Man Proposes to Girlfriend with Incredible Disney Mural

Disney fanatics, prepare to swoon over this adorable proposal! Henry Barnes, a 28-year-old graffiti artist from Bristol, England, painted an enormous mural featuring the characters from Beauty and the Beast to pop the question to his girlfriend Stacey Smith.

beauty and the beast mural proposal

It took Barnes (who goes by the graffiti name "Fiver") two days and over 30 cans of spray paint to create the 50-foot masterpiece. When the mural was complete, he invited his girlfriend of three years to a coffee shop across the street.

The couple walked past the painting in silence...that is, until Smith, a PhD student at Bristol University, burst into tears upon realizing that it was meant for her! "It did all feel a bit unreal and then Henry got down on one knee. It was incredibly romantic and it also felt very strange because there were a lot of people around who started clapping and cheering," she tells the The Daily Mail.

How did Barnes manage to pull off such a huge surprise without his live-in girlfriend finding out? "I have never done anything as big as this before. I spent the first day painting the wall over and the second day, I spent all day painting the characters. It took me eight hours but I managed to catch Stacey completely by surprise," he says.

June 6th

Photo Credit: Brian Leahy Photography on Smitten Magazine via Lover.ly

Tip of the Day: The portrait is a great time for a dress rehearsal of the big day! "Have your hair and makeup done, wear the dress at a beautiful location — make sure you have some help getting in and out of it, so you don't accidentally get it dirty — then have fun with your photographer," the pros at Mingle Charleston advise.

You can even use props like balloons, a parasol, your dog, or get your florist to make a bouquet for a sneak peek of your wedding day flowers.

Plus, check out How to Get Gorgeous Wedding Photos.

How to Embrace Your Non-Traditional Wedding

I have never been one to follow the crowd and my wedding will be no different. In middle school and high school I wore the biggest, baggiest boy jeans I could find and rocked all sorts of funky colors in my hair. Not much has changed since then aside from the pants, which have been replaced by more form-fitting jeans. My fiancé Mike fell in love with me because of my laidback demeanor and unique style, so he knew what he was getting himself into.

We're getting married at Disney World’s Wedding Pavilion in Orlando, Florida on Halloween and our wedding colors are purple and black. In December, we're going to have a masquerade ball-themed reception back home in Grand Rapids, Michigan since a lot of our extended family and friends won't be able to attend our destination wedding. The kicker: My dress is purple!

Mike hasn't batted an eye at any of this — he was previously married and went the traditional route already so he has no problem trying something different this time around. Halloween is our favorite holiday so when I told him I thought it would be fun to get married on that date, he was very excited about it.

Thinking about having a non-traditional wedding but you're not sure if you want to take the plunge? Here are a few things that I've learned so far on my journey: 

non traditional couple

The Pros and Cons of a First Look

If you've spent any time on Pinterest, it probably feels like every couple does a "first look" before the ceremony these days. But the truth is, 77% of BG brides stick to the tradition of not seeing each other before the ceremony. Wondering if a first look is the right choice for you? Here, the biggest benefits and drawbacks:

PROS
 

wedding first lookwedding first look
Photo Credit: Joe Elario Photography

Gorgeous Engagement Rings Under $500

Loverly is the heart of weddings: a visual inspiration search engine designed to help brides discover ideas, people to hire, and things to buy. Loverly makes finding beautiful wedding inspiration easier than ever! Their images are powered by the best wedding publishers and wedding shopping partners on the web. Find Bridal Guide on Loverly >>

Engagement rings the size of moon rocks (ahem, Jenny McCarthy) are all well and good, but if your love is a little more low-key, why not get a gorgeous ring you don't have to finance? We've rounded up 10 stunning rings you can shop on Lover.ly — all under $500! With jewelry for every style of bride, you're sure to find just the thing that fits your taste and budget.

1. This beauty features a cubic zirconia solitaire on a pave band — and at just $178, no one will mind that it's not a real diamond.

Watch: Entire Wedding Party Falls Into Lake!

A bride's worst nightmare came true on Saturday when she took an unexpected plunge into a Minnesota lake just minutes before saying "I do."  

Dan and Jackie Anderson, along with their 22-person wedding party, were posing for photos on a dock when it collapsed under their weight. According to their local news station, KMSP-TV, some of the bridesmaids and groomsmen were still wrapped in towels, waiting for their dresses and suits to dry, when guests showed up for the wedding!

Related: Download Bridal Guide's Latest Issue on Your iPad!

Despite being submerged waist-deep in lake water, the bride remained in good spirits and was "all smiles" as she walked down the aisle, according to videographer, Megan Frize. 

Frize captured the entire incident and set it to Iggy Azalea's song "Fancy."  Watch the hilarious video here: 

Let this be a lesson BG brides: no matter how pretty the backdrop may be, check that all platforms are safe before stepping on them to take photos!

Plus, check out more tips for avoiding wedding-day glitches.

Tell us: What wacky wedding incidents have you witnessed? 

— Mary Gillen 

 

Pages

Subscribe to BridalGuide RSS