Montrealers choose unique ways to pop the question
by Lauralou Cicierski
Thousands of couples have ridden through Old Montreal's cobblestone alleys in Danny Seguin's horse drawn carriage. A driver with Calèches Boisvert for 15 years, he estimates that he has been witness to 50 marriage proposals.
He's seen well-organised proposals where the carriage has been booked a week in advance. But he has also been approached by potential grooms at the last minute. No matter the circumstances, Seguin does his best to make the big night memorable. Every now and then a proposal surprises him as much as the bride-to-be.
"Sometimes I just turn around and he's on his knee," Seguin says. "When I know in advance, I stop in a wonderful place (and) tell the man the horse needs a little rest. I get out of my carriage and I (tend) to the horse. They do what they want to do."
In the summertime, Seguin's romantic stop of choice is often the Cours Le Royer, a section of the street closed to traffic. During the winter, he favours the Grey Nuns Hospital on Rue St. Pierre.
The staff at restaurant La Queue de Cheval typically witness an engagement every month. General manager Imad Nabwani has hidden engagement rings in oysters and in chocolate cakes to help customers create a memorable moment.
"Every person is different," Nabwani says. "We, of course, offer champagne and we really celebrate." Satisfied lovebirds often become regulars, and Nabwani has the chance to watch their marriages blossom as time passes and they have children.
Chief pilot Ciambella has also orchestrated a fly-over to coincide with a couple's arrival at the top of Mont Tremblant.
The Place D'Armes Hotel in Old Montreal has been the site of plenty of romantic moments. Marketing director Elizabeth Starenkyj says the hotel works with clients to reserve suites, plan special menus, arrange flowers and chill champagne to set the mood.
A number of corporate cupids are willing to help Montrealers share their love in a big way. Genevieve Paquette, sales coordinator with Astral Media, helps people propose using billboards.
"Most of the time they will buy a classic, the panel you see everywhere. It's vertical and 16 feet by 12 feet," Paquette says. The cost for a personalised billboard message along a future fiancé's travel route starts at around $2,000.
Those with their heads in the clouds turn to Gian Piero Ciambella, owner and chief pilot for Aerogram, an aerial advertising company. In 23 years, he estimates that he has helped 100 people pop the question. Timing and placement are everything. If the couple is dining at Altitude 737, he confirms where they'll be seated in advance to ensure a good show. He has also orchestrated a fly-over to coincide with a couple's arrival at the top of Mont Tremblant. His prices vary based on air time and the type of message being towed.
Montrealers who love romance almost as much as they love the Habs can post a message on the Bell Centre's scoreboard before a full-capacity crowd of 21,273 hockey fans. Fees for this service are donated to the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation.
If you're the marrying kind, this Valentine's season might be the perfect time to ask for her hand - Montreal style.
| Isn't it Romantic? |
Calèches Boisvert: (514) 953-4242 or (450) 653-0751
Place d'Armes Hotel: 55, rue St-Jacques; (514) 842-1887
Queue de Cheval: 1221, boul. René-Lévesque Ouest; (514) 390-0090
Astral Media: (514) 989-2841
Aerogram: (450) 445-1171; www.aerogram.ca
Altitude 737: 1, Place Ville-Marie, Niveau PH2, Suite 4340; (514) 397-0737
Bell Centre: (514) 989-2841 (ask for scoreboard advertising) |
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