The story began long before their first date — with messages that quickly became the highlight of their days. After talking online and realising how naturally everything flowed between them, they decided it was time to finally meet in person. And it just so happened to be on SAM's BIRTHDAY! Manchester was the perfect backdrop. He chose Browns Restaurant for their first date, and from the moment they met, all nerves disappeared. What was supposed to be a simple birthday meal quickly turned into something unforgettable — effortless conversation, constant laughter, and that warm feeling that this was more than just another date. After dinner, they wandered around Manchester for drinks, stretching the night out for as long as they could. Every stop felt comfortable, every moment easy, and by the end of the evening, it was clear that something special had begun. Celebrating a birthday turned into celebrating the start of their amazing relationship — and it’s a night they'll always remember as the beginning of their story.
It was 16 June 2020, a warm, bright day that felt full of possibility. He’d chosen Knowsley Safari Park for a reason—partly because he knew Tia would love it, and partly because he hoped the perfect moment would reveal itself somewhere among the animals. They drove slowly through the enclosures, pointing things out to each other like excited kids. Lions stretched lazily in the sun, rhinos lumbered across the dusty ground, and tigers watched them with unbothered, regal stares. They skipped the monkey enclosure, of course—he was certain those little thieves would destroy his car in seconds, and this was not the day for that kind of chaos. After the drive-through, they parked up and wandered through the smaller enclosures on foot. He felt the nerves kicking in harder with every step. His plan was simple: ask Tia to be his girlfriend in front of the penguins. Cute, memorable, romantic. Foolproof. But when they finally reached the penguin area, the pressure hit him all at once. His heartbeat felt louder than the actual animals. And in that flustered, adrenaline-filled moment… he panicked. Instead of the penguins, he stopped walking—right in front of the bins beside them. “Tia,” he blurted out, trying to stick to the plan despite everything falling apart around him, “will you be my girlfriend?” She looked at him with surprise, then with warmth. She said yes immediately—of course she did. The moment was perfect in its own crooked way. But then reality sank in. He’d done it. In front of the bins. He laughed, she laughed, and he insisted they redo it properly. So they stepped a few metres over, stood in front of the penguins like he’d planned from the start, and he asked her again—this time less panicked, more intentional, and much more them. She said yes again, smiling even wider. And that was it. Their beginning. A day full of animals, nerves, laughter, and a proposal that was perfectly imperfect. He kept the entry tickets from Knowsley Safari Park, tucked away as a memory of the moment everything changed—and every now and then, they still make him smile.
Yes, the title is correct: the first proposal. Because with Tia, of course there were going to be two. She is extra, spectacularly extra — and he loved her for it, even if he didn’t always see her surprises coming. He genuinely thought it was just a wholesome family day out. A casual visit to one of the Wonders of the World, taking in the beauty of the Taj Mahal under the blazing Indian sun. But nothing involving Tia’s family was ever truly casual. Her mum, Priya, adored a photoshoot more than most people adored oxygen. So, naturally, a professional photographer had been hired for the day. Suddenly, he and Tia were being whisked from spot to spot — posing here, recreating Princess Diana’s iconic Taj Mahal photo there, turning into models against marble walls and reflecting pools. He went along with it all, smiling, laughing, secretly wondering how many shots Priya wanted for her living room wall. Then, in the middle of one of the poses, everything changed. “Tia, step a little closer… Sam, look this way… perfect…” the photographer directed. And then, out of absolutely nowhere, Priya’s voice cut through the air like a starting gun. “Sam, propose!” He blinked. Propose? Now? Here?! He stared around in panic. He had no ring. No speech. No warning. This was not on his schedule — but apparently it was on Priya’s. But the thing about loving Tia was that life with her never went to plan — it went better. So, trusting instinct (and adrenaline), he did the only thing he could. He asked Tia for the promise ring he’d given her long ago, held it in his hand, and dropped onto one knee right there at the Taj Mahal. The world seemed to pause — and then explode. People nearby gasped, smiled, started clapping, cheering, snapping photos like paparazzi. It all happened so quickly he barely processed the words leaving his own mouth. But he saw the moment Tia realised what was happening — the shock, the joy, the disbelief — all glowing in her eyes. She said yes, of course she did. And just like that, one of the most iconic monuments on earth became the backdrop for one of the most unexpected, extra, chaotic proposals in history. A proposal with no ring, no planning, and no warning — but somehow, absolutely perfect.
The second proposal wasn’t just planned — it was crafted, designed, and engineered to be nothing short of perfect. After the chaos of the Taj Mahal surprise, he wanted this one to be everything Tia had ever dreamed of. And he knew exactly what that looked like… because she had sent him countless TikToks. He chose Singapore’s Pan Pacific Orchard Hotel for one reason: the view. Not the skyline, not the city lights — but the enormous column rising through the building like a magical tree, glowing with soft pink downlights. The moment he saw it, he knew. This is the place. They weren’t even staying there. Their hotel for the trip was Artyzen — the one he had loved. But Tia had been obsessed with Pan Pacific from the moment she saw it online. So he planned it in secret, choosing the room with the best possible view, no matter the cost. Then he hired an interior decorator. Because with Tia, “nice” wasn’t enough — it had to be extraordinary. He filled the room with everything she’d ever wanted in a proposal: – personalised pillowcases – rose petals scattered across the floor – a walkway leading to the balcony – a glowing “MARRY ME” sign – personalised matching pjs – photos of the two of them from every chapter of their story It was soft, magical, romantic — and so undeniably her. On the day of the proposal, he whisked her away to a hair salon “just for a treat.” She had no idea that while she was getting pampered, he was racing back to the Pan Pacific, working with decorators, adjusting lights, positioning petals, and making sure every detail was exactly right. When everything was perfect, he slipped back to their hotel as if nothing had happened. He told her, casually, “Get dressed up — we’re going somewhere nice for dinner.” He booked the hotel chauffeur to make it feel even more special. Except the driver took them to the wrong restaurant, forcing a quick, awkward turnaround that nearly gave him a heart attack. But by some miracle, they still made it to Pan Pacific Orchard. She stepped out of the car confused. “This restaurant?” she asked. “No,” he told her with a smile. “Surprise — I booked the hotel you loved so much.” He led her upstairs, telling her he just wanted to drop off his things. She had no idea what she was walking into. The moment he opened the door, her breath caught. A rose-petalled walkway. Pictures of their years together scattered lovingly across the bed. Their matching personalised pyjamas. The pillowcases. The lights. The magic. And at the end of the path, glowing under the pink-lit column… the “MARRY ME” sign. He took her hand and guided her to the balcony. She was crying before they even got there — tears slipping down her cheeks faster than she could stop them. By the time he got down on one knee, she was already overwhelmed, already shaking, already lost in the moment. With the pink lights glowing above them, the city humming softly below, and a lifetime of love in motion, she said yes — again, without hesitation Later she admitted she couldn’t remember a single word he said. But she remembered how she felt. And that was everything. She didn’t know it yet, but his planning hadn’t ended there. Long before Singapore, he had messaged all of her friends, her parents, and his own — asking each of them to record a video counting down the days until he proposed. He collected them all, edited them together, and kept the secret buried under his excitement. And the morning after the proposal, when they woke up wrapped in happiness and rose petals, he pressed play on the video. One by one, the people they loved appeared — cheering, counting down, celebrating the moment before it even happened. Tia cried all over again. The second proposal — the real one — the one she would never, ever forget.
Our Dream Wedding The day we become Mr and Mrs Owen We are so excited to be married and share this whole day with our family and friends see you soon!!