On Christmas Eve, aboard a flight from Charlotte, North Carolina to Mexico City, a remarkable proposal unfolded high above the clouds. Sam Riber, a 34-year-old fan of the movie "The Wedding Singer," proposed to his girlfriend, Lissy Alden, 37, in a unique recreation of an iconic scene from the film. Both avid fans of the movie, the couple's love story began less than a year ago at a Shabbat dinner in February 2024, where they experienced an instant connection.
Sam Riber meticulously planned the proposal for eight months, crafting a moment that would leave a lasting impression. Halfway through the flight, he surprised Lissy with a heartfelt performance of "Grow Old With You," a song featured in "The Wedding Singer." To achieve this surprise, Riber collaborated with the flight attendants, including Teri Ramirez, who played a crucial role in coordinating the event.
“I was lucky enough to have the support of the flight attendants, especially Teri Ramirez, who you see helping me with the PA system,” – Sam Riber
To maintain the element of surprise, Riber smuggled a prop guitar onto the plane without Lissy noticing. The flight attendants introduced codewords, such as "juice," to signal when it was time for Riber to retrieve the guitar hidden on board.
“The team went above and beyond to help, even introducing our code word ‘juice’ so I would know when to go up and grab the guitar they’d been hiding for me.” – Sam Riber
Initially, Lissy believed the performance was part of her birthday celebration, as Riber had already made arrangements like upgrading their seats to first class. However, as Sam got down on one knee, Lissy realized what was truly happening.
“When it first started, I assumed it was because it was my birthday as he’d already done things to celebrate like bumping us up to first class. But, when he got down on one knee, I realized what was happening and just felt so happy.” – Lissy Alden
Reflecting on their whirlwind romance, Lissy shared how she almost missed the fateful Shabbat dinner where they met due to fatigue. Encouraged by her mother to attend for nourishment, Lissy is now grateful she did.
“I almost didn’t go [to] that Shabbat dinner in February because I was tired but my mum told me I needed to eat and I’m so glad I went,” – Lissy Alden
With both having dated extensively prior to meeting each other, the couple knew they had found something special and were eager to commit.
“We have both dated a lot before so when we both felt it was really right, we didn’t want to have to wait.” – Lissy Alden
Though the proposal wasn't completely unexpected due to previous discussions of their future together, its timing took Lissy by surprise.
“Although I had no idea he was going to propose then and there, we had talked about a future so it wasn’t completely out of the blue,” – Lissy Alden
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