Classic Wedding Invitations - Luxury Escapes - Planning the Ultimate Proposal!

Luxury Escapes - Planning the Ultimate Proposal!

Luxury Escapes hotel staff reveal: How to plan the ultimate proposal with some of the best luxury escapes ideas!

Planning a surprise proposal for that special person? Then you might want to take a hint or two from the people who know it the best – the luxury travel industry.

“We have hundreds of happy couples who get engaged while enjoying our luxury travel packages every year,” said Adam Schwab, CEO of LuxuryEscapes.com, a travel site specialising in affordable five star holidays.

“It’s little wonder a luxury escape makes for the perfect time to propose, as you’re in a romantic setting and have escaped your everyday worries,” he added.

Planning to pop the question? Hotel staff from luxury hotels around the world share their insider tips on how to do it with style and extravagance!

luxury escapes — The luxurious private island resort Yasawa in Fiji has 11 private beaches, perfect for intimate proposals.

Pop the question on a private beach

Nothing says romance more than a beach all to yourself!

According to James McCann, Director of the Yasawa Island Resort and Spa in Fiji, many proposals have taken place on one of the private island resort’s beaches.

“Being on a secluded beach with no one around for miles can lead to magic moments! We have 11 private beaches, so guests can have their own private beach for an uninhibited picnic,” McCann says.

The set up usually includes a seafood picnic hamper with champagne.

“We had one couple recently from Dee Why get engaged on one of our beaches called Champagne, which has been named one of the top five beaches in the world,” he said.

According to McCann, many guests come back and get married on the very spot they got engaged.

“One couple from Manly got engaged on our beach and then chartered the entire island for their family and friends when they got married,” he added.

Flying high through the vines

Hunter Valley is without a doubt one of the most romantic destinations in Australia with many romantic proposals taking place each year – some more elaborate and high-flying than others!

“We recently organised a helicopter ride for a couple to be picked up and dropped off right here in our grounds,” said Brian Rooney, GM of Peppers Guest House.

“We decorated a table on the veranda with an array of beautiful rose petals and had a bottle of local sparkling on ice, so the scene was set for a very special proposal. The guest’s girlfriend accepted and they plan to marry later on this year right here at Peppers Guest House,” he added.

However, Rooney says you can keep it simple and let the magic surroundings do the work for you.

“The Hunter Valley is blessed with so many spectacular romantic settings so take a gourmet picnic and enjoy a bottle of wine whilst sitting amongst the vines. The wine you enjoy over that special proposal can then become part your wedding celebrations and act as a permanent reminder of your time in the Hunter Valley,” he advises.

Why not go all the way right away?

Some people just can’t wait! A couple got engaged and married on New Year’s Eve at the five star Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort.

“The couple were in our Grand Ballroom for our New Year’s Party when he suddenly asked event staff to play a video from his USB stick on our big screen. His girlfriend was left surprised and in tears as she watched the video showing her boyfriend asking her father for permission to propose to her,” said Salman Alfaridzi, Marketing & Communications manager at Pan Pacific Nirwana.

She immediately said yes, but that’s not all her now-fiancé had in mind for the night.

“After they got engaged, he asked us if they could get married right at the stroke of midnight. So we used the existing flower arrangements, had our chefs cook up a banquet, called in a Balinese Priest and they got married just a few hours after he proposed,” he recalled.

Icing in the cake

Apparently the way to a woman’s heart goes through her stomach!

“On Christmas Eve, a guest approached us to hide a diamond ring in his girlfriend’s dessert, which was perfectly arranged by our pastry chef,” says Nam Warn, Marketing Communications Manager, from the five star JW Marriott in Khao Lak.

“As the couple enjoyed their dinner and engagement, our housekeeping team prepared the guests’ room with a rose petal bath and candles around the bath tub, plus a bottle of champagne on ice.”

Now, that’s a dessert!

Say it with doves and fireworks

The sky is the limit when it comes to luxury proposals – literally. A guest at the Banyan Tree Ungasan, Bali, had arranged a dining experience at the premises’ breath taking wedding chapel, The White Dove.

But it was what happened afterwards that sparked his girlfriend’s interest.

