Flash mob proposal: she said yes
ANDREW Bewley flew half way round the world to propose to his partner in Whangarei, New Zealand - he just didn't expect there'd be hundreds of people, and a flash mob of dancers, there to watch.
Andrew and partner Jenny Sanders arrived in Whangarei from England last Wednesday, but Jenny was totally unaware that he had spent almost six months arranging a suitable time and place to propose.
Andrew said when he booked tickets for the pair to come and stay with Jenny's sister and her husband - Ellie and Stephen Ball - he also hatched a plan to propose. He contacted Holly Duder-Joy at Whangarei Academy of Dance and Performing Arts.
Holly decided to organise a dancing flash mob at Whangarei Town Basin for Sunday as a bit of a distraction.
So Andrew, Jenny, and his soon to be in-laws rocked on up to the Basin with the latter three all expecting to see some impromptu dancing and Jenny totally unaware that Andrew was going to get down on one knee.
As Holly - who had done all the choreography, music and rehearsals and set the time and place - led the more than 50 dancers, which included some of her students, their mums and even grandmothers, Andrew led Jenny by the hand into the centre of the flash mob. The crowd was swelled by several hundred people who were taking part in the Beach to Basin run.
"She said 'oh my gosh' and I think she thought I was getting her up to have a dance," Andrew said. "But when I got down on one knee it all fell into place."
Jenny said yes, much to the delight of all present, Holly said. However, Andrew said Jenny was a bit quiet for a few hours afterwards as everything sank in.
The couple will head back to their home in Worcester, in the English Midlands, in two weeks and will then have the unenviable task of arranging a wedding time and place that all their families can make it to.
"My family is all in the UK, but Jenny has a sister here, two brothers in Australia and one in the UK, so it's going to be a huge task getting everybody there," Andrew said.
Holly said the flash mob was a great success.
