COSENTINO'S MAGICAL WEDDING PROPOSAL

He’s a famous illusionist – and the incurable romantic knows all about the magic of love

- Brigid Auchettl

A proposal is nerve-racking enough for any man, but when you’re a brilliant magician with a reputation for flair and dramatics, there’s an added pressure to make this life-changing moment a very special one.

And Paul Cosentino, 37, certainly didn’t disappoint when he popped the question to his stage assistant and partner of eight years, Priscilla Stavrou, 31, who thought she knew all the tricks he had up his sleeve after their years together.

“It’s our shared passion, so of course it had to be magical,” he says, explaining that he spent two hours setting up a fancy dinner in their Melbourne home, which they share with pooch Luna and cats Diamond and Dante.

The date was April Fools’ Day, which also happens to be Priscilla’s birthday, but it was certainly no elaborate hoax from the master of surprises.

“There were candles everywhere, scattered rose petals, and dim lighting. It was like we’d escaped – no pun intended – to somewhere free of worries,” says Priscilla.