Emily & Chad in Columbus, OH

For most of us, 374 days sounds like just over a year, but for Emily it felt like a lifetime. That’s the length of time her boyfriend Chad was deployed to Iraq. Originally scheduled for a six-month stint, Chad found out his tour would be extended to a year, and began planning a surprise proposal from abroad. The Bride Emily Kiehborth, 25, pharmaceutical sales rep The Groom Chad Jenkins, 26, U.S. Army captain The Date December 10 With his sister’s help, Chad researched and sized a ring, giving his sister specific instructions on the cut, size, and band he wanted. With a little back-and-forth over email, Chad found exactly the princess-cut diamond he’d been hoping for, and proposed to Emily less than ten hours after he landed back on American soil.