Top 4 Types of Venues Used In Marriage Proposals

new york romantic rooftop proposal
new york romantic rooftop proposal
Proposal Planner: The Heart Bandits Photographer: Wandermore Photography

In the course of planning over 4,000 marriage proposals over the last decade, I have set up proposals at all sorts of venues. But there are 4 types of venues that I am constantly planning proposals at and once you start offering Proposal Planning services, you will too.

If you are a Wedding Planner, you may have experience planning weddings at some of these types of locations. However, planning events for just two people is something you may not be used to so this article can still provide some new perspective for you. If you are just getting started in the Event Planning world, this may be all new to you.

1. Beaches & Parks

For the costal cities, setting up a proposal on the beach is probably the most common request. I always tell my clients, every single piece of land in the world is owned by someone whether it be the city, state, private property, etc. So you always want to check if you need a permit to set up items OR for photography. If there is no photography and the setup you are doing consists of things likely to be at a beach (like a picnic), you probably don’t need a permit. However, you should always check. For the non-costal cities, parks are also very popular and the same advice I just gave for beaches applies.

2. Rooftops

In cities like NYC and San Francisco, rooftops are frequently requested for proposals. I love a good rooftop, but a rooftop proposal comes with its fair share of challenges such as exposure to inclement weather. Also, even the smallest gust of wind can be amplified on a rooftop and keeping things down can be a hassle.

3. Private Homes & Airbnb

I love planning proposals in my client’s homes because you don’t have to deal with getting permission in most cases. However, Airbnb’s can be a challenge because many owners specifically say you cannot hold events on their property. So you or your client need to clear anything you do with the owner so that there are no problems.

4. Ballrooms

Ballrooms in hotels are a great location for a marriage proposal. They are usually very grand and a lot of them have nice views. The challenge is that they are normally large so you have to create an intimate space within a space. But hey, that’s the fun part right….being creative!

So there you have it. The Top 4 Types of Venues Used In Marriage Proposals along with some pros and cons of using them.

Download my FREE resources below if you want to get started Proposal Planning.

4 Things You Can Start Doing Now To Start Proposal Planning

Checklist For Your Proposal Planning Marketing Strategy

If you are a Wedding Planner, you have to check out this FREEBIE:

3 Reasons You MUST Add Proposal Planning Services NOW!

Proposal Planning During The Pandemic

proposal planning during the pandemic
proposal planning during the pandemic

I just wrapped up my 4th FREE masterclass this week called, “3 Simple Secrets You Need To Know To Effectively Market To The Proposal Planning Client.” (If you missed it and want the replay in the next 48 hours, email me at info@theheartbanditsacademy.com) One of the questions that my students kept asking is, “Are you still planning proposals during the pandemic?” And the answer is, YES!!!

I’ll be honest, in March when the pandemic first hit it shook the entire world. No one was calling that month to get engaged. Everyone was in shock and getting used to our new world. And as a business owner, I was using that time to brainstorm how I could pivot my business when people were ready to buy again – just like you!

Fortunately for me, proposals typically only involve the couple, so we were able to get back to work pretty quickly. And you know what, I think the pandemic made people realize even more that they were with the right person, because we got very busy. But still, things looked a bit different. Instead of renting out elaborate venues, our clients were asking us to come to their homes and either completely transform the inside OR to decorate the facade of their houses. I actually found it refreshing to be able to plan such intimate proposals in the environment where the couple had shared so many memories.

When things opened a little more, we started doing really pretty setups on the beach, parks, airbnb’s, hotel rooms, and venues (depending on the city we were planning in). We also got to be creative and do social distancing flash mobs and musical performances where the musicians had on masks that spelled out “Will You Marry Me?”

So as you can see, Proposal Planning during the pandemic is very much still going on. And this is why I encourage you Wedding Planners, no…. I URGE you, to start offering Proposal Planning services. Not only will it help you get through this time period but when life goes back to normal, you will already have this service set up and working for you.

===>>>Not convinced yet, download my FREE Resource, “Top 3 Reasons You MUST Add Proposal Planning Services Now.”

If you are convinced and you are ready to get started, you have 2 options.

Option 1: You start setting up Proposal Planning services on your own

Download my FREE Resource, “4 Things You Can Start Doing TODAY TO Start Proposal Planning.”

