A Priest, a Snowstorm, and a Bombing Survivor: Top 8 Wedding Proposals on Patch (And One Incredible Priest)

For some couples, finding love is the reward at the end of a painful, life-threatening challenge.

And for some, the path to the wedding day is smooth, only to be de-railed by Mother Nature.

Not only is March 20 the first day of spring after a brutal winter for much of the country, it is also National Proposal Day.

So, Patch has rounded up a few of our favorite wedding stories.

First up is James Costello, who was seriously injured in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, married Krista D’Agostino, the nurse who helped him through months of surgery and painful rehabilitation. The couple married last weekend.

»Have a heartfelt wedding proposal story? Share yours in the comments.

Mother Nature seemed determined to stand in the way of Naugatuck, CT, resident John Davis and his bride-to-be, Nicole Cammilletti. His planned proposal at Disney World was delayed by a downpour, then Hurricane Irene forced the cancelation of their wedding shower. The final hurdle came on their wedding day when an early October snow storm dumped 12 inches on the area, forcing groomsmen to push limos out of snow banks, and stranding some wedding guests.

Here’s our favorite: Once a couple is at the altar, is there anything more beautiful than this viral video of Irish priest Ray Kelly, who sang a unique rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah?” The video has been seen more than 41 million times on YouTube.

Kelly told BBC Radio it was a surprise for the couple who weren’t local to the area.

Patch’s Top Wedding Stories:

• Boston Marathon Bombings Survivor Marries Nurse Who Tended to His Wounds
• Hurricane and October Storm Couldn’t Stop This Wedding Gone Awry
• Mother, 61, Gets Her Final Wish to Dance With Son at Wedding
• Flash Mob Wedding Proposal at Livermore Premium Outlets: Did She Say Yes?
• Photo of the Week: Pleasanton Couple’s Traffic-Stopping Wedding Photo
• This Murrieta Girl’s Dad Is Dying of Cancer. What Friends Did So He Could Walk Her Down the Aisle Will Leave You in Tears
• Did She Say Yes? Rare SoCal Snowstorm Prompts This Beautiful Wedding Proposal Story [PHOTO]
• Favorite Wedding Song: Does Pitch-Perfect Priest Top Your List?

PHOTO: A couple gets engaged at the Rose Haven Heritage Garden in Temecula, Calif. on Dec. 31, 2014. COURTESY: Amber Thomas.

Other Patch Must-Reads:

• Grandfather Drives 375 Miles to Build Snowman with Granddaughter
• ‘Heat Was Just Too Intense’: Rescuers at Plane Crash
• Falcon Cam Live on Transamerica Skyscraper
• Alarm Saves Neighbor’s Life: PG Fire Official
• Michael Phelps Engaged to California Beauty Queen