'I shut down the Thames for £100k so couple could enjoy most romantic proposal'

04 June 2023 , 06:01

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Amanda has been spreading the love for nearly a decade

As I enjoyed an evening boat ride on the River Thames alongside a private chef, I was left speechless when I looked up to see “Will you marry me?” written in fireworks. As soon as the display lit up the Greenwich skyline, I burst into tears. But it wasn’t me being proposed to – I was the one behind it.

I was working in event production when my sister Tiffany came to me almost 10 years ago and said she wanted to launch a romance planning agency because she wanted to put an end to bad dates and awful presents. I thought she was crazy, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Whether it’s an anniversary or bridal shower, our business The One Romance has gone from strength to strength. We plan three proposals every week and we’re having to turn clients away.

Whether someone has £1,000 or £50,000 to spend, it’s still special to me and each project is close to my heart. Given that every person’s love story is unique, no two proposals look the same. We’ve had a Romeo And Juliet-themed engagement, but also fashion show and ballet-themed proposals.

On average, clients spend between £2,000 and £5,000. However, our most expensive proposal cost more than £100,000 and involved us shutting down the River Thames for a couple who had flown all the way from the US.

The company plans three proposals each week

Combining the couple’s love for fireworks, wine and the sights of London, we treated them to a wine-tasting cruise along the river. For the hour-long trip, a private chef cooked meals that defined their relationship, including macaroni and cheese from their first date and their favourite lobster dish.

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In order to make sure everything ran smoothly, myself, a photographer and videographer went undercover as fellow diners on the boat. We were all in our professional mode, so it was slick.

Then, after I’d alerted the firework team that it was the right time to begin the display, I ran to the other side of the boat and watched my client get down on one knee. I may have been doing this for nearly a decade but I always find myself in tears.

Nobody has turned down a proposal so far (Gemma Chase Photography)

Bringing dreams to life

No matter how out there an idea may seem, nine times out of 10 we’re able to bring it to life. However, there have been occasions when I’ve had to say no. I remember one client giving me a four-week deadline to shut down the Palace of Versailles. Even Kim and Kanye weren’t allowed to get married there, so that wasn’t possible.

In fact, most of our work is saying that an initial idea isn’t what’s best for a person’s relationship and creating something more bespoke. Lots of men say they want a room full of red roses, but when we talk to them we discover that their partner’s favourite colour is lilac and they actually hate roses.

While two weeks is a good time to prepare a proposal, some clients book me a year in advance. Other clients will have the ring and say they want to pop the question as soon as possible. I’ve planned a proposal in 24 hours. Admittedly it’s harder to make it bespoke, but I’ll still make sure it has personal touches like handwritten love letters.

Company is expert at romantic proposals (Lina and Tom Ltd)

Because of the nature of the job, I develop close working relationships with clients and I’ll find myself discussing ideas at one in the morning.

One time a client sent me a picture of a ring and asked if his girlfriend would like it. I didn’t know her, but it felt like I did. Lots of our clients are hopeless romantics, which shocks me sometimes. For instance, a client gave me a 20-page document detailing everything about his relationship, from first kiss to favourite song – I couldn’t even tell you that about my own relationship!

There have been a few occasions where I’ve been invited to a couple’s wedding and then when it’s dawned on me just how much of a role I’ve played in people’s relationships.

Some clients like to go big for the moment (Some clients like to go big for the moment)

A few years back a client came to us and asked us to arrange his first, second and third dates. The dates were spread out over the course of several months and all involved a very romantic dinner.

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Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to plan their engagement, as it took place in Dubai and I couldn’t fly out, but I was able to plan their bridal shower. I’m still in touch with them now.

While our final results may be very lavish, things go wrong all the time. I was recently at a hotel in London and was putting fairy lights on a balcony when the battery pack fell to the ground.

No gesture is too small

As soon as it hit the floor it started to smoke. We were worried it would go up in flames but within seconds one of our team and hotel staff were at the scene sorting it all out and hanging up replacement fairy lights.

We had an occasion when we were accidentally locked in the client’s home when he got so nervous he forgot we were inside decorating. When we were finished we had to climb out of the window – luckily we were on the ground floor.

Working our magic

At the beginning, clients kept us a secret but people are more open these days. Whenever their partner asks how they’ve put something together, they admit they’ve had help and will introduce us. Sometimes, people will say, “So you’re Amanda,” because they’ve seen that their partner has been contacting me. Luckily, no one being proposed to has ever said no!

While our clients are mainly men, we’re starting to see a more diverse range of customers. In the last leap year in 2020 we had three women propose, including one who asked the question with a round of clay pigeon shooting. We’ve also seen an increase in LGBTQ+ engagements and have planned three this month.

Despite planning proposals day in, day out, there’s nothing I’d change about my own engagement. My childhood sweetheart popped the question during a trip to Florence more than 20 years ago and I wouldn’t change a thing.

VISIT THE ONE ROMANCE AT THEONEROMANCE.COM FOR MORE DETAILS

Lucy Robinson