ROSE OF TRALEE: Happy couple celebrate famous proposal

Americans don’t tend to do anything by halves, and 2013 New Orleans Rose Molly Molloy Gambel and her new husband Kyle Catlett are no exception.

Last year, the loved-up pair became engaged after 23-year-old Kyle popped the question on live TV during the contest in a proposal that — 11 initial “no’s” aside — put most other men to shame.

It was widely felt the jaw-dropping moment could not be outdone.

However, the happily married couple, who tied the knot in front of 200 friends and family at Fairhope in Alabama where Molly grew up, have this year gone one better — by turning their wedding video into a fly-on-the-wall TV documentary.

The returning love birds confirmed the move on the anniversary of their engagement yesterday. Their wedding in May is the focal point of a RTÉ programme to be broadcast on September 24, explaining what happened after last year’s Rose of Tralee proposal.

Speaking to reporters in Tralee, the couple — who now live in Tampa, Florida — said The Proposal, based on six months of footage of how the pair got ready for their big day, is the perfect way to celebrate what happened.

“I’m very sure [she said yes this time], I have the ring to prove it!”, 24-year-old Ms Gambel joked.

“It [the documentary] has been just great. It will be wonderful to just see the background of what happened after the proposal, because it is a good story to tell.

“I’ve learned to laugh [about the ‘no’ moment last year]. It’s a great moment [to look back on], just to have Kyle walking in and to see my mom with tears streaming down her eyes.”

One year on from the moment he got down on one knee in front of his bride-to-be, and in front of a disbelieving entire nation, Kyle admits he is still amazed at the level of publicity the proposal received — and how he managed to battle his nerves and do it.

The couple said they are delighted to be back in Kerry again, with Molly admitting there will be no heart-stopping surprises on the cards.

“I’m most definitely calmer this year just because I’m not going on stage with the jitters and all that. I’m sure Kyle feels that as well,” she laughed.