In a plot twist worthy of a romantic comedy, a Cairns man's dream proposal was unexpectedly hijacked by another couple earlier this month, creating a viral sensation and a night nobody would forget.
The Setup for a Perfect 'Yes'
A romantic gentleman from Cairns had meticulously organised what he hoped would be a perfect marriage proposal for his girlfriend. The scene was set at The Esplanade, featuring fairy-lit trees and a large illuminated 'Will You Marry Me?' sign. The plan was unfolding smoothly, with the couple strolling towards the romantic pop-up location.
However, the path of true love took a bizarre detour. As they approached, they were stunned to see another man already on one knee, using the carefully arranged setup to propose to his own partner.
Chaos at the Pop-Up Proposal Site
Melbourne events coordinator Emma Bouboulis, who was managing the proposal, appeared on Sunrise to explain the unprecedented situation. 'We've planned hundreds of proposals, but this is definitely a first for us,' Bouboulis told hosts Nat and Shirvo.
She described the moment of confusion. 'We're filming the couple. The groom turns around, looks at us, and gives us a strange look. We're like, 'what's going on here?' and we look over to the set up and there's another person proposing to their partner there.'
Fortunately, the intended bride was blindfolded and completely unaware of the drama unfolding just metres away. Bouboulis and her team had to frantically intervene, rushing over to explain to the opportunistic suitor that the romantic setup was, in fact, a private booking. 'We're telling him: 'We're so sorry, this set-up is actually for the couple over there',' she recalled.
A Happy Ending for Both Couples
Bouboulis speculated that the other man had seen the beautiful, unattended setup and seized the moment, mistakenly believing it was a public pop-up proposal site. After the interloping couple was moved on, the original Cairns couple finally had their moment. 'Once we got them to move on, the couple arrived and it went perfectly,' Bouboulis confirmed.
In a heartwarming conclusion to the strange tale, both men received a 'yes' from their soon-to-be brides. The story, which Bouboulis described as a 'bit of a plot twist,' has since captivated the internet, amassing over 150,000 views on TikTok.
The viral clip sparked a flood of comments, with one user sharing a similar experience: 'My husband organised a beachside private dining in Vietnam and when we arrived there was some random couple sitting there taking photos.' Others expressed second-hand embarrassment for the woman who accepted a proposal in a setup meant for someone else, while some questioned the wisdom of leaving such an elaborate display unattended.
