A loving boyfriend devised a one-of-a-kind proposal, leading his girlfriend on a scavenger hunt before getting down on one knee in the same spot her late father proposed in 1986.
A few years before asking the big question, 32-year-old Tyler Dycus had heard his mother-in-law, Cathie Anderson, 65, talking about the spot where her husband, Jim, had proposed.
It was a stunning location overlooking the water in Torrey Pines State Reserve, La Jolla, California, Tyler remembered, and he knew that when the time came, he wanted to propose to his girlfriend, Maddie, at the same spot.
Cathie moved to San Diego in the 1980s, met Jim and got engaged within a few months.
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For a short period, Jim went to school to be a park ranger, and though he changed career paths, the outdoors and his proposed spot in La Jolla remained memorable to him.
Tyler never got a chance to meet Jim before he passed away from cancer in 2013, but Maddie kept her father’s memory alive, telling stories of what a great family man he was, as well as his love of nature and music.
Given how important Maddie’s father was to her, Tyler knew he wanted to incorporate Jim into his proposal in some way.
Having committed to getting down on one knee in the same spot, the 32-year-old planned a full-day of mystery adventure, encouraging Maddie to find Tyler by sunset.
The journey included a message from Ice Cube, the star of Maddie’s beloved Law and Order. It took her to the beach city of Encinitas, San Diego Zoo, Japanese Friendship Gardens, the UTC Mall in La Jolla, and, ultimately, Torrey Pines State Reserve at sunset.
On October 7, 2023, Maddie removed her blindfold, and a proud Cathie walked her emotional daughter to her sunset proposal.
Maddie’s friends and family captured each step of the emotional and unique surprise on video, and she later shared each part of Tyler’s loving gesture on her TikTok.
There, the videos gained a viral response, with viewers commenting on Tyler’s lovely gesture.
Maddie, who will marry in Santa Ynez Valley in May 2025, said, “After I removed my blindfold, I looked around, and it took a moment to realize where I was.
“Then it hit me, not only of where we were, but also the significance of the location, and I immediately started crying.
“My mom was crying too, and she just looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, ‘I know’ with the sweetest smile on her face.
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“I honestly think the moment meant just as much to her as it did to me, which made my heart so happy.
“As soon as I knew where we were I felt immediately emotional, and so incredibly grateful.
“The thoughtfulness he put into this moment was something so moving and is one of the many reasons I am so excited to call him my husband next May.
“After I got myself together, my mom walked me over to the spot where Tyler stood.
“I slowly let go of her hand and I walked toward this incredible man, literally speechless.
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“When he started speaking, all I could do was cry and smile.
“He spoke about our relationship, how much he loves me, and how honored he would be to spend the rest of our lives together and I blurted out the most excited ‘YES!’ of my life.
“I was hesitant to share too much of the proposal story since it was very personal, but since I did, everyone has been so sweet and supportive.
“People have told me how touched they are and how incredible Tyler is, and this makes me so happy, because he truly is.”
