Andrew Berry and Valentina Maluenda
Andrew Berry chose the traditional way to propose to his girlfriend Valentina Maluenda by bending down on one knee on Valentine’s Day on the Pont De L'Archevèché Bridge across the Seine at Notre-Dame in Paris.
When the Ponts des Arts was cleared of its display of locks in 2012, lovers began to attach ‘love padlocks’ on the bridge to seal their commitment to one another.
Andrew got the lock engraved with both their names and the date of the proposal and Valentina attached the lock to the bridge, after saying yes, as is in keeping with the tradition in Paris.
The couple dated for 2 years before getting engaged after they met in Valentina’s native Chile during Andrew’s worldwide travels.
Andrew, the academic researcher and Valentina, the trainee surgeon, plan to return to Chile after their wedding in South America this September. They are hoping to have a separate ceremony for Andrew’s friends and family in Birmingham in 2015 so that both sides of the family can witness their union.
Andrew said: "Valentina's name means Valentine in English - so it seemed entirely appropriate to propose on Valentine's Day. And what better place to do it than in Paris - one of the most romantic cities in the world. I did get down on one bended knee and managed to surprise Valentina while she was taking in the amazing view of Notre-Dame at night. I pretended to bend down to get my camera but it was actually the ring. Luckily I had the ring box open and held it up before she turned around and saw it."
Andrew gave Valentina a beautiful £600 white gold diamond engagement ring from Vashi.com.
He said: "We both love the ring and will cherish it for the rest of our lives."
Vashi.com is looking at exactly how couples in the UK are proposing as part of its new #whereandwhen campaign which will be running on Twitter, other social media and at Vashi.com.
You can read other couples' stories via the hashtag #whereandwhen on Twitter
Tagged in Valentine's Day Paris Engagement