A woman who sees her dad as her best friend burst into tears of happiness and ran into his tearful embrace when he surprised her following her engagement.
Jenna Dobrowolski, 26, from Tinton Falls, New Jersey, said her father, Jeff, 69, was the first person she wanted to share her engagement news with – but he wasn’t taking her calls.
The pair share an incredibly close bond, Jenna said, with father and daughter enjoying a love of New York Yankees games, Taylor Swift, and dancing when their favorite songs come on.
They also regularly meet for breakfasts at their favorite local diner, and so once Jenna’s now-fiancé Aaron had proposed, she couldn’t wait to get in touch with her dad to break the good news.
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The proposal had taken place on the beach after a meal at Jenna’s favorite restaurant, and with a bar the couple enjoy nearby, they decided to walk there for a celebratory drink.
Jenna had tried calling Jeff repeatedly – but as she walked into the Sea Bright, New Jersey, bar on April 26, she then saw a familiar face.
Friends and family had secretly gathered for the celebrations, but as soon as Jenna spotted her father, she immediately burst into tears of happiness and ran into his arms – as he himself held back tears.
A friend captured the beautiful moment on video, which Jenna later shared on social media to millions of views and hundreds of comments about Jenna and Jeff’s reaction.
She and Aaron, an Army veteran, are now planning to get married in October 2026, when Jeff will likely walk his daughter down the aisle to a Taylor Swift song.
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Jenna said: “My dad is my absolute world.
“He is my best friend, number one supporter and biggest fan, and goes above and beyond for me every single day.
“We bond over our mutual love for the New York Yankees, listening to Taylor Swift, and dancing together whenever our favorite songs come on.
“I called my dad multiple times right after Aaron proposed and was sad he hadn’t answered my calls.
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“Little did I know, my sister and best friend were telling him he wasn’t allowed to answer because they thought he may ruin the surprise.
“So, when I saw him, I was purely overjoyed – I could finally share the news and celebrate with him.
“I was about to start my journey with the love of my life but felt like a little girl running to dad at the surprise celebration.”
