My daughter Sarah's fiancé, Ron called me to ask for help planning a surprise engagement party for my daughter. He wanted to ask her to marry him in a romantic way, and also in front of their closest friends and family. He chose the theme of Peter Pan.
We secretly sent out invitations to friends and family. Sarah really had no idea of our plans. The party was to take place in a local
banqueting hall and in the
invitation we requested that the guests dress in Peter Pan themed
costumes.
On the day off the party we
decorated the walls of the
hall with
backdrops of the darkened streets of London.
Large fans created a gentle breeze.
Everyone showed up
wearing either nighties, pyjamas, or dressed as one of the Lost Boys. Sarah's younger brothers, Mark and Brian, came dressed as Wendy's brothers, John and Michael. Sarah's father and I were
Mr. and Mrs. Darling. Sarah's best friend, Amy, came as
Tinkerbell, and Ron's parents dressed as
Captain Hook and
Mr.Snee!
You might be wondering how we planned to get Sarah to the hall wearing her nightie ? We knew that this would be impossible so her father and I said we were taking her out to dinner and suggested she wear a certain white cotton dress that Ron liked so much, as we would be meeting him there. She was a little suspicious, but she never guessed what was in store for her.
Sarah was so surprised when she entered the
hall. She still didn't have a clue why all her friends and family were there, dressed in their night clothes and Peter Pan characters.
Ron's father shined a hand held spotlight at the ceiling where Ron was
suspended by a cable. He was dressed as
Peter Pan and was slowly lowered to the ground in front of Sarah. Her hands went to her mouth as he kneeled, took her hand and popped the question. Before she could say a word he opened the rose shaped ring box revealing a gorgeous
engagement ring with sparkling diamonds. She was so overcome with joy she could only nod at first, but as Ron hugged her she found her voice and said, "Yes!" A
photographer was standing by to capture the moment.
The
DJ started his set with some house and trance music and Sarah and Ron’s friends immediately got up to dance.
After Sarah changed into her Wendy
costume everyone started getting in line for the buffet. In the centre of the buffet table there was an amazingly intricately
carved ice sculpture of Peter Pan and Wendy in a flying pose. There was so much
food on the
table : baked fish, juicy steaks, chicken breasts in teriyaki sauce with baked potatoes, peas and carrots or mixed steamed vegetables. Everything was so delicious.
After
dinner, everyone participated in a hunt for a
plush crocodile with a clock tied to its belly which was hidden somewhere in the room. The
prize for finding it was a dinner for two at very nice restaurant or a trip to ‘Never Never Land’, whichever was closer. Everyone had fun trying to figure out the clues on the maps we passed out to all the guests.
When it was time for "Peter Pan" and "Wendy" to leave, Amy (Tinkerbell) sprinkled
silvery glitter pixie dust on Sarah then she and Ron left the
hall and got into the elevator to go up their room in the
hotel. The rest of us stayed for a few more dances.