Hearts were warmed on the cold ice, as one brave man risked a frost-bitten knee to pop the big question to his unsuspecting partner.
The EDP and Norwich Evening News' ice rink was the setting for the most romantic moment in Danielle Spurgeon's life, as partner Shane Clarke, 26, asked for her hand in marriage.
The couple, who celebrated their second anniversary as a couple on December 3, were out with friends and family celebrating Miss Spurgeon's 26th birthday, when Mr Clarke dropped to one knee on the ice.
Mr Clarke said: 'I managed to keep it secret for a few months.
'I knew I wanted to do it in a special way, and the ice rink provided the perfect romantic setting. Everything about it made it ideal; the lights, the music, the atmosphere – everything.'
Mr Clarke went about planning the proposal in a traditional way, asking Miss Spurgeon's father for permission, before carefully choosing his moment.
Miss Spurgeon, of Penn Grove, Mile Cross, said: 'I have always known how I wanted to be proposed to. I've always wanted a big proposal with family and friends around, so Shane couldn't have picked a better moment.'
Her new fiancée added: 'Danielle is not a normal girl, so I didn't want her to have a normal proposal. I knew it had to be either Christmas or her birthday, because family and friends are all around and she loves skating, so the ice rink was the icing in the cake.'
Mr Clarke, a groundworker, and Miss Spurgeon, who takes care of her two children, Destiny, eight, and Rome, five, met through friends, and immediately knew they did not have eyes for anyone else.
Miss Spurgeon said: 'Our first date was just a cup of tea that lasted four hours. Shane just popped round and we clicked.'
The husband-to-be, of Theobald Road, Norwich, added: 'There was just an immediate connection. Not many first dates have non stop conversation. I knew from day one that she was the one for me.'
The proposal on Friday evening was met with cheers from their fellow skaters, and tears from the friends and family looking on, including Miss Spurgeon's mum.
Mr Clarke said: 'I was incredibly nervous, I couldn't envisage myself actually doing it, so I had to screen everything out, but once I had done that it was easy.'
The bride-to-be, a keen skater, said: 'It still hasn't really sunk in, the whole thing just seems so surreal. I was actually skating quite well at the time, but once Shane proposed my legs turned to jelly!'
Miss Spurgeon is already looking forward to a second trip to the ice rink, which has been set up by the Evening News and our sister paper, the EDP, in Castle Gardens, when this time, she is planning to bring her two children along as well.
She said: 'I love the way the rink is in its own little bubble. It's so pretty, particularly the lights, and I can't wait to see my children's little faces when they see it.'
The happy couple are now already in wedding planning mode, having thoroughly lapped up well wishes and congratulations from friends and family alike.
'I'm so overwhelmed, but I feel like I'm the happiest girl in the world right now,' Miss Spurgeon beamed.
Have you shared a magical moment on our ice rink? Contact David Hannant on 01603 693892.
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