From The Straits Times    |

Share your proposal story with us and stand to win a lunch buffet for two at Swissotel Merchant Court worth over $120++.


After failed attempts at two other locations, it was the balcony of their Kyoto ryokan overlooking the Japanese gardens where Youqian managed to pop the question to Alicia! 

How did your love story start?

We met in university, and I would chase Youqian down the halls shouting his name because I thought he had such a funny name.

It was also the first time I could remember someone’s Chinese name on the first try – mainly because it was so funny. We became friends and started dating a year later.

How was the proposal like?

Youqian proposed to me while we were in Japan and it seemed like he planned this for many months leading up to the trip.

Most of my friends knew about it and had already seen the ring but I was completely clueless.

Before we even went on the trip, I got nagged by my girlfriends to get my nails done and pack “pretty” clothes.

I had an inkling that he might propose but it was only a fleeting thought and I quickly brushed it aside and didn’t think much of it.

Fast forward to our trip and there were many failed attempts that I actually did not know about.

Youqian usually carries around a big backpack that holds his camera and multiple lenses, and apparently he kept the box hidden in a back compartment throughout the trip.

This meant that he was carrying the ring around for the entire duration of the trip just waiting for the right moment. At some point, I helped to carry his bag around.

He later told me that he laughed at the thought of me carrying around my own ring without knowing it.

The first attempt was at Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto.

We were hiking up the trail and there was a moment when the crowd dissipated and we took a rest on some logs.

Just when he was about to do it, he got really nervous and his hands started to shake.

He had his camera in one hand with a jacket hung around his arm while he was trying to pry the box out of the secret compartment of his bag.

So there he was sweating it out, when I apparently turned to him and said “Oi, what you doing? Hurry up lah, let’s go!” and he realised the moment as over.

The second failed attempt was at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios.

I’m a massive Harry Potter fan, and he thought he might do it there because I was so happy, and running around like a crazy person all day that this would be a nice way to end the day.

But he couldn’t find a moment when we were alone as there were too many tourists.

The third and final attempt was at our ryokan in Kyoto.

When we checked in, there was an option for a room upgrade. For some reason, my usually frugal boyfriend jumped at the chance to pay a little extra for a fancier room, one with a balcony overlooking a garden.

We finally settled in, and when we were checking out the view on the balcony, Youqian decided to pop the question.

He hugged me and starting shivering from the nerves – which I mistook it as him just being cold, and then he started on his speech.

It was a really weird feeling because we’ve been together for so long and we never speak formally to each other.

Before I knew it, he was kneeling down in front of me.

Most of it was a blur, but I do remember him proposing with a haiku (a form of Japanese poetry)!

A couple of moments passed with me asking him to stop it while jumping around and him yelling at me to shut up and stand still so he could finish.

And then I said YES and that was it. 

Thanks for sharing your lovely story with us and congratulations to you! 


Quirky, special or just super romantic – send in your proposal story to us, and stand to win yourselves one of these two prizes: 

1) A lunch buffet for two from Ellenborough Market Café at Swissotel Merchant Court worth $120++

2) An afternoon high-tea session at Crossroads Bar at Swissotel Merchant Court worth $89++ 

To stand to win these prizes, please sumit your proposal story to us at maghwbrides@sph.com.sg

Please also include:

  • Full names, ages and occupation of the both of you
  • 5 to 8 images (taken during the proposal, as well as couple shots taken on other occasions)
  • A short description of how you met
  • Wedding date and other wedding details like venue, gowns and packages

Each proposal story is special, be it intimate or grand, and the world can do with more of them!

So do send them in and selected entries will be featured up on our site. The winner will be announced by February and contacted by email.

For more romantic proposal stories: 

#HWB PROPOSALS: SHI PEI & JON’S ROMANTIC WINTRY PROPOSAL AT A SEOUL ICE SKATING RINK

#HWB PROPOSALS: AMANDA & ELLIOT’S SURPRISE EARLY MORNING PROPOSAL AT KYOTO’S BAMBOO GROVE!

#HWB PROPOSALS: CHARMAINE & JUN JIE’S HEART-MELTING PROPOSAL IN AN ENCHANTING SWEDISH FOREST!

#HWB PROPOSALS: HOW A CAMBODIAN MISSION TRIP TURNED INTO A BEAUTIFULLY MEANINGFUL PROPOSAL​

#HWB PROPOSALS: A MAGICAL MALDIVIAN SURPRISE AT A PRIVATE VILLA​