A Yuletide 'Yes': Pioneer Village Christmas makes for perfect proposal

(Photo contributed) Newly engaged, Eric Peterson and Kayleen Nickel enjoy a carriage ride through Pioneer Village Christmas. Peterson proposed to Nickel during the ride at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds. [Click to enlarge]

With glowing lights, soft music and holiday sweets at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds, there are a plenty of smiles to be found.

But perhaps none so bright as those of Eric Peterson and Kayleen Nickel -- a couple for whom the place now holds a very special memory.

Eric proposed to Kayleen in a horse-drawn wagon Dec. 4 riding through the warm glow of Christmas lights and bonfires of Pioneer Village Christmas.

Eric, a Le Mars native, went to college and graduate school in Minnesota and taught there four years before returning to his hometown.

He now teaches fourth grade at Clark Elementary, his post for 13 years now.

Kayleen lives in Sioux Falls, working as a nurse for a non-profit organization that helps new mothers learn how to care for their babies.

The couple met less than a year ago.

Their meeting was sparked by Eric's brother Neil, an associate pastor and worship leader at a small church in Sioux Falls.

Kayleen played keyboard occassionally at the church, and the more Neil got to know her, the more determined he was to have Eric meet her.

"In early 2009, I went to his church where she was playing, and we talked a little," Eric said.

Neil had prepped Kayleen a little, too.

"They had mentioned to me Eric was single and they wanted to set me up with him," she said. "There was a little hesitation but from what I heard he was a really nice guy."

So Eric and Kayleen began emailing back and forth and had a first date in Sioux Falls this past May.

"We spent a quite a lot of time at the restaurant just talking," Kayleen said.

There are so many things to like about Eric, she added.

"He has a great sense of humor and enjoys the funny things in life. And he has a willingness to try new things," she said. "Both of us as far as our faith in Jesus Christ, we base our relationship on that. To have that together is just an amazing thing in our relationship."

The first date went well, as did the second and third, and, well, the rest is history.

"I don't usually move too quickly on things, but I just felt from the beginning this was right," Eric said.

Kayleen is a very kind and compassionate person, he said.

"And we share a foundation in Christ," he added. "That's the basis for everything."

Eric knew he wanted to ask her to be his bride.

"I was never nervous about how to do it; I knew it was right, but I didn't know how I wanted to do it," he said.

His original plan was to propose to her in November.

However, when the day came, both he and Kayleen were sick.

So Eric began Plan B.

He had never been to a Pioneer Village Christmas before. When he read about it in the newspaper, Eric remembered the event involved horse-drawn wagon rides.

He decided to call Bonita Davison, whom he knew from when he was a youngster because she used to work for the Le Mars Community School District and so did his dad, Glendon Peterson.

Davison and her husband own horses and offer some of the Pioneer Village Christmas wagon rides.

"I asked if there was any way we could do a private ride," Eric said.

Bonita got a hold of Erik Wagner who owns a small carriage -- perfect for the proposal.

Eric and Kayleen arrived at the Pioneer Village Christmas that memorable evening after spending some time decorating a tree at Eric's house.

"When we first saw the horse-drawn wagons, there were long lines for rides," Kayleen remembered. "I jokingly told him, 'There's no way we're doing that. It's too cold.'"

Little did she know.

The couple browsed around at the shops and the decorated trees, then Eric brought Kayleen outside, where Bonita was ready to pull up the small carriage, just for them.

"At that point I was kind of wondering..." Kayleen said, trailing off. "Then we went on our own little carriage ride and he proposed to me."

Her answer, of course, was yes.

"There was no hesitation," Kayleen said.

They couple hopes for a June wedding -- when there will be a little less snow on the ground -- and Kayleen is planning to move to Le Mars.

Maybe they'll be back at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds next Christmas for a trip down memory lane.