A romantic surprise is, by definition, unexpected, no matter where or when it happens. A romantic surprise at work, however, is really rare- especially when you work on a basketball court, in front of thousands of screaming fans. Ariana Rosado, an up-and-coming member of the Chicago Luvabulls cheerleading team, got just such a surprise when her boyfriend, Shane Zackery, organized a startling interruption to business as usual.

Ariana was dancing her heart out during the third-quarter performance at a Bulls game this December, when her teammates suddenly deviated from the plan, launching into a dance routine that she had never seen before. She was speechless as the Bulls mascot came out onto the court and seated her in a rolling chair while her friends danced around her. They were joined by two more mascots in comical inflatable bull costumes- out of one of which stepped her boyfriend, Shane. He went down on one knee in front of the cheering fans, and she said a tearful “Yes!” The couple embraced and left the court together as play resumed.

This is a beautiful story, and obviously worked well for this couple, but this type of proposal has some pros and cons that should be carefully considered before being imitated.

On the pro side, this was obviously tailored to Ariana. It took place at her work, which she clearly loves, and involved some of her closest friends- her teammates. The proposal itself was beautifully planned, with a choreographed dance, the cooperation of the DJ, team and the mascots, and even people running past with banners. Shane even considered how she would feel and act during the proposal, and provided a rolling chair to give her somewhere to sit, so she wouldn’t be standing awkwardly at half court, and also to allow her to be easily positioned by someone who knew the plan.

On the con side, this was a very, very public proposal. As we’ve discussed in previous blog posts, public proposals are not for everyone, and even a true extrovert might be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of onlookers in a basketball stadium. Anyone less at ease in the public eye might have felt very self conscious, or might have resented the intrusion of all of the well-wishers on her special moment. The couple were mobbed by supportive friends and fans as they left the court, and someone who was less of a performer might not enjoy that kind of attention. Additionally, a workplace proposal- even if the workplace is on a basketball court- can be awkward if the presence of coworkers isn’t really desired. Attention should be paid to the relationships between your girlfriend and her coworkers, if you want to plan a workplace proposal- the presence of the local Debbie Downer or a petty rival might detract from an otherwise beautiful proposal.

It’s clear that, for Shane and Ariana, the ultra-public, showy proposal was the perfect way to begin their engagement. Their beautiful proposal is a prime example of what a wedding proposal can be, with some forethought and care.  If you want your perfectly crafted proposal, contact The Heart Bandits today.

Michele