A SCOTS steelworker’s plans for an elaborate New York proposal were nearly ruined by a blundering security guard.
Darren McKinley, 26, arranged a holiday of a lifetime in North America with the plan of popping the question to girlfriend Megan Reilly, 25, in the Big Apple at the start of December.
The happy couple had just enjoyed a luxury cruise – and three nights in Las Vegas – before heading to New York for the perfect ending to their trip.
Inspired by the 1961 Audrey Hepburn flick, Darren booked a romantic breakfast in the Blue Box Café at Tiffany’s in Manhattan.
He even had someone who was heading to the city deliver matching blue banners to the posh eatery to help aid his all-out proposal.
But his plan was nearly derailed by a well-meaning cruise ship security guard when they were on a day trip in Jamaica.
While going through security to board the vessel they had their bags searched, and the officer pulled out the ring in front of Darren, while Megan was standing next to him.
But luckily, she was facing the other direction, giving quick-thinking Darren the chance to save his proposal plan.
Darren said: “I kept the ring on me at all times to be safe, I had managed to keep it hidden so far, but when we got the ship we had to go through security.
“I asked them to let Megan go through first but while the guy was searching my bag he found the box. He took it out of the bag and asked ‘what is this?’ and opened it while Megan was really close.
“I quickly covered it with my hands and tried to whisper in his ear and let him know. He just looked at me, smiled and put it back. The whole time I was just hoping she hadn’t seen anything.”
Fortunately for the loved-up steelworker, his plan went off without a hitch. And the happy couple, who met on dating site Tinder, got a special memory as Megan said yes.
Darren said: “I was really struggling with nerves, I kept having a wee drink to try and calm me down. She was like ‘why are you drinking at the back of eleven?’
“I had told the staff that when Megan moves the water, that’s the signal to come over and start videoing the proposal.
“But I got really emotional asking the question. We were both in tears, but asking her to marry me just became the most natural thing.”
As Darren gave the signal, everything fell into place as workers unfurled the light blue banners and he went down on one knee and asked Megan to be his wife.
Megan said: “I was really shocked, I was wondering why this woman was videoing our table and everyone seemed to be focused on us.
Darren started to get emotional as soon as he started talking and I just knew what was happening.”
Darren added: “This really is a holiday that we will look back on. And when we start a family we can have all the photos and videos to share a really special memory.”