Download my FREE Checklist For Your Proposal Planning Marketing Strategy and get started working on that marketing plan.

Option 2: You want a step-by-step implementation guide with proven results so that you launch quickly and do it right the first time

Introducing Proposal Planning Formula™.

In Proposal Planning Formula™, I’ve taken everything I have learned over the last decade about Proposal Planning and marketing marriage proposal services (over 4,000 proposals planned and $5M revenue earned), and channeled it into a comprehensive, step-by-step implementation plan teaching you not only how to effectively start offering Proposal Planning, but to actually EXECUTE a marketing strategy that provides results.

Proposal Planning Formula™ is the only course of its kind that teaches you how to launch quickly, provides you a complete marketing plan, and focuses on maintenance.  

To learn more, all you have to do is head to www.theheartbanditsacademy.com/proposalplanningformula

Whichever option you do, I fully support you and just know you will do great things.

A $70K Marriage Proposal

marriage proposal planning teacher

As a Proposal Planning coach, I want to both educate and inspire you. I hope this blog does both. Some people don’t realize just how much money there is in Proposal Planning.  Sure, there are simple proposals out there which will require you to set up rose petals and candles.  And for those, the profit margin isn’t super high. There are also lovely custom proposals that you plan where your profit margin can be one to two thousand dollars.  But if you plan a luxury proposal, your profit margin can be extremely high.

Take Christian for example. He hired my company, The Heart Bandits, to plan his epic marriage proposal.  He is involved with the Pittsburgh Steelers and he had an unlimited budget. He really wanted his girlfriend to get taken on a journey for her proposal.  He didn’t just want her to walk out into a room and see a nice proposal set up.  He wanted it to be a multi-level experience that was different from anything he had seen.  

He also had one special request.  He wanted a rare Christian Louboutin bag presented to her before he proposed.  I must have called every Christian Louboutin store in America for that bag….but I got it!

proposal planner education

Now, on to the Proposal Planning.  Christian and his partner are used to traveling the world.  In fact, travel is a huge part of their story.  So we presented him the concept of a “Jet Setter” theme and he loved. it.  First, we rented out one of the most incredible rooftop gardens in Manhattan.  We stationed a butler right near the elevator to greet the couple with Champagne.  When they arrived on the rooftop, we had an orchestra playing under an Eiffel Tower replica built of moss and lights.  When the couple walked out of the elevator, she was completely floored as the orchestra played “All Of Me,” by John Legend.

be a proposal planner

After the orchestra serenaded the couple, Christian lead her through hundreds of stunning red and pink florals and to a faux grass wall fashioned after a Parisian cafe.  Displayed on the wall were large canvases of the couple on some of their travels together.  After spending some time there, they walked out onto the garden and a string quartet began playing. It’s then, the couple passed a replica of a Venetian gondola with roses spilling out of it.  This was to represent their travels to Italy.

wedding proposal planning

Christian escorted her over to some beautifully displayed Louis Vuitton luggage where she found a surprise gift.  The gift contained the rare handbag I was able to find which was Mexican themed and represented their travels to Mexico.  Finally, he walked her over to the pool where we had a custom monogrammed proposal message at the bottom of the pool that said, “Will You Travel The World With Me Forever?”  The pool was lined with gorgeous candles and rose petals. Christian proposed and she of course said, “YES!”

teach me to be a proposal planner

After the proposal, we transformed the garden for an intimate dinner for the couple to share.  The dinner was catered and came with a waiter to make sure they had a one-of-a-kind experience. The string quartet continued to play as the couple enjoyed their celebratory dinner.

proposal planning education
proposal planning school

Now, I know what you are thinking.  You’re thinking “Whoa, if he spent that much on a proposal, what would he spend on the wedding?”  And that is exactly what I am here to point out to you, and exactly what I want you to think about.  Really let that sink in.  If he spent $70K on a proposal, what would he spend on a wedding? And what if YOU were both the Proposal Planner AND the Wedding Planner for him?

If you have the opportunity to not only earn a significant amount of revenue for planning a luxury proposal, AND you get to earn the trust of a couple before they get engaged, why wouldn’t you? If you could have a built in lead in to be their wedding planner, why would you not take it?

And that is exactly what Proposal Planning can offer you.  It can not only increase your revenue and diversify your income.  It can provide you more leads for your wedding planning business. To find out more information on why I think you need to get started Proposal Planning right away, download our freebie below.

