Popping the question

 

The proposals, engagements and love stories of a few local couples.

By Rich Wicks | Panora Times, January 2026

When it comes to marriage proposals and engagements, there does not seem to be a right or wrong way. In romantic relationships, it is often said that birds of a feather flock together. But, it is also said that opposites attract. Some people believe in love at first sight, while others say love must grow gradually through shared experiences. Some prefer a private proposal, while others pop the question while being televised on a Jumbotron screen at a public event. 

So, what is the best approach? That depends. Falling in love, proposing marriage and building a life together are all unique experiences that each couple navigates in their own way based on their unique situation. Below are the proposal, engagement and love stories of a few local couples.

Jenna Castle and Hunter Kloewer

Jenna Castle and Hunter Kloewer are a young couple in Panora planning a May 2026 wedding. Castle, who works as a physical therapist at Guthrie County Hospital, told the story of their engagement.

“We had been going on four years of dating, and the proposal happened this past summer. I was not expecting it at all,” Castle said. “It was the Saturday before Mother’s Day. I was under the impression that we were going to get family pictures at Boulder Beach the whole day. That’s what his mother wanted to do for Mother’s Day.”

When the couple arrived at the spot, Castle noticed something odd.

“Once we got there, there was nobody there. He had it all set up, and that’s where he proposed. It was just the two of us at first,” she said. “He’s a triplet, and his two sisters were there. They had set everything up, and then they were hiding, recording and taking pictures. I didn’t see them until the last minute. But once I saw them, I kind of knew what was up.”

Kloewer had more surprises up his sleeve.

“He secretly invited all of my family. So, right after he proposed, my parents showed up, my grandparents showed up, and all of our friends, too,” Castle said. “He had this whole party planned at his family’s lake house. That was nice to be able to share that with them, too.”

Castle admits she was impressed that Kloewer was able to keep things a secret with so many people in the loop.

“It’s hard to keep a secret from me. I tend to find out, so it’s very impressive that he was able to keep it hidden,” Castle said. “I found out later that the ring was in the glove box, and I had driven his truck multiple times, but I had no idea.”

Although the proposal timing was a surprise, Castle said the couple had talked about the idea of getting engaged and had even shopped for rings. 

“We had gone and looked at rings back in October prior, but then he waited until May,” she said.

According to Castle, no family members or friends were surprised the couple chose to become engaged. In fact, some seemed to wonder what took so long.

“I don’t think anybody was surprised,” Castle said. “Most of the time, it was like, ‘Finally.’ ”

Castle said that after dating four years, being engaged doesn’t feel any different.

“We are getting married May 2, so almost one year from when we got engaged,” she said. “We’re still the same people. The only thing different is now we’re planning a wedding.”

Castle said the couple expects around 250 to 300 guests. With the wedding only a few months away, planning is running full speed, but the couple isn’t feeling stressed — yet.

“I haven’t hit that part yet,” Castle said.

As often happens, the groom-to-be is happy to defer to his fiancée on most decisions about the upcoming nuptials. 

“He and I are pretty easy going, and he just says, ‘Whatever you want,’ ” Castle said.

 

Miranda and Skylar Meinecke

Miranda Meinecke works at B & B Marketplace in Panora. Her husband, Skylar, is the son of Kandi Meinecke, owner of B & B Marketplace. So, both are quite familiar with the process of planning the many details involved in scheduling a wedding. 

The proposal, engagement and marriage of Miranda and Skylar is proof that there is no cookie-cutter plan for such events. Two major surprises impacted their planning. The couple explained the unusual circumstances that led to the timing of their progression to marriage.

“We dated for not even two years. We were living together in Ankeny. We knew we were going to get married,” Miranda said. “We had to do everything quickly because it was a dark time. We had found out that my mom had cancer, stage four, very aggressive and very rare. They only gave her six to 12 months to live. My brother had just gotten married, and then we decided that we wanted her to be there for this. So, we started planning a wedding before we were even engaged.”

On the day after Thanksgiving 2019, the couple went to check out a possible venue in Webster City for their wedding day, which was set for April 11, 2020. But, unknown to Miranda, Skylar had a secret in store for her. 

