News Reporter’s Routine Assignment Turns into Surprise Proposal

Breaking news: she said yes!

KCCI reporter Pepper Purpura believed she was on an assignment for her local station when she arrived at the Robert D. Ray Asian Garden in downtown Des Moines. But in reality, the “event” was actually her own proposal, the outlet shared in an article on Dec. 8.

With a little help from KCCI staff, Purpura’s partner Kai had actually staged the whole thing. Kai had been coordinating with the news team for weeks to create the perfect moment to pop the question.

“Our own Pepper Purpura is engaged! And we got the proposal on camera,” KCCI news anchor Ben Kaplan shared on the air.

The benefit of disguising the moment as a news assignment was that it wasn’t suspicious that people were filming around Purpura. KCCI’s article shared that their photojournalist Mike Simmons already had the camera rolling when Kai surprised Purpura.

The heartfelt video saw the couple surrounded by the snow-covered park, where Kai got down on one knee to ask Purpura to marry him. The reporter’s “shock melted into joy” as she said yes, and the newly engaged couple shared a tight embrace.

“Everyone involved was excited to play a part, and I’m so glad that it all worked out,” said KCCI executive producer Tisa Tollenaar. “And, of course, that she said yes.”

The outlet also shared a snap of the engagement ring: Kai had chosen a non-traditional black, marquis-cut gemstone encrusted with tiny white stones on a gold band.

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“And Pepper is like the sweetest, kindest person, and so good on Kai for making a proposal worthy of a girl like Pepper!” Kaplan added during the broadcast. “So, really happy for you guys — Kai, welcome to the KCCI family!”