Caught on camera: Wilmington scavenger hunt marriage proposal | Events

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Sara McEwen had no idea what was in store for her when she and her boyfriend, Josh Harcus, headed to Wrightsville Beach Saturday morning to enjoy a beautiful sunrise.

Little did she know that Harcus had a unique scavenger hunt planned for the day that would end in a marriage proposal.

Harcus was able to capture each moment leading up to the big question on camera, and later uploaded it to YouTube in a segment that's a little longer than the average online video, but definitely worth watching all the way through.

The video starts out with the UNC Wilmington alums sitting on the beach, taking in the serene atmosphere and talking. Before long, one of the couple’s mutual friends named Andrew comes out of the water, holding scuba gear, and approaches the pair before handing McEwen a note. Harcus feigns surprise, asking, “What are you doing here?”

Andrew then runs off without answering questions, leaving McEwen puzzled and giggling. She soon opens the note, revealing her first clue.

As the couple embarks on the scavenger hunt that leads them to UNCW’s campus and downtown, Harcus makes sure his camera is rolling, capturing McEwen joking around that she hopes it will lead to a proposal, saying things like, “There’s no ring in it…I’m kidding!” as she opens clues.

But it’s evident from the combination of shock and happiness on McEwen’s face when Harcus gets down on one knee that she truly didn’t see what was coming.

“During the time, I had convinced her that it was a fun date,” Harcus later said. “Honestly, I told her that I wasn't ready to ask her, and then when she asked me about that after I had asked her, I said, "I wasn't ready at 9 a.m., but I knew at 11 a.m., I would be."

The couple has sent a tentative wedding date for Dec. 15 of this year.

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