By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor and Melanie Zayas, AAP Intern

There’s no better way to start off the best time of the year than with Pennsauken Township’s holiday parade. And in spite of a cold, wintery Saturday in November, the 34^th annual parade offered a warm greeting to the holiday season, as well as the event’s first-ever marriage proposal. And don’t worry. She said, “Yes.”

In the midst of the parade’s usual attractions, which included fire engines, holiday-themed floats, dance performances and musical entertainment, parade goers were treated to an unexpected surprise that could have been taken straight from a romance novel.

Pennsauken residents Chris DePietropolo and Carol Wiand have known each other since they were teenagers, with their childhood crush become something more than just infatuation. But life always seemed to have other plans. Chris and Carol went off in different directions for a while, but their on again, off again relationship finally came together three years ago, and Chris was ready to propose. So he decided to pop the question in their home town, at the event that has always had a special meaning to the couple.

Chris’ proposal to Carol is around the 28:11 mark.

“We grew up in Pennsauken and moved back here and we would always go to the parade every year,” explained DePietropolo. “By proposing at the parade, everybody could be out there: all of our family and friends. It added a fairy tale ending to it.”

Chris first started to plan the parade proposal in September. With the help of the Parks and Recreation Department, a fake letter was sent to Chris stating that he’d be honored at the parade for his work with the Pennsauken Youth Athletic Association. Chris would ride along the parade route in the horse-drawn carriage that carried the Pennsauken Township Committee and Carol came along as his guest. What Wiand didn’t realize was that the trip to the parade grandstand on Browning Rd. would lead to the biggest question of her life.

“I was nervous from when it started all the way down,” says Chris. “But as soon as I stepped off, all my nerves went away.”

DePietropolo stepped off, got down on one knee, and asked. For Carol, the world stopped, and there was only the two of them.

“I’m pretty sure my heart stopped. I couldn’t feel anything. I couldn’t breathe,” says Wiand. “It was something I waited a very long time for. Everything about Pennsauken has been home for so long; I couldn’t have picked a better place.”

The moment was truly picture perfect. And after a lot of cheers, and an interview of the happy couple by local television station NBC 10, the parade resumed with performances from Pennsauken High School students, the Eagles Pep Band, Gloucester City String Band, and even an appearance of members of the 501^st Legion, an all-volunteer group of “Star Wars” fans who came dressed up as characters from the movie to help raise funds for the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Of course, the parade concluded with visit from Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick, who delighted all those in attendance and helped start Pennsauken’s official countdown to Christmas Day.

Chris and Carol are planning for a May 2015 wedding.