'It Takes a Real Man to Make Waffle House Romantic': Woman Overjoyed at Restaurant Proposal

A Valentine’s Day trip to Waffle House began as a joke for one Atlanta couple, but ended this year in a surprise wedding proposal.

John Cox, who filmed his proposal to Julie Massey, told Storyful he had it planned for months, and even roped in his favorite waitress, Kayla, to help on what was her day off.

“I took Julie there for our first Valentine’s last year as a gag,” Cox told Storyful. “I played it up for a while leading up to our ‘fine dining reservation’. We were dressed to the nines and we pulled up there that first year, and she absolutely loved it!”

The couple then agreed to make Waffle House an unlikely Valentine’s Day tradition, and this year Cox went one better and popped the big question, with the ring arriving right on cue, on top of a waffle. Credit: John Cox via Storyful

Video transcript

JOHN COX: Now, look. It takes a real man-- look, baby. It takes a real man to make Waffle House romantic.

JULIE MASSEY: Yes.

JOHN COX: And I just have one question.

JULIE MASSEY: I have real-- oh, my god.

JOHN COX: Will you marry me?

[LAUGHING]

JULIE MASSEY: What? I got you-- I got you beef jerky.

[LAUGHING]

JOHN COX: She got me beef jerky, Kayla.

- Good job.

JULIE MASSEY: I will marry you.

JOHN COX: What'd you say?

JULIE MASSEY: I will marry you.

JOHN COX: OK.

- Congratulations!

JULIE MASSEY: Thank you.

JOHN COX: Are you going to show the ring?

JULIE MASSEY: Yes. Oh, it's beautiful.

JOHN COX: The waffle ring?

JULIE MASSEY: The waffle ring. Oh, baby, it's gorgeous. You got me all verklempt.

JOHN COX: Now look. It takes a real man-- look, baby. It takes a real man to make Waffle House romantic.

JULIE MASSEY: Yes.

JOHN COX: And I just have one question.

JULIE MASSEY: I have a real-- oh, my god.

JOHN COX: Will you marry me?

[LAUGHING]

JULIE MASSEY: What? I got you-- I got you beef jerky!

[LAUGHING]

JOHN COX: She got me beef jerky, Kayla.

- Good job.

JULIE MASSEY: I will marry you.

JOHN COX: What'd you say?

JULIE MASSEY: I will marry you.

JOHN COX: OK.

- Congratulations!

JULIE MASSEY: Thank you.

JOHN COX: Are you going to show the ring?

JULIE MASSEY: Yes. Oh, it's beautiful.

JOHN COX: The waffle ring?

JULIE MASSEY: The waffle ring. Oh, baby, it's gorgeous. You got me all verkelmpt.