Eleven years later: A Northwestern High prom proposal

Trey Conrad surprised his girlfriend with an engagement proposal during the recent Northwestern High School prom – 11 years after they graduated from the school.

Conrad, a 2005 Northwestern graduate, and girlfriend Brittany Bechtler met in the 6th grade and were a couple throughout middle school, high school and college. They began dating more seriously in the fall of 2014.

“He was supposed to go to prom with her in 12th grade and she has never let him forget it,” Trey’s mother, Trina Conrad, said.

Conrad took the opportunity and began planning the proposal with friends who teach at Northwestern and the prom committee a few months ago. “My goal was to be relatively quick and not take away from the kids,” Conrad said.

Principal James Blake was Conrad’s and Bechtler’s principal at Northwestern. Blake said they don’t usually allow former students or others to attend prom, but there didn’t seem any harm in the request. The school agreed to allow Conrad to propose.

Blake said the couple came inside the prom area for about five minutes while the students were dancing and the couple’s song was playing. He proposed off to one side so the students were not distracted by the proposal.

“It was a one-shot deal,” Blake said.

Conrad gave Bechtler money a few weeks ago to purchase a dress, but he said she was not sure why.

He and Bechtler first began the evening with dinner at the recently opened Pump House restaurant in Rock Hill, after arriving in his ’68 Mustang. He and his father purchased the Mustang when he was 14 and he has had it ever since. He said he chose the car for the evening because he used to pick up Bechtler for school in it. He asked her to prom after dinner and she agreed to go.

Upon arrival, they danced to “Stuck on You” by Lionel Richie, which was their song in high school. Conrad then popped the question, and Bechtler excitedly said yes. The couple left the prom and joined family and close friends for a surprise party.

The couple is thinking about having their wedding about a year from now – location undisclosed.

This story was originally published April 24, 2016 at 5:54 PM with the headline "Eleven years later: A Northwestern High prom proposal."