'I'm a proposal planner-for £100k I can shut down the River Thames'

Amanda Brown, 52, from north London, runs a romance planning business that couples call on to celebrate their milestones in style

- LUCY ROBINSON

'As I enjoyed an evening boat ride on the River Thames alongside a private chef, I was left speechless when I looked up to see “Will you marry me?” written in fireworks. As soon as the display lit up the Greenwich skyline, I burst into tears. But it wasn’t me being proposed to – I was the one behind it.

I was working in event production when my sister Tiffany came to me almost 10 years ago and said she wanted to launch a romance planning agency because she wanted to put an end to bad dates and awful presents. I thought she was crazy, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Whether it’s an anniversary or bridal shower, our business The One Romance has gone from strength to strength. We plan three proposals every week and we’re having to turn clients away.

Whether someone has £1,000 or £50,000 to spend, it’s still special to me and each project is close to my heart. Given that every person’s love story is unique, no two proposals look the same. We’ve had a Romeo And Julietthemed engagement in the past, but also fashion show and ballet-themed proposals.

On average, clients spend between £2,000 and £5,000. However, our most expensive proposal cost more than £100,000 and involved us shutting down the River Thames for a couple who had flown all the way from the US.

Combining the couple’s love for fireworks, wine and the sights of London, we treated them to a wine-tasting cruise along the river. For the hour-long trip, a private chef cooked meals that defined their relationship, including macaroni and cheese from their first date and their favourite lobster dish.