this is such a cute idea! I love it, she will be able to have this forever.I am not much help with your question. I have only made one quilt for my new husband (32 years ago) and stitched down letter for a Tar heel quilt and a foot which was large and we have used and washed it often for 32 years.If you had pictures of the two of you on a boat or around a lake you could add these to your quilt by using the fabric you run throught a ink jet printer and copy the pictures on to the fabric and add these to your quilt and hand write your proposal, there are so many ways you could go with this. Good Luck!!!!