Some love stories unfold quietly. Others happen in one of the most breathtaking places on Earth, with the sound of cascading water as witness.
For Los Angeles businessman and community leader Butch Grimes, Victoria Falls was more than a bucket-list destination. It was the backdrop for one of the most important questions he would ever ask. The moment, shared with his long-time partner Dr. Sherril Rieux, was personal — and yet, in an age of viral proposals and social media spectacles, it has a way of resonating far beyond the two of them.
Victoria Falls is a place that swallows you whole. The roar of the water, the mist that clings to the air, the sheer scale of the gorge — it’s impossible not to feel small and infinite at the same time. Choosing it as the site of a marriage proposal is as much about atmosphere as it is about love. It’s a place that forces you to stop, to take in the moment. And for Butch, that moment was about commitment, history, and a shared future.
This was not just a romantic gesture. Both Butch and Sherril have lived lives marked by leadership, community service, and resilience. Together, they’ve built careers and reputations that speak to dedication and vision. For them, the proposal was also a celebration of partnership in the truest sense — two people standing together not just in love, but in purpose.
Images from the day show the couple framed by the majesty of the falls, the spray turning the air into a fine shimmer. There’s a stillness in the photos that belies the force of the water — a moment suspended, just before life changes.
What makes the story even more compelling is that it’s happening in real time. The couple’s engagement journey is still unfolding, and through August, a live fundraiser is running to support a cause close to them. It’s an unusual pairing — a marriage proposal and a community initiative — but it speaks to who they are. Love, for them, is inseparable from service.
For London readers, this is more than a romantic travelogue. It’s a reminder that big moments can happen anywhere, and that they’re shaped as much by the people involved as by the place. It’s also a nudge to think about where we choose to mark life’s milestones.
Proposals are, in their own way, public declarations. They invite the world — or at least those within earshot — to witness a turning point. Butch’s choice of Victoria Falls is a declaration on a grand scale. It says, “This matters. This is worth the trip. This is worth the moment.”
In an era when so much of life is hurried and transactional, slowing down long enough to stand at the edge of a waterfall and ask someone to spend their life with you feels almost radical. It’s a reminder that love is not just a feeling, but a series of decisions — sometimes made in the quiet of daily life, sometimes made in front of the world.
For those who know Butch and Sherril, the proposal fits. It’s big, it’s bold, it’s memorable — and it’s rooted in something deeper than spectacle. The waterfall will keep flowing long after the day has passed, but the choice made there will shape the rest of their lives.
Watch the proposal here.
Instagram: @butchgrimes