Download the FREE Top 3 Reasons You MUST Add Proposal Planning Now here.

We have another great FREE resource for you too that will come in handy when you are ready to get started Proposal Planning.  It’s called the 4 Branded Resources You Must Create To Start Offering Proposal Planning.

If you are ready to learn how to be a Proposal Planner, sign up for our email list below so we can send you more curated content and tips.  

After planning proposals for over 10 years, my company runs itself so I have decided to teach others how to become a Proposal Planner. And I am truly passionate about helping entrepreneurs and Wedding Planners LEVEL UP and start offering Marriage Proposal Planning services using profitable action steps and my proven SEO & Marketing strategies. I will be launching a FREE webinar soon as well as a course. But for now, I hope this blog inspires you.

proposal planning coach

Proposal Planning: The Heart Bandits

Florals & Rentals: Martin Jobes Design

Photography: Michael Justin Studios

5 Thoughts That Are Holding You Back

how to be a proposal planner
how to be a proposal planner

Have you ever wanted something really bad but you’ve talked yourself out of it with self-sabotaging thoughts? Well if you are human, my guess is that your answer is yes. We all do this, but the trick to fighting back the self-doubting thoughts, is to understand that it is just noise. The thoughts aren’t real, they are just worries manifested into negative thoughts in your mind.

If you have thought about offering Proposal Planning services to your existing Wedding Planning business, but still not taken action, I have an idea of what you might be thinking. As a Proposal Planning Coach, I encounter students with similar thoughts over and over. Do these thoughts sound familiar?

1. I Don’t Have Time

This is one of the most common reasons that I hear Wedding Planners say that they have not yet started offering Proposal Planning services. And I get it, believe me I do. I am a mother of a 5 year old daughter (currently screaming right now and trying her best to distract me) and a 22 month old son, a wife, and the owner of 4 companies. So I know a thing or two about being busy. But it isn’t time that I don’t have, it’s time to WASTE that I don’t have. And if you really think about it, isn’t that the truth for you too? If you knew you could offer Proposal Planning easily and start making money right away, would you find the time to start the process? I am betting that you would. But understandably, if you don’t know where to start and you don’t understand the benefits of offering it, the venture could certainly fall under the “I don’t have time” category.

2. People Will Think I Am A Jack Of All Trades

As a Wedding Planner, you have worked your butt off to establish yourself. You likely have your wedding business up and running and producing a steady clientele. The last thing you want to do is muck up your website and start offering a new service which distracts your brides from your brand. After all, what you are doing in your wedding business IS working. So if it’s not broke, don’t fix it, right? But I am here to tell you, it does not have to be that way. If you just throw up “proposal” words and proposal pictures on your website without a strategy and a very solid plan, I could see that this could be an actual fear. However, if you have a plan to add Proposal Planning in a thoughtful and intentional way, you can successfully speak to both the bride AND the proposer without confusing either of them.

3. I Won’t Get Clients

The fear of failure is in us all. But as an entrepreneur, we are hardwired to take risks. And the motto of any successful entrepreneur should be that, “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” – Robert F. Kennedy. So yes, I get it. You are scared that you will start offering Proposal Planning services and that no one will inquire. But if you never start trying, you will DEFINITELY not get any Proposal Planning clients. And besides, you are only fearing this possibility because you don’t know yet how to go about things. But if you knew the strategies to implement, or you had a solid game plan in how to get Proposal Planning clients, it wouldn’t seem so scary.

4. I Don’t Know How To Market To These Clients

This is a legitimate concern. But you wouldn’t have chosen to NOT start your wedding planning business simply because you didn’t know how to start a wedding planning business right? You only don’t know how to market to a Proposer, because you haven’t learned how yet. If you truly want to start offering Proposal Planning services, you can easily learn how to be a proposal planner by learning how to market to this client.

5. It Will Be A Waste Of Time

This is what I feel the number one fear of any entrepreneur, or maybe even any person is. Time is our most limited commodity. And we will give it to what we love and feel passionate about. But wasting time feels like a kick to the gut, so every decision we make in regards to where to invest our time, has to feel like it won’t be a WASTE of our time. But there is an easy solution to combat this negative thought – simply make sure you have a road map! When you start offering Proposal Planning, you aren’t just going to go into it blindly. You are going to have a plan and a roadmap that will make sure that you can do things easily and efficiently as possible.

