https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMlzcBK109M
HANAHAN, S.C.–Forget the traditional fairy tale romance. Heather McCreery, 41, and Bryon Perry, 27, were strangers living clear across the country more than five years ago.
Then, they met playing an online game called World of Warcraft, became friends, fell in love, and finally made their relationship a reality when Bryon moved more than 3,000 miles from his home in Fresno, California to be with Heather in their current home in Knightsville.
Although they may seem an unlikely couple to some, a 20-something-year-old man falling for a single mother 14 years his senior who met as online gamers, they have been living together about three and a half years now and never more deeper in love.
Their digital age romance story continues as Bryon’s recent marriage proposal has been posted on YouTube and Facebook and making its rounds.
“I was completely surprised,” Heather said with a laugh.
Bryon came up with the house fire, turn proposal story at the Hanahan Fire Station off Yeamans Hall Road with help from his friends there. He’s been a firefighter at the department nearly two years now. He invited Heather out for a March Madness watch party with his co-workers and friends. But shortly after arriving almost everyone was called out for a structure fire.
“When they do plan something like that it’s always inevitable that they are going to get a call,” Heather said.
Another firefighter, off duty at the time, stayed behind at the station with her and informed her it wasn’t a big fire and that they could go out to the scene, which was just around the corner from the station.
Heather says she pulled up and describes it as an active fire scene. “They had the fire truck there, a police officer blocking the road, bystanders around watching. You could see the house, there’s smoke coming out of the eaves. They’ve got the hoses out.”
But in reality was all a set up. The smoke was coming from a machine. The video shows Bryon as he exits the smoking home, stops in the middle of the yard, and he motions for Heather to come over to him. She takes a moment to turn around to see the “active fire scene” had become all eyes on her and her man, with cell phone cameras out taking pictures and videos.
He says a few things to her then gets down on one knee and pops the question! In the video you can hear Heather squeal with joy and the cheers from fellow firefighters and others who had gathered around.
“It was the most amazing thing anyone has ever done for me. It was perfect, just awesome,” she says.
Heather says the whole fake house fire turned proposal caught her completely off guard.
“He’s the type of guy who can’t wait for Christmas to open presents, so the fact he kept this secret for as long as he did is absolutely astounding to me. He planned it for two months,” Heather said.
Bryon says the fire chief and his crew were all on board with the idea. “They were more than happy to take part. We had a couple guys come in from off duty,” Bryon said. “It was cool.”
The couple has yet to set a date for the big day but say they are looking at fall or winter for a wedding in Bryon’s home state California.
Bryon modestly says he can’t take credit for the idea. “A buddy of mine back home did something like this about three years ago, definitely not an original idea,” he says.
While that may be, one thing is for sure, it has all played out well for the firefighter and former online gamer in love. He has his fiancé now and has won over the hearts of many with his elaborate house fire proposal.
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You Rock, Nicole! Thank you for the article!