Planning the perfect proposal is a daunting task and one that lots of people need help with. In fact, more than 3,500 romantic hopefuls have reached out to The Proposers for expert advice. Daisy Amodio, who founded the events company 11 years ago, is a leading professional in the field and has a 100 percent 'yes' rate from happy couples.
From porn stars plastered on a wall to a fake drug arrest in New York City, Daisy has heard and done it all and no request is ever too big or wild - for the most part. Sharing her impossible requests, Daisy told the Mirror: "One guy wanted a squirrel to deliver the ring but it meant three months of training and a lot of money.
"Another man wanted Queen Elizabeth II to take part in his proposal. When I told him we could only get an impersonator, he told me it was outrageous and hung up the phone."
But Daisy will always try her hardest to turn dreams into reality, and has created hundreds of bucket list moments all over the world in Iceland, Paris, Santorini and Dubai.
"The most expensive proposal cost nearly £1M and we hired out Disneyland Paris for the day then got their faces beamed onto the castle," Daisy said.
"One guy wanted to play a prank on his partner when they were on holiday in Barcelona. So we hid oregano in her pocket and undercover police arrested her.
"She was crying her eyes out while he was laughing hysterically. They put him in a line-up with a load of guys. I'd have been petrified but she loved it."
Daisy's team of seven are based at The Shard and it's their job to put together nearly-impossible requests, like dressing up 50 cats in costume and projecting faces onto Niagara Falls.
"We did a proposal for porn stars once and they wanted an amazing room decorated with naked pictures. They were the most grateful people ever," Daisy said.
"I'll never forget going caving in the Lake District with a backpack filled with candles and fairy lights in torrential rain.
"I've been a librarian, bus conductor, waiter and singer - anything to get the other half into a room without suspecting something is going on."
This Valentine's Day, Daisy has 11 proposals organised, including one on a private beach in Dubai, two in outdoor igloos in Iceland and five in The Shard.
"Valentine's Day used to be the most popular day of the year, but now it's the day before Christmas Eve. We find that lots of people propose a few days before or after 14 February so it's less predictable," Daisy said.
"We have permanent members of staff in Paris and Dubai and freelancers in other countries. If their budget allows, we will fly out too.
"Most people in the UK want The Shard for the view of Tower Bridge and a photographer, videographer, violinist or harpist."
The first proposal Daisy ever planned was her brother's in 2011, when she organised a personalised treasure hunt from London to Paris.
"I thought to myself, 'Have I really stumbled across a new industry?' It was just before the Instagram craze and I Googled 'proposal planner' but nothing came up," Daisy said.
After her brother's girlfriend said 'yes', she decided to set up the first ever marriage proposal planning company in Europe and has never looked back.
"I could never get bored of engagements. It's the happiest job in the world and we help to create the biggest occasions of people's lives," Daisy said.
Of course, Daisy's own engagement story is a spectacular one, after lots of hints and tips to her other half.
She explained: "I told him I'd love a private proposal in our London flat, then one night I returned home from work and all the lights were off.
"Candles were leading up to our roof terrace door and there was a massive sign that said, 'Is this how you picture your future?'
"He was standing there with candles, lanterns and flowers. He popped the question and had even booked me to get my nails done the next day and organised lunch with my parents."
Her husband's forward planning is something Daisy always advises her clients to think about.
"I try to make sure every partner gets their nails done beforehand because they all want that shot with a ring," she explained.
"We'd even go as far as planning the colour theme and asking them not to wear purple if it's a red background."
But the most important part of every proposal is making sure it's personal and sentimental - and that doesn't need to involve a private jet, balloon wall or fireworks.
"Elaborate proposals aren't for everyone. Not everybody has the money for it and there's absolutely nothing wrong with having breakfast in bed or a bunch of roses. It just has to be meaningful and thoughtful," Daisy said.
Do you have an extravagant or unusual proposal story? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
