Down on one knee, and down a small fortune Cash-rich Romeos spending thousands to create perfect backdrops for proposals

COUPLES are forking out thousands of dollars to create elaborate settings for wedding proposals – and all so they can have glamorous photos to share on social media.

The trend has spawned a burgeoning industry, with wealthy romantics willing to pay ‘proposal planners’ as much as $50,000 to create the jaw-dropping scenes.

“With guys it’s not that they’re not romantic, it’s just the execution,” said Gold Coaster Samantha Davies, who founded the Unforgettable Proposals agency. “They need a team behind the scenes to execute their vision.

“One partner let it be

known she wanted a lion to be involved if her partner popped the question. So we found hotel where you can sleep with big cats in Canberra.”

Ms Davis said the cost of hiring her company’s services starts at $400, while the average spend was about $2000.

But some Gold Coasters are prepared to spend a lot more. One local aged in his late 20s hired a 100ft superyacht to propose to his partner.

He anchored the vessel offshore and filled it with a thousand roses.

The lovebird then helicoptered his partner to the boat where he successfully proposed and the pair spent the night at sea.

Ms Davis said her proposal planning service was most popular among rich southerners. “Sydney clients who are very wealthy, very discreet and time poor will pay for the experience,” she said.

“One client told me he’d spent $50,000 on a ring and he had another $50,000 left over for the proposal.”

Kirsty Macleod, who owns Gold Coast-based proposal planning service Le Picnique, said competition between brides on social media had become extreme.

“I realised there was so much pressure on these guys,” Ms Macleod said.

“It’s just insane, with social media there’s so much competition between women – it’s all about who did it bigger and better.”

Gold Coaster Lauren McGregor recently proposed to her fiancée Noni Croft at Mudgeeraba with the help of Unforgettable Proposals.

“It’s such a beautiful idea,