Pumpkin proposal: Man pops question at Halloween event DAYTON, Ohio - An Ohio man got into the Halloween spirit by crafting a clever marriage proposal for his girlfriend. Zach Stoddard of Dayton used five carved pumpkins strategically placed on the side of a hill to pop the question to his girlfriend of three years, Lauren Brenneman. When the illuminated pumpkins were uncovered, they showed the words "Will You Marry Me?" Brenneman said "yes," much to the delight of the hundreds of people gathered Wednesday night for a popular neighborhood event called the Stoddard Avenue Pumpkin Glow. Organizers tell The Dayton Daily News that the proposal was a first for the annual event, which featured hundreds of carved pumpkins lighting up the night. It ended Thursday.