Fireworks, a flash mob and a full orchestra. It’s not the latest Beyoncé concert; it’s a marriage proposal in the 21st century.
Forty years ago, an over-the-top proposal might mean a fancy restaurant, a sparkly rock and a dropped knee.
But a recent public marriage proposal trend, fueled by social media and YouTube, has put increasing pressure on proposers to turn their private, intimate moment into an elaborate and very public production. Now, with a click of a button, over a million of your closest “friends” can tune in and witness your big, unique, romantic gesture.
2013 brought a wide range of ornately orchestrated proposals: from a Home Depot flash mob to an on-air news anchor proposal to drone-delivered rings and even a Harry Potter-themed scavenger hunt. Rapper Kanye West also followed suit, planning a costly, Jumbotron proposal featuring a 50-piece orchestra to woo reality star girlfriend and now fiancée Kim Kardashian.
Hopeful grooms, it seems, are increasingly willing to put in time, effort and money to impress their significant others (and, perhaps, YouTube viewers). Last year, 36 percent of brides told popular wedding site the Knot they received a public proposal, up from 32 percent in 2009.
People are also excited to spread the happy news instantly. According to a 2012 survey by Men’s Health and the Knot, 12 percent of women admitted to posting a photo of their engagement ring and changing their relationship status to “engaged” on Facebook before emailing and texting friends with the news.
In recent years, entrepreneurs — especially those involved with event and wedding planning — have realized the potential of this market. Michele Velazquez, 34, was inspired to start offering personalized proposal planning services through her Los-Angeles based company, the Heart Bandits, after a not-quite-ideal engagement in 2010.
Her husband Marvin, although clearly well intentioned, proposed to her on a dinner cruise (“I don’t like boats”), forgot to plan for a photographer to capture the moment and failed to plan a celebration for after she said yes.
She asked him what resources, if any, he had used to help plan the big event. When he sheepishly replied none, a business was born.
The Heart Bandits plan about 20 proposals a month and their clients generally spend between $3,000 and $5,000 on their big moment. The cost can surpass $10,000 with special add-ons and upgrades, including photographers, videographers and musicians.
“Sixty percent of the clients don’t have an idea or they don’t have enough confidence in their existing idea,” says Velazquez, “and the other 40 percent are busy professionals and executives who don’t have the time to execute the plan.”
The pressure to top other extravagant proposals has created some unrealistic expectations, both for the proposer and the proposee, and can lead to competition among friends. “There are always men who want to outdo each other and women who want the biggest and the best,” Velazquez says. “Now we want more, that’s our culture.”
For many, it’s about having a fun story to tell when, inevitably, they are asked by friends and family about the proposal. “You don’t want to tell them that he proposed over KFC,” Velazquez joked.
Justin Baldoni, a 29-year old filmmaker, wanted to make a remarkable and memorable tribute to his longtime girlfriend Emily Foxler, and produce a memory that their future children might enjoy. He enlisted the help of more than 100 friends and family to express his love in the best way he knew how — through film.
More than eight million people have viewed the 27-minute YouTube mini-movie, which Emily described as “an emotional roller coaster.” It features three music videos, a home video montage, a car chase and a flash mob, culminating in a traditional proposal with Justin dropping to one knee in front of immediate family.
“The biggest expectation I had was for myself,” Justin says. “I’m a very grand-gesture guy. I love love; surprising her and trying to make things romantic since we started dating.”
“It would’ve been special even if it had been super small and him just literally getting down on one knee and asking me,” Emily says. “It may seem over-the-top to others, but to us it makes perfect sense. This is Justin’s art. If he was a painter, he would have painted me an amazing painting to show his love.”
The L.A.-based couple is quick to assert that although the proposal was perfect for them, a public proposal is not for everyone. “Women get anxious and antsy and then they see proposal videos and they just put pressure on their men, which takes the creativity and fun out of the whole situation,” Justin says.
James S. Walker, a global digital manager at the nonprofit the Nature Conservancy, decided to enlist the help of daily deals site LivingSocial to plan a surprise flash mob proposal to girlfriend Artesia Cauley, a senior internal auditor at the Engility Corp. Five weeks of planning and 12 dancers helped pull off the surprise event at LivingSocial’s 918 F Street location. He tricked her into thinking the company was shooting a promo video and, for that reason, they were able to attend the painting class free of charge. “The entire class was staged for this,” says James.
“I was totally unsuspecting,” she said. “You just don’t think the world revolves around you. … I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
The couple is glad they made the film public, though James says a lot of his guy friends in his inner circle jokingly gave him the side eye afterward. “Even the guys that aren’t engaged or married yet are like, ‘Great. Oh now I have pressure!'” he says.
“I am excited to share it with my grandkids,” added Artesia.
So how will one judge a proposal a success in the future? Will it be video view counts, bragging rights or the timeless goal — a simple yes? All of the above?
“At the end of the day, it’s like trying to emulate your love life after a romantic comedy,” says relationship expert and author Andrea Syrtash. “They are great and fun to watch, but they may not reflect who your partner is or who you are. It’s about recognizing what you both need and celebrating your relationship in a way that feels meaningful.”
If it’s a true, honest and authentic expression of the love you feel, then it will be perfect — with or without musical accompaniment or backup dancers. Just don’t use it as your cheap ticket to YouTube stardom. Your proposal is only the first chapter of many.
Josh Levs, current CNN correspondent and former marriage proposal planner, agrees: “You have to make sure that ultimately in your heart, that even if no one ever knows that this ever happened, every single thing about this is you expressing what you feel for her and not that you are hoping that lots of other people in the world will adore you for it.
“No matter how many people know about it, only two people will ever feel it the way that it’s meant to be felt.”
