When his plans to propose to his girlfriend at a Taylor Swift concert came crashing down, this hopeful romantic decided Taco Bell would be the next best place. Steve Hofstetter had planned to propose while handing over Taylor Swift tickets to superfan girlfriend Savannah Martin earlier this month.
The 43-year-old was going to write the proposal on re-sale tickets he was secretly planning to snap up as a surprise for her. But the apparent backlash from fans meant some tickets were pulled back and Savannah was one of the lucky ones to be chosen in a lottery to buy them - so she got her mitts on them first.
Steve then decided to incorporate her love of Taco Bell into the proposal and hired out the Etna branch in Pittsburgh, US, on June 17 to surprise her. Pretending that they needed to stop for an impromptu loo break at 11am, Steve managed to get the oblivious insurer into the restaurant.
It was only when she realised it was empty and that there were cameras that a giggling Savannah know something was going on.
Then Steve dropped to his knee 'among the ghosts of quesadillas past', and popped the question with a 2.35 carat solitaire diamond ring and Savannah said 'yes'.
The funny post, which went viral racking up more than 34,000 likes, shares and comments, shows the thrilled pair smooching on the restaurant floor and Savannah grabbing a crunch wrap supreme.
Steve, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US, said: "Taylor Swift is her most favourite thing, but Taco Bell is a close second.
"She loves it, it's comfort food, it makes her happy, so it makes me happy.
"I didn’t know if hiring a Taco Bell was even a thing, but I asked the manager if I could hire it for the proposal and the manager said yes.
"Savannah's family were in the area for the Taylor Swift concert that evening.
"I got help from her family, and her aunt had to tell her this elaborate story, so she didn’t suspect anything.
"Her aunt, mum and cousin were all at the proposal as well as some friends who helped set up.
"Our friend brought a candle as a gift and set it at the table in Taco Bell.
"We pulled into Taco Bell because one of us needed the bathroom. Once we got inside, and Savannah saw it was empty and there were cameras, she realised something was happening.
"She started jumping up and down, giggling.
"She laughed when I got down on one knee, because obviously a Taco Bell floor isn’t the cleanest place to be knelt down on."
After receiving an enthusiastic 'yes' from Savannah the pair posed up for pictures before the bride-to-be headed to the Taylor Swift concert with her mum.
Steve said: "I gave my Taylor Swift ticket to her mum for the evening so they could go together.
"I knew she would love to go with her mum, so I listened outside from the car window instead."
Savannah said: "I had no idea when we arrived at Taco Bell what was going to happen.
"We were on our way to lunch at a different location when we pulled over because someone in the car said they needed to [stop].
"I walked in to order some chips and cheese, the best chips and cheese anywhere, when I saw the cameras and knew something was up.
"I thought only those we arrived with were there [but] my friends and family were hiding inside.
"After he proposed I turned around to look at my mom and noticed my best friend and other close friends were there for the occasion.
"It was really wonderful and felt so special that my friends were willing to drive quite a long way to be there for this.
"When he asked me in Taco Bell I giggled a lot, I also did quite a bit of jumping up and down.
"This caused me to get a very embarrassing and hilarious wedgie which I promptly fixed in as subtle of a way as possible.
"Being at the Taylor Swift concert that evening was magical.
"Taylor Swift is my favorite person in the entire world. I loved looking at my ring while all the love songs played."
Steve and Savannah plan to tie the knot in June 2024 and are hoping to get tickets to see her in Dublin next year.
Steve's post reads: "I had figured out the perfect way to propose.
"Taylor Swift is performing in Pittsburgh tonight, and Savannah Martin is a huge fan. She was unable to get tickets, so I was planning on buying some reseller seats and surprising her with them on the day of.
"The proposal was going to be written on the back of the printed tickets. It was memorable, unique, personal to Savannah, and we'd be able to celebrate afterwards at the concert.
"And then, something happened that ruined everything. The backlash from Swifties for how many tickets were given to resellers was so big that the seller pulled some back - and Savannah was one of the people chosen in the fan lottery to buy them.
"If that weren't insane enough, the tickets she was able to get were in the exact section I was looking at. Yay, but also dammit.
"Savannah told me the news and noticed that I paused instead of erupting in excitement. I confessed. Savannah already knew I was planning on proposing, but I told her what my plan had been.
"We laughed, and she said that now I'd have to beat that. I started brainstorming.
"What else does Savannah love that is even in the same ballpark as Taylor Swift? The answer was obvious: Taco Bell. I wanted the proposal to be personal, unique, and memorable - and renting a Taco Bell would be all three.
"My mission proved more difficult than I imagined. No one from corporate would get back to me, so I started cold calling nearby locations.
"And amazingly, the manager of the closest one to our house was totally in, her exact words were 'I love love'.
"Savannah's family was going to be in Pittsburgh for the concert anyway, so I reached out to them and some friends to help pull it off.
"Over the last few months, I made arrangements and created excuses for us to be dressed nicely enough for pictures (I've seen enough reels of sweatpants proposals to know that was the right move).
"Miraculously, it all worked perfectly, and Savannah didn't know what was happening until we were already inside an empty Taco Bell with a few cameras.
"I took out the ring (shout out to Diamonds Direct btw, they did a fantastic job on the ring), got down on one knee amongst the ghosts of quesadillas past, and asked the woman I love to marry me.
Of course she said yes. This would be a pretty depressing post if she hadn't. (I'll be sharing video of it soon enough.)
"I am SO deliriously happy. Not because I no longer need to hide the ring or come up with excuses for why we needed to be dressed nicely at 11am on a Saturday.
"But because I get to spend my life with this amazing, gorgeous, funny, kind person. This was not what either of us intended when we met.
"Strangers became acquaintances, acquaintances became friends, friends became boyfriend and girlfriend, and now boyfriend and girlfriend will become husband and wife.
"We have gotten to know each other slowly over the last few years, and every day there's something new I learn that makes me want to learn more.
"When we met, I lived in LA and she lived in Columbus, and neither of us would have imagined that this would be our life. Now I cannot imagine my life any other way.
"For those others who love love, sometimes you see it coming, and sometimes it will surprise you. Sometimes love begins at an IHOP in Columbus and culminates at a Taco Bell in Pittsburgh.
"However we got here, I am so incredibly thankful we are. And I can't wait to see where we go next.
"Oh yeah, and the Taylor Swift concert is still tonight. So I guess this is going to be a pretty memorable day."
Fans of the comedian flooded the post with messages of support.
One wrote: "Well, this is just lovely. I’m so happy for you both. I know a guy who can do weddings. Also, maybe if enough folks share this Taylor might see it."
Another commented: "You have raised the bar way up high in the proposal ballpark. Well done, and congratulations.
One wrote: "I’m just like that Taco Bell manager, 'I love love!' Congratulations! Yes I am all teary eyed over happy strangers on the internet."
Taco Bell has been contacted for comment.
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