We were completely overwhelmed by the response to our Proposal Story Competition.
We knew we would receive beautiful entries, but what we didn’t expect was just how emotional, personal, and powerful each story would be. From surprise flights and carefully planned beach messages to deeply meaningful family moments, every entry reminded us just how many different ways love and proposals can be experienced.
Choosing a winner was incredibly difficult for our team, and we want to start by saying a heartfelt thank you to everyone who took the time to enter and share their story with us. We feel so honoured to have been trusted with them.
After much discussion, we are delighted to share our winning story…
Our Winning Story: Abi & Peter
Last September, Abi’s boyfriend (now fiancé) told her they were going away on a surprise holiday. With no clues and only instructions to pack a suitcase and trust him, the adventure began.
Here’s how Abi described it in her own words:
‘’Last September, my boyfriend (now my fiancé) told me we were going away for a surprise holiday. He gave me no clues, just told me to pack a suitcase and trust him. So I did.
The morning began like any ordinary trip. We loaded our bags into the car and set off, and I was convinced we were heading to the airport for a flight somewhere abroad. But then we joined the motorway and instead of heading south, we turned north. I remember thinking it was odd, but he stayed very calm and completely unreadable, so I just assumed we were flying from a different airport.
Eventually, we arrived at Gloucester Airport. It was there, standing on the tarmac, that I discovered the first surprise of the day: he had hired a small plane just for the two of us.
My fiancé is a pilot, but despite that, I had never flown with him before. That alone felt special, but I was still none the wiser.
We took off and headed south towards Cornwall. Both of us grew up in Devon, and as we flew over the countryside below, he pointed out familiar places from our childhoods. We even flew over our family homes. It felt surreal, but I still had no idea what was coming.
Then came the moment that changed everything.
As we flew over Fistral Beach in Cornwall, he told me to look out of the window. I was, somehow, still completely oblivious. But there, stretched across the sand in enormous black letters, was a message: “Marry Me.”
Our parents had arrived at the beach before us, carefully laying out the words on the sand and waiting below as we flew overhead.
And of course, I said yes.
Afterwards, we landed in Cornwall and stayed overnight at the Watergate Bay Hotel, where we celebrated our engagement with both of our families. The next day, we flew back to Gloucester together — newly engaged, still in disbelief — and then, as if the whole weekend hadn’t already been special enough, we carried on to Greece for the surprise holiday I thought we were going on all along.’’
A Story We Also Loved: Sammy & Lee
We also want to share a very special entry that deeply moved the team. While there was only one official winner, we felt this story deserved to be celebrated.
Here’s how Sammy described it in her own words:
‘’We planned a trip to Cornwall with our almost 2 year old.
I’m really struggling with the loss of my dad as he didn’t get to meet my little girl and it was very sudden and unexpected.
Part of this trip was to go to the first place I scattered his ashes to have this moment doing it again with my little girl.
We sat on the top of the cliff and she helped me shake some ashes out.
My boyfriend helped me up off the floor and as he did he bent down and proposed.
He said he couldn’t ask my dad about marrying me so wanted him there with us.
In the photo you can see his ashes and Lee proposing, and it’s now become a lovely spot to go to rather than a sad one. It was the perfect gesture to my dad.’’
A Huge Thank You
To everyone who entered our Proposal Story Competition, thank you.
We were genuinely moved by the honesty, emotion, and thought that went into every entry. Each story reminded us that proposals are never just one moment, but part of a much bigger journey filled with love, family, memories, and meaning.
We are so grateful to have been able to read them all.
Thank You to Our Prize Partners
This competition wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our incredible prize partners, who helped us make this celebration of love even more special:
• The Gluttonous Gardener
For gifting Grow Your Own Wedding Garden Set
• Laura Fernandez Designs
For gifting a bespoke illustrated vase
• Jordan.Lovell.A
For gifting a personalised embroidered couples cushion
We are so grateful for your generosity and support.
Until Next Time
We absolutely loved running this competition and reading your stories. The response has shown us just how many incredible proposal moments are out there, and we’re already thinking about how we can continue to celebrate them in the future.
From all of us at Shropshire Petals, thank you for letting us be part of your stories.
If you’d like to see more beautiful confetti moments and real-life inspiration, keep an eye on our channels, we can’t wait to share more love stories with you soon.
Love SP x