Now that I have helped you combat your self-doubting thoughts about starting offering Proposal Planning services, here is what I want you to do! Download our Top 3 Reasons You Should Start Offering Proposal Planning NOW and 5 Reasons That Proposal Planning and Wedding Planning Is The “Perfect Marriage.”  This will help you understand exactly why you need to start offering Proposal Planning services to your wedding planning business. We will soon launch a webinar to help you learn how, so stay tuned for that as well. I can’t wait to see what you do with this information!!

Why Proposal Planning Is On The Rise

how to be a proposal planner
how to be a proposal planner

I remember starting The Heart Bandits, my marriage proposal planning company.  I started it back in 2010 and every time I would tell someone that I was a Proposal Planner, they would laugh or roll their eyes.  “A PROPOSAL Planner?” they would ask in a mocking tone, “People actually PAY you for that?”.  My husband and I would be interviewed by media and people would leave mean comments about how Proposal Planning was a joke and that no one in their right mind would pay for such a service.

Fast forward 10 years later and hiring a Proposal Planner is now a social norm and the industry is growing faster than I can believe.  Daily, I receive emails from lovers of love asking me how to become a Proposal Planner.  They contact me from around the world telling me that they want to start a Proposal Planning company in Colombia, New Zealand, South Africa, etc. and they want me to teach them how to do it.


But WHY is the industry growing so fast and why should you claim your stake in it now? Here are the 3 reasons the industry is blowing up!

1) Social Media Influence 

Before social media, if someone proposed to their partner, only their closest friends would know how that person proposed.  Let me tell you, things have absolutely changed!  Now, when you propose, getting a photo of the moment is expected.  Having a videographer shoot it is even better.  And that photo or video will make its way to Instagram, Youtube, or Facebook, where it can be viewed by thousands or even millions of people.  How has this contributed to the rise of Proposal Planners?  Well, now there are thousands of examples on social media showing how people have proposed.  The would be “proposer” sees how his peers are proposing and it puts pressure on him to make sure his proposal is equally as good or better.  The would be “proposee” is also on social media and she is seeing how her peers are getting engaged.  Her expectations of her own proposal increase and again, more pressure is put on the proposer.  He wonders, “How will I come up with a better idea?”  “Do I have the resources to pull off something that epic?”  He starts researching how to pull this all off and that leads him to….you guessed it….a Proposal Planner!

2) Acceptance of Proposal Planning

Another hurdle I had to face when I first started my company was that men were worried how their partner would feel if they hired a Proposal Planner.  They were worried that they would be perceived as “not creative enough” or “not romantic” when that couldn’t be the furthest thing from the truth.  In fact, they were creative and romantic enough to try to find a resource to make sure their proposal was impactful and memorable.  With the rise of social media and grand marriage proposals becoming commonplace, it has now become accepted that for someone to pull off an epic proposal, they are going to need some assistance. And truthfully, many of my clients hear about me FROM their partners.  Because hiring a Proposal Planner is an accepted norm, the demand for Proposal Planners is rising and the industry is on fire!

3) Media Attention of Proposal Planners

Several times a year I am contacted by major media outlets to collaborate with them about Proposal Planning articles and stories.  And every single time a Proposal Planning article is featured in the media, I notice 2 things.  One, I get a TON of new inquiries from potential clients that saw my article in the media and want to find out how I can help them propose.  Two, I get several inquiries from people that want to find out how they can become a marriage proposal planner and if I can assist them.  This is yet another contributing factor to the growth of the industry.

Now that you know the reasons the industry is growing so quickly, why should you start offering Proposal Planning services right away?  I think the question is, why would you NOT?  The industry is new enough that you could get started now and become a MAJOR player, but it is also seasoned enough that you don’t have to climb the uphill battle that I did to get noticed.  

If starting a career in Proposal Planning intrigues you, then I encourage you to head over to  www.theheartbanditsacademy.com and grab one of our FREE DOWNLOADS.  In them, we discusses the Top 3 Reasons You Should Start Offering Proposal Planning NOW and 5 Reasons That Proposal Planning and Wedding Planning is the perfect marriage.  This will help you find out if adding Proposal Planning to your Wedding Planning business could be right for you.  I hope to see you there!