Ever seen a surprise proposal? It’s a truly electric energy that runs through the room. For Stefan and Priya, their big moment was made special by their love, but also the roomful of people surrounding them. “I wanted to try to do something that would be a bit different to your traditional engagements,” Stefan said. “Sofar [was] a nice intimate space where you have a crowd of people you’ve never met before, but they share the moment.”
Stefan and Priya met back in August 2019 through a mutual relative at a wedding. By the end of the reception, they’d been talking nonstop and decided to meet for a date. Clearly, it went well. By the summer of 2021, the two were talking about the future. As Stefan brainstormed how and when he might propose, he thought of Sofar. Not only is Stefan a former Local Lead from York, but he and Priya had one of their first dates at a Sofar in London. “I thought it would be nice to tie it back to one of those initial dates so it’d be more sentimental,” Stefan said. He reached out to UK Regional Director Esther Saunders-Jennings, and the two got the ball rolling.
The night was set—November 20th in London at The Sheriff Centre, a charity space nestled in an old church in West Hampstead. The plan was for the audience to play the Mr and Mrs game, where two people stand back to back and answer a series of questions by pointing to one another, then turning to see if they both had it right.
The evening of the big night, Stefan handed the custom-made ring off to Esther for safe keeping, and he and Priya took their seats in the crowd. “I do remember when we walked into the building before the show started, and I saw how everything was set up, and I did have a thought of, ‘if Stefan proposed in here it would just be perfect.’” Priya said.
The first artist wrapped their set, and Esther asked for volunteers from the audience for the first round of Mr and Mrs, and quickly got two volunteers. “Luckily they didn’t propose because that would’ve probably ruined the moment when I came out to [do] it,” Stefan said. “The guy was really into the girl he was with and it looked like he was pulling at [a ring]. It’s lucky that didn’t happen.”
The second artist played, and Esther once again called for volunteers. This time, Stefan put his hand up. He and Priya got up in front of everyone and the questions began. First, who’s the better dancer, then onto the second, who’s most likely to get rid of a spider? Then came the third, who’s the most romantic? “It was on that point I pointed to Stefan, and then I heard this loud gasp from the audience,” Priya said. “I turned around and Stefan was down on one knee. Everyone was literally screaming.”
The big moment. Photo by Jane Jimenez
Spoiler Alert: she said yes. Photo by Jane Jimenez
“[There was] probably a good 10 to 15 seconds of cheering before I actually had a chance to even ask the question,” Stefan laughed. “Luckily she said yes.” By the end of the night, people were coming up and offering their congratulations, and even video clips they’d filmed of the big question. After guests left, the Sofar crew had a chance to toast the newly engaged couple. “The difference with [proposing] in a Sofar environment versus a restaurant or public environment [is] with Sofar it’s just so intimate,” Stefan said. “Everybody’s so involved, you’re appreciating all the music and everything that’s there together. Even though we didn’t know the people, they felt part of something. That connection is just there with the music.”
Priya added, “I can’t imagine it being done without the people there. It did add to that special feeling.”
The newly engaged couple. Photo by Jane Jimenez
