The proposal.
One of my first missions when I got to town was scouting out the local shops. I had heard stores like ETC and A Heavenly Celebration were popular places for bridal registries. With a few weddings and showers on the horizon, I thought what better reason to go check them out and look for some unique gift ideas. I came away impressed with both. It's no wonder so many people turn to them for special occasions.
Although picking out registry items can be fun, one of the most exciting pre-wedding events to take place is the marriage proposal. According to the latest American Express Spending and Saving consumer report, six million American couples are likely to get engaged this Valentine's Day.
Proposals come in all forms these days. A friend of mine recently got engaged atop a mountain in Aspen, Colorado. Being avid hikers, this scenario wasn't out of the ordinary because high altitude activity is an everyday occurrence for them. Another gal shared a photo with me of her prized show cattle's new ear tag. The words, "marry me?" were painted on it for her to find.
Some people prefer to keep it simple while others anticipate a more elaborate proposal. So much so that it inspired a man from Paris to open his own business, ApoteoSurprise, with the unusual mission to help men amaze their loved ones with unique and extravagant proposals.
The company ApoteoSurprise released this article about their newest form of marriage proposal.
On February 14, 2013, Sebastian, a 35-year-old French man, will be the first man to propose to his girlfriend in space, at an altitude of 30 kilometers. The space flight will be entirely filmed, from the launch to the arrival of the message of love in the stratosphere.
For 4,990 euros, the man called on the services of the French company ApoteoSurprise, a romance expert specialized in planning spectacular marriage proposals in Paris. On Valentine's Day, the picture of the couple and the message "Vanessa, will you marry me?" will be attached to a giant helium-filled balloon and released in the sky by professionals operating in the space exploration area. The set will be supplied with video recording equipment, which will film the message and the surrounding scenery during the whole flight, from the launch to the arrival in space.
After two or three hours, the message of love will arrive at an altitude of 30 kilometers, and the last footage will be shot with the wonderful blue planet in the background. The balloon will blow up, a parachute will open, and the video equipment will fall back to Earth. The footage will be recovered and a montage will be edited, so the man can show the astounding film to his girlfriend. The lady will then become the first woman to be proposed to in space.
The scenario "Say I love you in Space" is the brand new 2013 package available. The agency offers 30 all-inclusive proposal packages, including Cinderella's carriage appearing at Moulin Rouge with a magical shoe, an airplane displaying the proposal message on its wings while flying over Notre Dame, and even a shower of 1,000 red roses fully covering a yacht during a VIP dinner-cruise on Seine river. Prices range from 490 euros for a limousine tour with a personalized message appearing on a giant LED screen at the Eiffel Tower to 15,900 euros for a private aerial patrol drawing a white smoke heart in the Parisian sky.
In 7 years, more than 1,000 people, coming from all over the world, called on the expertise of ApoteoSurprise to express their love in Paris. Talk about grand gestures! Personally, I'd take a mountain or the cow over space but that's just me. I imagine their only concern now would be planning a wedding that can top the proposal.
Kelsey Buck
