Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's modest wedding has made us fondly remember The Proposal. Ever the romantic, Kanye kept things low key, hiring an orchestra and a baseball stadium, flying in her family and hiding them in the dugouts, and popping the question on her 33rd birthday. We're not bothered though (or prompted by envy to write sarcastic, slightly bitter, news stories about it) because Team ELLE can show you romance in real life. When faced with proposals like these, how could we possibly say no?
Collette Lyons, Acting Content Director
'We'd been together three months, and just as he was about to get down on one knee, I told him that the bin smelled a bit binny, thrust the black bag at him, and told him to take it downstairs. He decided to delay the proposal for a few hours.'
Annabel Brog, Editorial Project Director
'He had asked my parents' permission, arranged champagne at a county hotel, and planned to propose over bacon butties at a Little Chef en-route. But hed been so grumpy the night before (I seem to remember him telling me if I didnt turn off my TV theme tune playlist, he would throw me out of the car) that I woke up hating him. When he tried to cuddle me and said: "When were married, we can do this every weekend", I spat: "But I dont WANT to marry you." There was a long pause (during which he realised I would not agree to a Little Chef breakfast), and he said: "Oh. But will you marry me anyway." And all I could think was: "But I don't even like you right now."'
Sophie Beresiner, Beauty Director
'He told me he had a present for me in the spare room of my mums house. There was a big Jo Malone box on the bed and I said: "Wow, you shouldn't have," while thinking: "Idiot, I get this stuff sent into work all the time". Inside was a brick with a note attached saying "TURN AROUND". I thought:"'Please let it be a kitten". In fact, he was on one knee with a godawful tacky ring that he knew I would never mistake for the real thing (I'd want to have a say in the choosing, obviously), and my favourite Pearl Jam song playing on his iPhone. It was such a shock I did very ugly crying and forgot to say yes.
Kirsty Dale, Executive Fashion Director
'Does me saying: "Shall we get married in New York as I'm there for work?" even count? We did actually get married at City Hall on Halloween. Romance clearly blinded us to the fact NYC was littered with pumpkins.'
Lorraine Candy, Editor in Chief
'After five years together, we went to Antarctica on a working ship to map the coastline. We landed on a piece of land no human being had ever stood on. "Surely now," I thought. "This is the place. Surely." Nope. When we got back to our ship it transpired somebody else had proposed, so I was further furious Mr Candy had missed this potentially historic opportunity. When we got home, he took me to our local restaurant for dinner it was a Monday night and I didnt want to go and the waiter brought the ring out. Mr Candy looked at me and said: "Just this one time, I didnt want you to have control."'
Lara Ferros, Picture Editor
'Ive never been proposed to the thought of marrying me scares most men.'
Kardashian 101: The interactive family tree
