, I had mentioned that I might get a proposal, because I really value the date of our anniversary. And since November 16, 2013, happened to fall on a Saturday (perfect for a wedding), I thought he might go for it – but then I forgot all about it.
As our anniversary approached, I really wanted to plan a special outing with him, but he was acting strangely – which was unusual, since our anniversary is usually very important to us. He kept saying, 'We don’t have to do something every year… let’s just stay home.' I was really disappointed – until the morning came. He woke me up early and said: 'Let’s go, pack your things… bring something warm and something nice.'
I was completely stunned. I was so nervous because I had no idea what to expect. Even when we arrived in Berchtesgaden, I still had no clue. We checked into the Hotel Kronprinz and took a lovely stroll through Berchtesgaden. In the evening, it all began. When we arrived at the salt mine (I thought that was the surprise for our anniversary), we were greeted with sparkling wine and appetizers. Then we changed clothes and the tour began. I enjoyed the evening sooooo much – we were just a small group.
How and where did he propose to you?
When we were just about to reach the Mirror Lake, he suddenly got really nervous (I had no idea what was going on). He kept saying, “We have to sit in the back” (he didn’t want everyone to notice). Of course, only the middle seats were left laughs. As soon as the boat started moving, he got down on one knee next to me and proposed, slipping my anniversary ring onto my finger. I was completely overwhelmed. The water, the light show… it was simply magical. Afterwards, we toasted and enjoyed a delicious dinner. We spent the rest of the evening sliding down the wooden slides and chipping away at salt rocks.
What did you like most about this unusual location?
What we loved most was the atmosphere – so deep inside the mountain and that incredibly beautiful Mirror Lake.
What did you espacially like about this unusual location?
What we loved most was the atmosphere – so deep inside the mountain, and that uniquely beautiful Mirror Lake.
How did the other participants on the tour react?
The other participants and the tour guide immediately congratulated us, of course.
How did your friends and family react?
They were all totally surprised but very happy for us. Jürgen’s parents especially wanted to see where their son had proposed to me (they used that as the perfect excuse for their 2013 Christmas gift laughs).
Have you already gotten married?
From that unforgettable day on, we started planning our wedding and actually got married exactly one year later on our anniversary. It was a dreamlike day, and we both love to look back on November 16, 2012. Our photo from the salt mine hangs in the entrance area, where I see it every day when I come home from work.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Stephanie and Jürgen once again for answering our questions and for attending our dinner in the salt mine. :)
We wish you all the best for the future and would be delighted if you came to visit us again at the Berchtesgaden Salt Mine.
If you would like to experience the dinner in the Berchtesgaden salt mine, you can find more information about this unique event here.
