I love a surprise proposal at Holland Park Kyoto Garden.
And I am always so pleased to be asked to go back there by my couples.
When Kishan contacted me the first time I was living outside of London for three and a half months.
My internet connection was, lets say, complicated, and he trusted me, this complete stranger who didn’t even live in London, to help him propose to his girlfriend.
He also told me that it was the surprise proposal shoot I did for Raahil and Shruti that led him to me, and this made me so happy.
When complications started to rise
We agreed that we’d meet after my arrival in the country.
The goal was to plan this surprise proposal in Holland Park Kyoto garden, and for Kishan to be more relaxed so he could have a beautiful memory created for Shana.
To our surprise, the lake had no water or fish in it!
And it was an essential part for the money shot he so much wanted.
A little bit of context here…
I’ve lived in London for five years now, and I am a frequent visitor of Holland Park, so I couldn’t make up why it was looking so weird.
As we approached one of the gardeners, he told us it was a routine thing to clean the bottom of the lake, and that everything would be back to normal soon.
‘But how soon?’ – we asked.
There was a plan going, you know?
You see, Kishan had already booked other things around this day, including an expensive Airbnb that would be custom decorated to celebrate their engagement.
He had already pre-prepared his girlfriend to be free on this day, and told family and a few close friends. He also alerted her friends to take her out to get a many done too! How thoughtful is he?
The date was a mystery, and I could tell he was getting nervous.
Curiously, he wanted to do this surprise proposal in Holland Park Kyoto Garden on the same week of my birthday, and I promised him I’d be coming back there and keep him posted.
I went to check on the lake on my birthday!
So I got up, got my clothes on, and went to Holland Park for a little walk.
Kishan had been previously informed the lake should be full by now, and to our relief, it was!
I FaceTimed him, showed him around, and made the best I could to just prepare him to focus on his beautiful proposal, and not worry about the background.
Everything was under control, and this was an absolute birthday present for me!
The day had come!
As I normally do, and to help my clients relax as to how the big proposal can go, we agreed they’d pass by me (pretending to be a tourist) and ask me to take a photo of them with his phone.
The good thing about this trick is that without the other half noticing, I can tell them exactly where to be. Then, all he had to do was kneel and pop the question!
The rest is history! She said yes, and we did a beautiful and memorable engagement shoot around the park.
Another one for the books.
Love,
Lu
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