Surprise Proposals and Parties

I read yesterday that a man only identified as J.P. was seeking sponsors to fund a Superbowl ad in which he would propose to his girlfriend. He'd tried unsuccessfully to raise the millions needed, netting only $100,000, and now was trying to sell the taping of the proposal and the product placement of the reaction. I can think of lots of companies, nationwide florists, jewelers, etc. who might benefit if they went for it.

This reminded me of some surprise parties and the surprise proposal I shot last year.

Linda's boyfriend took off the day from work to catch her completely by surprise. He asked her to marry him at the school they had both attended. She said yes. (Her shirt says SJSU Computer Engineering, The Best Five to Eight Years of Your Life. Hysterical.)


Jason's friends thought he already knew the party he was attending that night was really his own, but decided to yell "surprise anyway", good thing since he said he knew nothing about the party's true purpose, and really did look surprised on camera, too.


After Tina's husband had her friends arrange to meet her at a bowling alley for a surprise party, she got to spend some quality time bowling with her niece. Tina was very surprised as her birthday was over a month away, but since she was only in the area for a short time, it was the only chance to see certain people then.


Some online research I did on surprise parties suggests that the invited guests talk only with the host(ess) about the party, letting the guest of honor make reservations/plans for that day, but discreetly cancel them, and if a guest, don't contact the guest of honor for weeks before if you can't keep a secret.