Want an ‘instaworthy’ proposal to rival the celebs? Hire somebody to help you pop the question
WANT to get engaged on Valentine’s Day? Hire a $4000 ‘proposal planner’ for a Bachelor-style proposal perfect for Instagram and guarantee she’ll say yes.
Manly
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IF YOU’RE looking for the perfect spot to get engaged on Valentine’s Day, the northern beaches offers a setting fit for a reality show.
The peninsula is popular because of the number of intimate beach spots including Shelly Beach, Store Beach and Palm Beach and stunning clifftop vistas at Long Reef, straight out of TV love show The Bachelor.
“Our more luxurious high-end settings are on the northern beaches but there are also some relaxed and intimate beach spots, too,” said professional proposal planner Samantha Davies, who helps men choose where to propose and styles the setting.
Ms Davies, of Unforgettable Proposals, arranged for around 100 men to pop the question in Sydney last year — with at least half choosing the northern beaches or north shore.
She said those wanting to spend a little more on their proposal tended to opt for the peninsula.
For about $4000 a would-be groom can hire private gardens at Miramare Gardens in Terrey Hills, complete with a water fountain, and a decadent three-course meal, for the special moment.
For those who cannot afford five-star, a beach setting and beautifully stylised picnic laid out for the couple costs about $400.
Bradleys Head at Mosman is her top choice because it has a beach, scenic views of the harbour and a long wharf for a suitable dramatic event.
British couple Simon Cockram and Alaina Rose are among lovers who got engaged at the beauty spot with Ms Davies’ help, in January.
Last week a northern beaches couple got engaged there, too.
Celebrities have also made the most of the stunning locations — DJ Maz Compton’s partner Glenn Naveau, of Newport, chartered a boat himself from the Boat House Shelly Beach to Store Beach to propose last year.
However, experts say Instagram and other social media platforms have put couples under pressure to create the perfect “instamoment”.
Celebs often go all out on proposals. Rapper Kanye West hired an entire basketball stadium to propose to Kim Kardashian- plus an orchestra.
Seal asked Heidi Klum to marry him after flying her to Canada to an igloo he’d had built in the snow.
University of Sydney research fellow and psychologist Brad Ridout said people felt the pressure when it came to major life events such as getting engaged.
“Like and comment tallies become the scoreboard for how ‘successful’ our lives are — turning social media into a fictitious competition to be ‘won’, when in fact studies have shown that checking social media often leaves people feeling more dissatisfied with life,” he said.
“Don’t get sucked into comparing and despairing. Instead, practise being in the moment — you will enjoy life more and ironically create better and more authentic memories than if your focus is on how the moment looks on camera.
“Create suspense around your engagement story by not giving too much away, so that you can share the details with your friends and family in person, which will be much more fulfilling than watching comments appear on a screen.”
Social media expert Neer Korn, of The Korn Group, said it was all about how we wanted to be perceived. “It creates an undue pressure because it doesn’t reflect any sense of reality,” he said.
Do you have a great proposal story? The Manly Daily is looking for the best love stories from the northern beaches. Email us at editor@manlydaily.com.au
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