On the 10-year anniversary of the very first proposal we planned and styled, we’re so happy to celebrate the incredible milestone of 10 years of breathtakingly memorable proposal moments, a decade of ‘YES!’
This milestone is the perfect time to take a moment and reflect on this incredible journey, helping couples make that special question, the most beautiful memorable moment. What better way to reflect than an interview with us, Cara and Jamie, the founders to share how With Love Proposals came to be, how proposals have evolved over the decade, and the magic behind each proposal.
Q: What made you start With Love Proposals?
Cara: The vision for With Love Proposals came to life three years after our wedding ceremony decor business ‘With Love – Brisbane Wedding Decorators‘ launched. We were getting busy styling wedding ceremonies in Brisbane’s beautiful parks and gardens and at the same time social media was booming, and couples were eagerly sharing more beautiful moments from their lives.
Jamie: By this time, we had also become highly sought after Celebrants, at ‘With Love – Brisbane City Celebrants‘. In our role as Celebrants, designing and writing wedding ceremonies, we’d heard and shared many proposal stories, some romantic, some a surprise and some that weren’t able to quite hit the mark of being romantic or being a surprise (though often still made for an interesting or funny story to share in the ceremony).
Cara: We saw a need for a service to help ‘proposers’ create something special – a service to create those truly magical moments that people dream about. With our experience in wedding décor, combined with knowing all the best spots around Brisbane, we realised we could offer something unique, and with this vision, we proudly became Brisbane’s first proposal planning and styling extraordinaries!
For our first 5 years we traded as ‘Amazing Proposals, then in 2020 we rebranded as part of our collective of businesses in the love industry, to ‘With Love Proposals’.
Q: Tell us about the first proposal you styled.
Cara: I will always be so grateful for the first client who booked us, trusting in us for his very special proposal. Back then I didn’t have a portfolio or photos to show him, or packages and options to choose from, but I was full of ideas, and I was so invested in making their proposal magnificent, looking back I think he found reassurance in my enthusiasm.
He put his trust in me completely. And I went all out, there was a chandelier, fairy lights, a rose petal aisle, fresh roses in bud vases lining an aisle, even floating flowers in water bowls, candles, and a beautiful setup with champagne and a platter on a bar table. I was thrilled when my vision came to life seeing all my ideas come together so perfectly on the day.
The fact that he trusted me, based on our wedding portfolio made it so special. The surprise factor was immense! His fiancée even commented that she didn’t know a service like ours existed – because it didn’t until that moment. After the adrenalin and goosebumps of creating and witnessing that first proposal – we were hooked! And it’s continued to be equally rewarding to witness proposals to this day.
You can view the blog post of our first ever styled proposal here: A sparkling surprise rotunda proposal.
Q: How do you feel your business is different from others?
Cara: When we began, there were no dedicated proposal companies in Brisbane – it was such a unique and new concept. So, aligning with what helped to make our wedding décor business such a success, is that we offer custom-designed, unique backdrops and settings. We don’t use anything cliché or mass-produced. We create elegant settings using beautiful, dried flowers, or fresh flowers if the client prefers. We tailor each proposal to suit the couple and the vibe they want, paying attention to which decor details will suit best for the time of day and the location.
Jamie: Another unique point, as is the case with our other ‘With Love’ businesses, is that we handle everything ourselves. Cara personally liaises with the client from the very first inquiry, whether it’s a phone call or a website enquiry, right through to planning every detail of the proposal. We oversee the proposal design together, ensuring we’ve packed everything we need, then one or both of us will be there on the day setting up, ensuring everything looks perfect!
It’s a very streamlined process, we’re both across all the details the whole way through so our clients know they’re in great hands.
Q: Why do clients choose you? What feedback do you often receive?
Cara: We’re honoured to receive so many 5-STAR reviews from our clients, as well as beautiful messages after their proposals have taken place, which is so rewarding. Clients planning to propose are drawn to the convenience of our design, set up and pack down service. The fact they don’t need to try and put a romantic setting together themselves, gives them a stress-free proposal experience and allows them to maximise the surprise of proposing, while seriously impressing their loved one.
We have a unique approach in understanding what’s really important to each client. Whether their priority is creating a setting where incredible photos can be captured, or creating a truly surprising moment, at an unexpected time. We cater to those wishes. Proposing privately has become increasingly important to many of our clients, so we make sure the proposal venue will be comfortable for them and their partner.
Jamie: I agree, our clients love that they can simply arrive on the day, knowing everything is taken care of, so they also get to enjoy the experience. It’s not just a special moment for their partner, it’s a special experience for them, too.
We also work with an amazing team of vendors, many of whom we know through the wedding industry including photographers and videographers. We’re honoured to be the ‘go to’ proposal experts for guests at some of Brisbane’s best hotels. Working with a talented and experienced team who share in our enthusiasm, adds to our couples five-star experience.
Q: Have proposals changed over the last 10 years?
Jamie: Yes! Over the past 10 years, we’ve seen proposals become more luxurious. Clients really want to create that wow factor for that once in a lifetime moment for their partner, and it’s an honour that they trust us to bring that vision to life.
Having a professional photographer capture the moment has also become very popular, with most of our couples now choosing to have the moment discreetly documented. More and more couples are also having a Videographer capture the proposal. It’s amazing to see proposals evolve, and we’re proud to have been part of that evolution since the beginning.
Q: Do you have a most memorable proposal?
Cara: Honestly, I don’t have a favourite or a most memorable proposal because every single one is such a goosebump moment for us. It’s true!
It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of one of the happiest moments of a couple’s life. Seeing and sharing in their excitement makes us feel so grateful to be part of that experience. Every proposal is special, and we feel honoured to help turn these moments into lifelong memories.
A decade of proposals with a 100% YES rate deserves to be celebrated, so Let’s celebrate WITH LOVE!
We hope you enjoyed hearing about With Love Proposals story and we’re beyond grateful to every client that trusts us with planning and styling their very special proposal.
If you enjoyed hearing our story and business milestone, and you’re planning on proposing, we would love to hear from you!
Get in touch now to start planning your very own special proposal story.