“Yearning for His Image to Illuminate the Eiffel Tower: The Soaring Trend of Marriage Proposals in Paris”

On a dreary winter afternoon, a scarlet carpet unfurls across the Pont de Bir-Hakeim, spanning the River Seine in the heart of Paris. Delicate petals scatter upon its surface, while overhead, a luminous sign poses a poignant question: “Will you marry me?”

Despite the rain, one woman approaches the scene, moved to tears of joy by the heartfelt gesture.

Such moments, though special, have become increasingly common in the City of Love, where approximately 36,000 visitors annually choose this romantic backdrop for their proposals, as per Proposal Paris, a marketplace for proposal planning.

Rodrigo Mendoza, 33, is among those captivated by Paris’s allure. When he decided to propose to his girlfriend, Ciera Rojas, in June 2023, selecting the location was a foregone conclusion.

“Before the pandemic, that was my first time visiting Paris,” Mendoza recounted to CNN. “For me, it was an extraordinary city, super romantic… and I said, ‘OK, when I find the chosen one, the right person, I’m going to propose here in Paris.'”

Traveling from New York, Mendoza arranged a pre-planned photoshoot with a photographer against the iconic backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, where he knelt and proposed.

Such romantic gestures are on the rise post-pandemic, as travelers seek to make up for lost time. Proposal Paris noted a 30% surge in requests between 2021 and 2023, while Kiss Me in Paris, an event planner orchestrating over 450 proposals in 2023, reported a 50% increase in planned proposals during the same period.

But why Paris?

According to Diana Sumano, founder of Proposal Paris, the city’s charm lies in its ability to create a magical and romantic ambiance that individuals desire to showcase during their proposals.

Paris boasts globally recognizable landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Seine River, providing picturesque settings for public declarations of love. While some may cringe at the thought of a public proposal, for others, the presence of an audience adds to the enchantment of the moment.

Yet, the concept of public proposals is a relatively recent phenomenon, likely originating in the United States or the United Kingdom and gaining traction with the advent of social media, notes sociologist Florence Maillochon of France’s National Centre for Scientific Research.

Undoubtedly, popular culture, along with social media, has played a significant role in Paris’s appeal. A study conducted by France’s National Centre of Cinematography and Animated Pictures and French pollsters IFOP revealed that one in ten tourists surveyed was inspired to travel to France after watching a film or TV show, with “Emily in Paris” cited by 38% of respondents.

Planning a proposal abroad, especially in a public setting, often necessitates logistical assistance. Consequently, a burgeoning proposal-planning industry has emerged in Paris, catering to even the most extravagant requests.

Daisy Amodio, founder of event planner The Proposers, recalls a client who desired his face projected onto the Eiffel Tower for his proposal—an idea deemed unfeasible. Nevertheless, with creativity and resourcefulness, planners like Amodio and Chantelle-Marie Streete of Kiss Me in Paris make dreams come true, from elaborate themes like “Mission Impossible” to orchestrating flash mobs and faux cinema screenings.

Streete, whose company transitioned from photography to proposal planning in 2013, underscores the importance of catering to foreign clients and providing a seamless, English-speaking service that encompasses every detail, from flowers to musicians.

Ultimately, for couples like Ciera Rojas and Rodrigo Mendoza, Paris encapsulates the epitome of romance, turning dream proposals into unforgettable realities.

“Everything in Paris just felt so magical,” Rojas reflects. “I can honestly say that I had a dream proposal. Everything was perfect.”

For Mendoza, the city validated his initial impression—it truly is the quintessential backdrop for declarations of love: “If you’re in love, it is going to make you be even more in love.”