May 4th 2024.
Jamie never could have imagined that he would end up as a proposal planner. It wasn't exactly the career he had in mind, but sometimes life takes us down unexpected paths. As he sat across from his client, Michael, discussing his proposal plans, Jamie couldn't help but feel a mixture of shock and horror.
"You don't think a scavenger hunt is romantic?" Michael asked, a hopeful look in his eyes. He had proposed sending his girlfriend on a wild goose chase all over New York, collecting clues from his exes in the order he had dated them. Jamie couldn't believe what he was hearing.
But as a proposal planner, Jamie's job was to focus on the logistics, not judge the level of romance. He had learned early on that everyone had their own idea of what was romantic and it was his job to make their vision a reality. Fortunately, most of his clients were open to suggestions and Jamie was usually able to offer them a better alternative.
So, he tactfully replied, "Navigating New York during rush hour isn't exactly the most ideal time for solving riddles all over town." And then he presented his own suggestion.
Rather than sending her on a city-wide hunt, Jamie proposed stationing musicians at various landmarks in Central Park. Each musician would serenade her with a song that held special meaning in their relationship. And the final stop would be at the iconic Bow Bridge, where Michael would drop to one knee and pop the question.
Thankfully, Michael loved the idea and gave Jamie the green light to make it happen. Jamie got to work, organizing everything just as he had done countless times before. But being a proposal planner was never a job he had dreamed of. In fact, he had sort of stumbled into it by chance.
At the young age of 20, Jamie had been job-hunting when he came across an ad for a content managerial role with a blog and social media company. Little did he know that this company also offered proposal planning and photography services in every major city in the United States. It was a pleasant surprise for Jamie and the hopeless romantic in him was thrilled at the thought of being a part of so many happy memories.
As he moved up within the company, Jamie began planning proposals alongside the owner from their base in New York. But instead of being a job filled with fairy tale romance, it often felt more like a Secret Service operation. They coordinated grand gestures such as banners flown across the sky, flash mobs, and boat rides, all with the help of meticulously outlined plans, maps, and diagrams.
Jamie even found himself drawing stick figures on maps, indicating where everyone should be positioned for the perfect photo. And while proposals at public parks, beaches, and rooftops were popular, Jamie's personal favorite was the La Jolla Cliffs in San Diego.
The process involved discreetly positioning the photographer on a cliff above while the client and their partner stood below, with their back to the ocean. This way, the photographer could capture the reaction perfectly as the client proposed. The photos were always stunning and Jamie never grew tired of seeing the pure joy and love on the couple's faces.
But after planning hundreds of proposals in over 30 cities, Jamie found that he had a template for almost every idea in his email. He was constantly arranging proposals in some of the most iconic locations, from South Beach in Miami to Boston Commons and Malibu. However, Central Park remained the most popular choice.
Michael's proposal, however, was a bit more complicated. Jamie had to coordinate for a photographer to follow his girlfriend like a paparazzo as she made her way from musician to musician, capturing the special moment until Michael was ready to propose. And on Bow Bridge, a guitarist serenaded them with Bruno Mars' "Marry You" as Michael got down on one knee and presented a diamond ring. She said yes, tears of joy streaming down her face, and they even had a mini engagement photo shoot right there in the park.
All in all, Michael spent $1,875 on his proposal, which was not uncommon. Most of Jamie's clients spent anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000, which was a great deal considering the photography and planning services included. But Jamie had also seen a handful of clients spend hundreds of thousands on extravagant proposals involving luxury hotels and private jets.
Contrary to what he had originally thought, being a proposal planner wasn't just for hopeless romantics. Jamie quickly learned that his job was more about ensuring the logistics and budget aligned rather than creating the perfect romantic moment. And while he faced challenges from time to time, he was grateful that he had never encountered a client being turned down.
One of the biggest challenges, however, was dealing with clients who were dissatisfied with their appearance in the photos. Jamie found it intriguing how the quality of the photos directly correlated with the client's level of satisfaction. But he also felt like he was aiding in the commercialization of romance, as some clients were more concerned with having an Instagram-worthy backdrop than truly enjoying the moment.
It was a reality that Jamie couldn't ignore, especially since he himself had exclusively dated wealthy men in his younger years. But as he eventually settled down with one of them and moved in together, he realized that love was about more than just money and extravagant proposals.
After a few years with the company, Jamie felt a strong desire to see the world beyond the lens of others' relationships and wallets. So, in July 2019, he planned his last proposal and set off to travel the world as a nomad travel writer.
Now, when Jamie sees people getting engaged, he doesn't recoil as he used to. In fact, he has a newfound appreciation for the moment. During the 2022 World Cup, he was living in Buenos Aires when the streets erupted in celebration after their team's win. Amidst all the chaos and excitement, Jamie witnessed a proposal happening in real life without his involvement.
For the first time, he felt like he was experiencing a proposal for the first time, without any of his jadedness. And what made it even more special was the fact that the couple hadn't even thought to take a photo until they noticed Jamie staring at them. They approached him and asked if he would take a picture for them, and he happily obliged.
This moment reminded Jamie that even though proposals may have become more commercialized, at the heart of each one is a unique love story that can never be replicated. And that, for him, will always be priceless.
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