We have all seen today’s generation of youngsters proposing to their loved ones in public, meticulously documented on camera with the intent to go viral. Most of them are cringe-worthy and, watching these, the first question anyone thinks of is: “Why, why do you feel the need to document one of the most beautiful and satisfying moments between two lovers into a viral spectacle?”
This one, though, is a bit different. At the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, magician Neil Henry took the opportunity to propose to his girlfriend onstage, while also entertaining his audience with a slew of magic tricks up his sleeve. Or rather, mouth.
After appearing to swallow a piece of string and a wine glass full of alphabet soup, Neil Henry, 37, proposed to his girlfriend Charlie Gardner, 23, by pulling a string out of his mouth with letters that spelled out “MARRY ME.” Then he got down on one knee and pulled out the ring. Fortunately she was not overcome with alphabet soup, and she blurted out ‘yes’ repeatedly.
Neil then thanked the audience for sharing the most important event of his life and told them he’d put £400 behind the bar to buy them a free drink. As ‘Celebration’ played over the audience system, he added: “Let’s have a party. See you downstairs.”
The couple met at the Edinburgh Festival in 2013, when Charlie was costume designer for a play Neil was in. They were greeted by huge applause and cheers throughout the venue as people came up to congratulate them.
Charlie, from Bedford, said: “I didn’t know this would happen at all. I haven’t even told my mum yet. We met in Edinburgh two years ago and this is our anniversary date now.”
“At first I thought he was going to spell out Marmite with the letters.”
Well, you and all of us are glad he didn’t do that.
It was… magical.
