It's a leap of love for Louth couple Emmy and Lee

Lee’s now-fiancee Emmy Moncaster took full advantage of the fact 2016 is a leap year. It’s the one time when tradition goes out of the window and women propose to men.

So, on February 29, Emmy got down on one knee - and asked Lee to marry her.

And, like all good love stories, there was a happy ending as Lee said yes. It was a double celebration for Lee as the trip to Amsterdam was a surprise birthday present.

Lee (38) admitted he was stunned by the proposal which included a romantic poem written by Emma.

He said: “I had no idea that Emmy had planned to propose. It totally took me by surprise.

“When I read the words on the back of the poem, I was in shock and even had a little cry.”

Lee revealed he was planning to propose to Emmy (29) later this year on a holiday to America.

He added: “I decided last Christmas to do it on the holiday which is booked for November - but she beat me to it.

“I don’t feel cheated. If anything, it has made the proposal even more special.

“It’s amazing to see what she did to show me how much she loves me. I feel exactly the same.

“It has only brought us closer together - our relationship has changed somehow, but in a good way, I can’t describe it.”

The couple met through a shared interest of ‘Tough Mudder’ which involves battling a muddy assault course.

Emmy said: “We’ve been together for 18 months and everything felt right between us from day one.

“I am a big believer in the man proposing but I wanted to show Lee just how much I loved him. He’s an amazing person with so much ambition for life.

“I decided in January that I wanted to ask the big question. I had already booked the trip to Amsterdam in February so after much deliberation I decided to go for it.

“I wrote him a poem and on the back, it said ‘will you marry me?’ I took out a box with two padlocks written ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ on them. Luckily for me, Lee chose the yes padlock.

It’s not the end of the happy story as Lee explained: “Emmy has been given a ring that was her great grandma’s. It’s over a 100 years’ old. We went out for a meal last week with her parents. I asked her father’s permission for her hand in marriage and then got down on one knee myself and gave Emmy the ring.”

The couple have plan to get married next year.