My then boyfriend came home at the end of October last year and informed me that he had won a competition at work and that the prize was a  20 minute helicopter ride from Virginia airport. Initially I was not too thrilled as I had never flown before and wasn’t to keen on my first flight being in a helicopter. But I thought “What the heck! There’s always a first for everything”, and the ride was then scheduled for Saturday 30/10. We arrived at Virginia airport, the weather was perfect, a fantastic clear, warm and sunny day. We spoke to the pilot and got the lowdown on what was going to happen, I almost fainted when Peter (now my fiance) and the pilot decided that the doors of the helicopter would be left off! Supposedly so that he could take clear photographs.

We took off and flew towards Umhlanga lighthouse (our favourite fishing spot!) as we got closer, I noticed that there were some people standing below the lighthouse with a big white sheet, even closer  I could see my name…. only then did I realise what this trip might be about… on the sheet was spray painted in big pink letters – “Ingrid marry me”. I was totally speechless and then burst into tears.

Peter placed the ring on my finger whilst we were up in the air (I was paranoid that the ring would fall out of the chopper and into the sea!).
The sneaky bugger had arranged all this with his friends and family and I was totally oblivious!

It is one of the most romantic moments I have ever experienced! We have since set our wedding date for the end of May 2011.

This article was posted by Celebration.co.za - South Africa Wedding Guide.