Lauren & Ian in Boston, MA

It's safe to say that Lauren Gilligan and Ian Stanton's engagement story is one of our all-time favorites -- you'll see why in a second. The Bride Lauren Gilligan, 30, works in corporate communications The Groom Ian Stanton, 31, public relations manager The Date October 9 One night Lauren came home to find that her boyfriend of three years, Ian, had a surprise in store. Before walking inside, he told her to close her eyes, and then led her into the apartment. I heard music in the background, so I thought maybe he was fixing a romantic dinner, she remembers. Instead, when she opened her eyes she saw that he'd filled the apartment with rose petals and candles -- and an issue of The Knot Weddings Magazine was on the table. Ian said, I know how you like these magazines, and I saw something in there I thought you'd like. When Lauren opened the magazine (which Ian had carefully glued together and hollowed out to turn it into a giant box), she found an engagement ring nestled among rose petals. He asked, she said yes, and Lauren still has the magazine. The two soon began planning a fall wedding set for almost a year later in Boston.