“My mom and my sister decorated the gazebo where they hold outdoor weddings,” Skylar said. “There was a trail to it, and we tricked Miranda into coming out there.”

“I had said I wanted an outdoor wedding, and they said, ‘Well. Let’s go check out the gazebo,’ ” Miranda said. “We walked out there, and then I realized it was all decorated, and there were all my favorite chocolates, and I didn’t realize the ring was there, too.”

As far as Miranda knew, the ring was still in a jewelry store.

“I had picked out a ring in Webster City, but I knew he hadn’t picked it up yet,” Miranda said.

Skylar’s sister, Kaylinn, had picked up the ring so that Miranda would be surprised. It worked. With the proposal accepted, the couple began planning their April wedding.

“That was Thanksgiving,” Miranda said. “Then COVID came.” 

The pandemic and resulting lockdown made the couple’s April 2020 wedding plan impossible, so they scrambled to reschedule. The challenge was that no one knew when lockdown restrictions would be lifted. Fortunately, the couple found a potential makeup date that would fit the calendars of all the event’s vendors.

“Luckily, everyone had the Fourth of July available, which was a Saturday.”

The couple also set a secondary backup date of Thanksgiving 2020, in case COVID protocols did not allow the wedding to happen as scheduled on July 4.

“The Fourth of July worked out, which I’m thankful for because my mom passed away three weeks later,” Miranda said.

“It was very hot that day, and I had planned all of our outfits for an outdoor wedding in April. Those poor guys were so hot,” Miranda said. 

“We were in suit jackets, brand new blue jeans and cowboy boots, and it was like 105 degrees or whatever that day,” Skylar said.

The heat nearly prevented Miranda’s mother from attending.

“My mom almost didn’t come,” Miranda said. “But then she called back and said, ‘I can do this.’ ”

The couple is very appreciative that everyone worked with them to reschedule around COVID and still have the wedding in time for Miranda’s mother to participate. 

Since marrying in 2020, the couple has been blessed with a son, Reed.  

Rachelle and Cameron Little

Rachelle and Cameron Little married just over three years ago and now live in Yale. Rachelle shared the story of their unique and comical proposal moment.

“Cam and I met on Facebook, and we were friends for a year before we started dating, and then we got engaged six months after we started dating,” Rachelle said. “We got engaged April 17, 2022.”

Rachelle explained the proposal happened while looking for a suitable outdoor spot to marry.

“My daughter, Taylin, and I are from West Des Moines. So, Cam and Taylin and I were checking out Springbrook Park, looking for possible wedding venues because we knew we were going to get engaged, and my daughter and I were going to be moving out here,” Rachelle said. “But I didn’t know that my daughter and Cam had kind of put together a plan for the proposal. So, we were driving around looking at the shelters in the park, and we went to the youth group area. He suggested we get out and look around, and then we started taking some pictures.”

This was the spot where the surprise and the comedy happened. At first, Cameron did not get the proposal response he was expecting.

“So, then my daughter said, ‘OK, turn around and face the woods,’ and she took a picture that way,” Rachelle said. “Then Cam had moved back and got down on one knee, and he proposed, and I have motion sickness, so I was a little out of it from the winding roads of Springbrook, so with that, the first thing I said was, ‘What, Cameron?’ 

“So that’s our huge joke now. But, I said yes. I was very shocked and very excited,” Rachelle said. “I didn’t know but my daughter was recording us the whole time. But that was really cool, she got to be part of it, and she got to help me pick out my ring.”

Immediately after the proposal, the three went to share the news with Cameron’s parents. Rachelle found that nobody seemed surprised at the engagement.

“I think everyone kind of knew that we would get engaged,” she said. “I think everyone was excited more than anything. People were just waiting for it to happen.”

That April day of scouting out the park resulted in a scenic outdoor wedding.

“We got married five months later, Sept. 17, 2022. We actually got married at Springbrook Park. It’s very special to us, and I’m a photographer, so I like to be out there when I can,” Rachelle said. “It was perfect for us.”