Jimmy Fallon's wife thought he was "having a stroke" when he proposed.

Jimmy Fallon

Jimmy Fallon

The 43-year-old talk show host popped the question to his now-wife Nancy Juvonen - with whom he has daughters Winnie, five, and Frances, three - over a decade ago, but has now admitted the event didn't quite go according to his original plan.

Jimmy originally wanted to propose to Nancy during a trip to New York, but when the producer surprised him with a reservation at legendary restaurant Per Se, he had second thoughts.

He said: "I wanted it to be romantic and perfect. I didn't want to propose in Per Se because what if one year it moves locations, and years later I'm going to have kids and go, 'Your mom and I got [engaged here]. I know it's a laser tag place but at one point it was a very fancy restaurant.'

"Cut to 14 courses later, I was bombed out of my mind. Wine came with every course ... So I waited another three months."

Eventually, the 'Tonight Show' host got his dream proposal whilst at Nancy's parents' summer home on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, but when he got down on one knee and started crying, Nancy thought he was suffering from a stroke.

He added: "I went out to the dock and said [to myself], 'Don't cry. Let her cry first'. I'm a pretty mushy guy ... and I just wanted it to be perfect. I got down on one knee and I immediately [started weeping].

"She's like, 'Are you having a stroke?' My face was like I was smelling burnt toast."

But it all worked out for the star in the end, as Nancy - who produced his 2005 comedy movie 'Fever Pitch' - said yes to his proposal.

Speaking to People magazine for 'The Jess Cagle Interview', Jimmy said: "She said yes and we celebrated and it was fun. The rest is history."

The couple tied the knot in December 2007.


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