Street Talk: Ann Fong
Want to pop the question, but have no idea where to start? Seek a little help from Ann Fong, a professional wedding proposal consultant. She tells Emily Wu about how she helps her clients’ proposals stand out.
HK Magazine: Why did you want to be a proposal planner, on top of running your own advertising business?
Ann Fong: I was inspired by a Youtube clip. This guy hired the band, RedNoon, to perform a live show for his girlfriend while he proposed. I found it very touching and I thought it would be great if I could help people come up with romantic proposal ideas. I know many people search for proposal ideas online. The social network that I have built up in my advertising company helps me turn those ideas into reality.
HK: Why do you think guys need someone to help them out?
AF: I have heard some people criticizing proposal planners, saying that guys who ask for assistance are insincere. They should be the one who comes up with how the proposal should be. Actually, my clients and I brainstorm together. I just provide my suggestions and tell them how women feel. Actually, it’s not only guys—one girl asked for my help. She said she watched a Youtube clip of a girl who proposed to her boyfriend who was in a meeting at his office—I think it was an advert for a mobile phone. She loved that idea but she was too shy and didn’t do it in the end.
HK: Do a lot of guys out there need this service?
AF: I have at least one or two jobs per month, and most of them are men aged 25 or 26. There were eight last Christmas. Some guys have brilliant ideas which I help to make real, and some bashful guys ask me what they should say during the proposal and whether they should kneel down, or give the ring or flowers to their girlfriends first.
HK: Can you tell us more about the procedure?
AF: Usually, I give my first consultation free-of-charge, just to get an initial idea of how the couple know each other, and what the girl is like. After that, I’ll start thinking of suitable proposal ideas, and then meet up with the client again to discuss. If he agrees to it, I will line up all the parties involved and do site visits.
HK: How much is a tailor-made proposal?
AF: The cheapest one is a couple hundred, in which my designer and I help make a big and attractive proposal banner. The usual price is around $6,000-$7,000, but for special cases that need lots of props, it can cost more than $10,000.
HK: The most unforgettable proposal you have helped come up with so far?
AF: There are a couple. One client told me his girlfriend is a big fan of the cartoon character Keroppi. I had him dress up as a Keroppi mascot in the middle of Causeway Bay. His girlfriend was shocked when she saw her boyfriend hiding in the costume and she burst into tears right then and there. Another client wanted to have snow when he proposed on the beach at Discovery Bay. We rented a snow machine, but then it rained the whole day! Luckily, the rain suddenly stopped in the evening and his proposal under the snow was a success.