“After the dinner, he lead her out to The White Dove garden, and accompanied by fireworks we had arranged for them, he proposed to her ,” according to Nunki Nurhindiani, assistant wedding manager at the hotel.

Room service to swoon over

If you want to keep it more intimate, a proposal in the hotel room can be super romantic as well.

The Sofitel Hotel in Bangkok has a staff member working full time to help customers with proposals and weddings, the aptly named Just Say So Guru.

“Our Just Say So Guru recently decorated a guest’s room for a proposal – it was filled with rose petals, flowers and balloons. We had a bottle of champagne on chill, and hung the couple’s pictures on the walls,” says Chanrutt Thayartsuwan, Marketing Executive at the hotel.

Get Inspired - Wedding Proposal Insight!

Wedding Proposal Insight!

Todays wedding proposal insight comes from Dan, a soon-to-be groom who decided to take the next step in his relationship and propose to his beautiful partner of 5 years, Kahlia!

1. When did you decide Kahlia was the one? I can’t remember the exact date but probably a few years ago, I was just waiting for the right time.

2. Did you have a few different ideas for the proposal (if so what were they) or did you know straight away?
When I knew we would be in Hawaii with all of our friends I made the decision that it would be the best time to do it. Then it was just about researching different locations and I eventually found the right spot, which was Diamond Head.

3. What was involved in preparing for the proposal, or was it spontaneous? Did you have any friends assist you or other members of the community? After I found the right spot I just had to make sure everyone was there at the same time. I did tell one of my friends what was going to happen so he could film it.

4. What did it feel like when you popped the question? I was pretty nervous but it definitely felt right.

5.How did you hide the ring from her, did she almost find it? I had to smuggle the ring from Australia to the U.S. But I was more concerned with customs pulling it out in front of her. I had a back up plan that if that did happen, I would just drop to one knee at airport security.

6.Was Kahlia at all suspicious that it was coming? No, she said she had no idea.

7.Do you have any photos of the actual proposal? Yes, we were lucky enough to get it on video.

8.How did you choose the ring? Did she give you any clues before at all? Where did you get it from? Kahlia showed me a picture of a ring she liked a few years ago, so I just remembered what it looked like. I then sourced a vintage ring from the 1920’s that was really similar. I had it sent over from San Francisco. The store was called Lang Antiques.

Proposal ideas? Just read what this groom did.

Romantic and unique wedding proposal ideas!

There is nothing more romantic than the well thought out and perfectly executed proposal! We were lucky to interview a very creative groom-to-be Aaron who had a unique idea when it came to popping the big question. Read his heart-melting story here!

1. How long before the actual proposal did you begin your planning?

Originally I wanted to do it a year earlier, however Lisa was in her final year of her masters. I didn’t want the celebrations & planning preparations to distract her so I had to patiently wait… it wasn’t easy!

2. How did you decide the perfect moment and place to propose?

Lisa and I, as well as Lisa’s family, live in Melbourne, but my family live in Perth and I really wanted all our loved ones together so they could celebrate with us.

Christmas 2013, both our families were planning to be in Perth and I thought what better time of the year and place to do it! I organised a family dinner on Christmas night. Amid the festivities, I snuck out to the beach with Lisa so we could give each other our Christmas presents. I was so nervous as I was unwrapping my gifts I was not concentrating on what I was doing at all!

The final present I gave Lisa was a professionally made children’s book that I had written, and was illustrated by my good friend. The story was about us, from the time we met up until that very moment. On the last page there was an illustration of Lisa and I sitting on the beach and it was then I asked the question with ring in hand.

As you can probably guess, she said yes. We then floated home on cloud 9, announced the good news to our families, popped the champagne and continued on the celebrations!

3. How did you choose the ring?

I bought a ‘place holder’ ring for the proposal as I wanted her to choose one. It was then months later we found the perfect 1920s inspired vintage ring in Melbourne.

4. What inspired you to create the storybook?

In terms of creating a kids book I thought it would be fitting as she is amazing with kids and a teacher! I based the characters around two otters because Lisa and I both have a fascination for them. Lisa found it especially cute that otters sleep holding hands in the water so they don’t drift away, which was very fitting for the tone of the story.

5. Were you nervous before you popped the big question?

Although I was planning the day for a while there were a few nerves that crept up closer to the time. I may have fumbled a bit with my words.