Morey’s Piers Hosts Flash Mob Proposal

On the evening of Aug. 31, family and friends of Caitlin Cummons and Drew Austin gathered at the foot of Morey’s Big Wheel, hoping to blend naturally into the crowd and to mask their anxiety. Members of the media set up in the wings also attempting to hide their presence.
At approximately 6:05 p.m., Drew and Caitlin casually strolled past game booths and closer to the foot of the Ferris wheel, barely noticing the crowd. Suddenly, music began to play from the pier’s speakers and a single dancer broke out into a performance, clearing a circular space in the crowd. She was soon joined by an entire team of her peers from Dance Dynamics Studio of Upper Township.
Wildwood’s first recorded “flash mob” proposal was put into motion just a few weeks ago when Drew decided to reach out to the dance studio’s owner, Mary Beth Clark. “I knew we were coming up here [to Wildwood] and just off of a whim, I contacted Mary Beth Clark. She was really responsive to me and she basically put it together in about a week. It worked out awesomely,” stated Drew.
What made him go the “flash mob” route? “She’s kind of been hinting at it all of the time,” he laughed. “She’s always on Pinterest and YouTube looking at flash mob type proposals,” he explained. Wildwood proved to be the perfect venue.
“I’ve actually never been, but it’s all about her,” Drew stated. “Her grandfather and her grandmother have had a house down here since her aunts and uncles were just kids. Generations and generations of her family have come here just about every summer.”
Drew wanted to offer Caitlin yet another unforgettable experience to add to her family’s fond history with Wildwood and Morey’s Piers.
“I never thought my proposal would take place in Wildwood but I am very glad it did. It just gives me more memories, and someday I can share this with my children,” stated Caitlin.
Austin, 23, and Cummons, 22, had been dating for a year and a half after meeting as undergraduate students at East Carolina University. Cummons is originally from Horsham, PA, but now resides in Raleigh, North Carolina with fiancé Austin.
It was not until Drew saw the familiar faces of family and friends among the crowd that the reality of the situation truly “kicked in”. When he saw “how excited they were” to share this memory with the couple, he was more than ready for the big reveal. Yet in the days leading up to proposal, Drew was definitely anxious.
“I was pretty nervous for the past two days. I was acting kind of weird, and she was wondering why. Now, she understands,” he laughs.
Choregraphed by Mary Beth Clark, the dancers’ performance lasted about five minutes and featured proposal-appropriate songs including “Marry You” by Bruno Mars and “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” by Beyoncé. Dancers explained that they had only one two-hour practice to learn and polish the routine. “It was so nerve-wracking,” stated one Dance Dynamics representative, but ultimately the team of dancers found it “really exciting” to be a part of.
The dancers had not met Austin or Cummons prior to the flash mob performance. “Two minutes before we started, someone came over and said ‘Purple shirt and yellow shorts and yellow sundress’, and that was how we knew who we were dancing for,” stated a group of the dancers.
“When the flash mob first began, I had no clue it was for me. I love flash mobs. I remember telling Drew right when it started that I hoped it was a flash mob because at that time there were only 4 girls dancing. Months ago I would share proposal videos to Drew and one of them was similar to what he had planned, but I love that there were children out there dancing because I love kids,” explained Caitlin after the fact.
The performance concluded with one of the Dance Dynamics dancers handing a personal note written by Drew to Caitlin. It read, “You’ve taught me how to love/ You’ve taught my heart to sing/ I know now I need you every evening/ You are my best friend,/ That is plain to see/ So now…”
Drew got down on one knee to finish the poem, asking, “Will you marry me?” He presented her with a beautiful diamond ring as “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri played over the pier’s speakers. Caitlin offered a quick “Yes!”, and the couple’s family and friends embraced the two.
Caitlin admits that she was most touched by Drew’s effort. “The flash mob proposal was so special for me because he planned it all out and took the time for it to be perfect. He also had most of my family members there watching which I loved. Family means a lot to me so that was very touching that he included them on my special day,” she said.
The bride and groom-to-be exchanged a series of “I love you’s” as they posed for photos at the foot of the Morey’s Ferris wheel surrounded by their loved ones, local media, and teary-eyed onlookers.
The future Mr. and Mrs. Austin “are planning on having the wedding within a year or so, most likely September or October 2014,” explains Caitlin. “I believe we are going to have it up in Pennsylvania, but we’re not sure yet. We do know we want a rustic country theme so we can include our North Carolina roots!”
Congratulations from Cape May County to the happy couple.