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Walking down the aisle takes on another meaning for two recently engaged lovebirds. On Aug. 27, network engineer Charles Phillips and special education instructional assistant Holly Walker their engagement in the .
The post, which mentioned that the couple visited Aldi on their first date, generated over 17,000 likes and caught the grocery store’s attention. The Detroit, Michigan-area pair wrote that while they didn’t get engaged an Aldi — they opted for the edge of Lake St. Clair, instead — the supermarket chain has played a big part in their love story.
“On our first date, back in November, we decided to go to Aldi after our dinner,” Walker tells TODAY.com over email, adding that she went looking for a specific candle she had her eye on, and that Phillips tagged along. “We took a selfie in the Aldi Finds aisle, and I decided to post it to an Aldi group on Facebook and people loved it!” Walker says that exactly 9 months after that first date, she and Phillips got engaged.
They were expecting simple congratulatory messages from fellow Aldi fans when they shared the news in that same group, but then, came calling. A few days after Walker’s Facebook post, a store representative contacted her via Messenger requesting her email address. She received an email from the chain’s publicist asking if the Aldi could treat them to a candlelit dinner inside their local store.
Phillips and Walker were “shook” but decided to take the company up on its offer. “We thought maybe it was a joke someone was playing on us, but when it came down to it, it was legit,” Walker adds, explaining that Phillips went to the store the day of their dinner to confirm in person that it was happening. “It was kinda comical, sitting amongst the salt and pepper shakers and stuffed animals, but it was so good!” Walker says she and her beau enjoyed a four-course meal served by a waiter.
They ate grilled asparagus with melon, mozzarella and prosciutto, followed by an arugula salad with citrus, avocado and goat cheese. A bread course included “crusty bread” with honey butter, and for the entree, Aldi served short rib ragout with polenta and roasted Brussels sprouts. Of course, it ended on a sweet note with salted caramel cheesecake for dessert.
“It was so sweet and delicious,” Walker says of the meal. “We helped these lovebirds celebrate their engagement in the place where it all started — the ALDI Finds aisle,” Aldi on Instagram, posting a slideshow of images showcasing the table set alongside the chain’s seasonal favorites. “Turns out, happily ever after is an ALDI thing.
💙💍 Where others found low prices, Charles and Holly found romance.” This wasn’t the first time Aldi has been part of a couple’s marriage story. In 2022, the chain and helped them cement their commitment to each other among the Mama Cozzi’s pizzas and Barissimo coffee.
“ALDI isn’t just a grocery store — it’s where memories are made,” a company representative tells TODAY.com over email. “Our awesome ALDI team in Clawson, MI, set up a surprise romantic, after-hours candlelight dinner right in the aisle where it all began.
Being part of their story, and so many others from our loyal customers, is such an honor. It’s just one of the ways we show love for our amazing ALDI community.” The couple’s engagement dinner photos went viral: Their amassed 28,000 likes and a post on the official generated more than 27,000 likes.
To the happy couple, viral fame is just icing on the . “We’ve been surprised how many people love this story,” Walker says. “To us, we just went to Aldi on our first date.
But for some reason people love the wholesomeness of the story, and I think that’s great!” Over the course of their courtship, Walker has posted about , and given to her by her love that were all sourced at the discount grocer. The pair hasn’t set a wedding date yet — they’re just enjoying being able to call each other fiancees, Walker says. And, for those wondering if the lovers plan on getting married an Aldi, that remains to be seen.
“Several people have suggested it, and we’ve also joked about it,” Walker says. “Sooooo..
.. Aldi, want to throw us a wedding??” Washington, D.
C. native Joseph Lamour is a lover of food: its past, its present and the science behind it. With food, you can bring opposites together to form a truly marvelous combination, and he strives to take that sentiment to heart in all that he does.
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