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Texas Woman Takes Part in Leap Year Tradition, Proposes to Her Boyfriend

Heather Cox popped the question to her boyfriend, Donovan Lalonde.

ByABC News
February 26, 2016, 5:51 PM
Heather Cox nervously proposed to her boyfriend of nearly three years, Donovan Lalonde in a Leap Year tradition.
Heather Cox nervously proposed to her boyfriend of nearly three years, Donovan Lalonde in a Leap Year tradition.
Adrien Weinbrecht

— -- In the 2010 comedy "Leap Year," actress Amy Adams' character treks to Ireland to propose to her boyfriend on Leap Day.

Women dropping down on one knee to propose to the man of their dreams on Leap Day or during Leap Year isn't just an interesting plot twist in a movie, it's a bona fide tradition across the pond. And since 2016 is a leap year, many women are taking advantage of the extra day.

Heather Cox is one stateside woman who wanted to take part in the tradition and pop the question to her boyfriend of two-and-a-half years, Donovan Lalonde.

Cox flew overseas to meet 10 other open-minded women, who all took part in a Leap Day Proposal Party, hosted by David's Bridal and Brides U.K. At the event, hosted inside the Savoy Hotel in London, the women were pampered with hair and make-up and outfitted in a designer dress before they each proposed to their mates. After all the questions were answered, they were thrown a party to celebrate the occasion.

PHOTO: Heather Cox and Donovan Lalonde smile after Cox popped the question in a U.K. Leap Year tradition.
Heather Cox and Donovan Lalonde smile after Cox popped the question in a U.K. Leap Year tradition.

"He's always been joking for a while, saying, 'We'll get married when you propose to me.' I knew he was joking, but when the opportunity presented itself, I said, 'Oh, I can propose to him,'" Cox told ABC News.

When the time came, Cox, 29, said she wasn't nervous to pop the question since they had discussed the idea of getting married. She added, however, "Honestly, I kind of blacked out when I asked him."

The Austin, Texas, woman said she even bought Lalonde, 34, a ring "because it felt traditional. Usually the guys propose with a ring, so it'd be a memento that he'd have that would symbolize [the engagement]."

So, what did Lalonde say? Yes, of course.

"He looked really shocked," Cox added. "He was like, 'Yeah, but now I have to ask you so it can be real. And I said, 'No, it is real!'"