His Girlfriend Had Sweet Memories of Bass Pro Shops, So That's Where Her Boyfriend Proposed

His girlfriend had sweet memories of Bass Pro Shops, so that’s where he proposed. Some proposals take place in parks with a view of the water. Some take place in restaurants high above the city, with twinkle lights and white tablecloths and a skyline stretched out behind them.

But for this special girl, there was only one place that felt right.

Proposed at Bass Pro Shops, Where Her Father Used to Take Her

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She wanted her proposal to take place in the same spot where her father used to take her. And for the girls who love the outdoors, who love fishing and hiking and wide-open spaces, this proposal will absolutely melt your heart.

Shelby grew up in Houston, raised by her dad. Some of her most meaningful childhood memories weren’t made in amusement parks or on big vacations, but on long drives to Bass Pro Shops in Dallas — just the two of them.

“My dad raised me, and he took me to Bass Pro Shops. We would drive all the way to Dallas to have dinner [at the store], and then we would wait for them to feed the fish [in the tank] and watch that. So it was very special for me growing up,” Shelby shared.

She Was Always an Outdoorsy Girl

She has always described herself as “an outdoorsy girl,” and that store — especially the massive glowing fish tank — held a piece of her heart.

So when Shelby and Jake began talking about their future and marriage, Shelby gently made her hopes known.

“She had dropped multiple hints to me that she’s always wanted to be proposed to in front of the fish tank at Bass Pro Shops,” Jake said. “I thought, ‘That’s easy. Check!’”

Jake planned carefully.

The Store in Odessa, Texas Was the Right One

He learned the store in Odessa, Texas, where they live, is less crowded on Saturday mornings. And on November 29, he got down on one knee in front of the massive tank.

They both happened to be wearing matching black-and-white buffalo plaid shirts — a detail that made the moment feel even more tender and perfectly theirs.

“It worked out better than I had it planned in my head,” Jake said afterward. “I was rehearsing on our way here, but then once the moment was right, I just took it and pulled her in and hit my knee.”

Shelby said yes.

The Store Staff Celebrated With Them

The store staff celebrated with them and even gave the newly engaged couple a gift basket. Shelby has already started their wedding registry at the store — because some places don’t just sell things, they hold memories.

They’ve set their wedding date for May 30, 2026.

But their story didn’t begin at Bass Pro Shops. It actually started in a drive-through. Shelby first noticed Jake while stopping at a Scooter’s Coffee. One of her students happened to be working the window that day, and Shelby felt a nudge to send a note to the man in the car behind her.

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“I felt that he needed to know that God loved him,” Shelby explained. “So I asked for a sign, and one of my students was at the drive-through, so I knew she had my back, and I gave her a note, and she passed it on.”

That note turned into a connection. That connection turned into months of phone calls. And those phone calls slowly grew into the life they are now building together. Some love stories sparkle because of where they happen.

But the sweetest ones shine because of why.

This one happened in front of a fish tank because it was a faithful reminder to her childhood. And that kind of love — the kind that listens, remembers, and honors what shaped her — is the kind that lasts.

1 Corinthians 16:14 “Let all that you do be done in love.”

Man Recreates Sweet Childhood Memory for His 'Outdoorsy' Girlfriend by Proposing in Front of Fish Tank at Bass Pro Shops https://t.co/g12BkVz1eP

— People (@people) December 18, 2025

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h/t: People

Featured Image Credit: Twitter/X/PEOPLE

Heather Riggleman is a believer, wife, mom, author, social media consultant, and full-time writer. She lives in Minden, Nebraska with her kids, high school sweetheart, and three cats who are her entourage around the homestead. She is a former award-winning journalist with over 2,000 articles published. She is full of grace and grit, raw honesty, and truly believes tacos can solve just about any situation. You can find her on GodUpdates, iBelieve, Crosswalk, Hello Darling, Focus On The Family, and in Brio Magazine. Connect with her at www.HeatherRiggleman.com or on Facebook.