Kim Kardashian discovered the surprise of her life on the afternoon of May 18th, when she opened the bedroom doors of her Beverly Hills home to find her boyfriend of six months, New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries, on bended knee. “I was in such shock,” the reality TV mogul tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. Surrounded by dozens of tiny twinkling candles, Kardashian gasped as she looked down at four words written in red rose petals: “WILL YOU MARRY ME?” Then Humphries presented the ring: a staggering 20.5-carat diamond dazzler. Her delighted reply: “Yes!”
It was a happily-ever-after moment that Kardashian, 30 – who just weeks before meeting Humphries last fall told PEOPLE, “I know I’ll find love” – had been dreaming of for years. But it wasn’t until a chance meeting in November with Humphries, 26, and a night spent bonding over hot chocolate that Kardashian realized she had found “the one.” Three days after the storybook proposal, the couple sat down with PEOPLE to share all their romantic engagement details – with exclusive photos and a glimpse at their wedding plans.
PEOPLE: So Kris, how did you manage to keep this a secret until the last minute?
Kris: I told my parents [William and Debra]. And I went golfing with Bruce [Jenner, Kim's stepfather] to ask his permission. It took me until the last hole to muster up the courage. I also talked to Kris [Jenner, Kim's mother]. She was really excited. She cried.
Kim: Always! Nobody knew until after he got the ring – he did it all himself.
• Read More?