A green-fingered boyfriend proved he was a cut above the rest – when he spelt out a wedding proposal using two-metre wide HEDGES.
Romantic Liam Ireland, 31, took unsuspecting girlfriend Melissa Moss, 26, on a helicopter ride after painstakingly planning the elaborate marriage request.
Stunned Melissa – who had no idea about the grand gesture – saw the proposal as they couple hovered 500ft in the air.
It took Liam and a team of three assistants, including dad Tony, 64, two hours to arrange dozens of two-metre wide box hedges to spell out ‘Will you marry me Melissa?’.
He told Melissa his boss, Simon Williamson, 59, had arranged for them to fly over Readyhedge nurseries, in Eckington, Worcs., where Liam works as a manager, to take some aerial shots of the business.
They travelled to Staverton Airfield, Glos., 15 miles away, before embarking on the 45-minute round trip.
He said: “It was really nerve-wracking as there were so many factors that had to work together for it to come off, like the weather, lots of details which could have gone wrong.
“The lowest the helicopter can go is 500ft so I was hoping we’d made it big enough to read from that distance.
“I didn’t sleep too well the night before as all these things were playing on my mind.
“We circled the nursery a few times but eventually found the spot.
“Melissa was looking out of the window and just saw ‘will you marry me Melissa’ spelt out in box-hedging.
“As she turned round from looking out the window I was there with a ring.
“Luckily she said yes and gave me a kiss. It was a lovely moment.
“I couldn’t get down on one knee because I was strapped into the helicopter but I hope I was forgiven.
“I just thought what other way to do it than spell it out in box hedging and fly over.
“It’s a little bit different really.
“I’m just really pleased with how it all worked out, it was perfect.”
The pair, from Eckington, Worcs., returned to an engagement party thrown in their honour following Liam’s grand gesture on September 14.
Stunned Melissa, a dental nurse, said she was taken completely by surprise when Liam proposed.
She said: “It was a big shock, I didn’t have a clue it was going to happen so it came as a total surprise.
“Liam told me his boss had organised for him to go up to take some pictures and he said he thought it would be nice if we both went up.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw the message.
“I’ve been on cloud nine ever since, I’ve not stopped smiling since it happened.
“My friends have been quite envious, Liam’s very romantic and I feel very special that he went to such a big effort for me.”
The couple, who have been together just over four years, celebrated their engagement with a trip to Dubai last week.
They said they will start scouting for wedding venues in the coming months.
