Starting in 2029, you’ll have the chance to experience the most extraordinary marriage proposal ever! You’ll launch from Cape Canaveral in a rocket and reach lunar orbit three days later. As you orbit the far side of the Moon, you’ll propose while all communication with Earth is cut off…
— from the ApoteoSurprise.com website, January 2025.
I don’t speak French, so I was pleased when the folks at Apoteo Surprise Paris posted the news, in English, about a pending opportunity to propose marriage while orbiting the Moon.
In case you hadn’t heard of them, this French company has been specializing in setting up unique situations for marriage proposals since 2006.
I vaguely remember my proposal to Darlene, when she was about four months pregnant. We were lying in bed — she was probably reading a book? — and I casually popped the question, “So, what do you think about getting married?”
“Sure, probably a good idea,” was her response. “If we had some kind of commitment. Good for the kid, I mean.”
“So… within the next couple of months?” I asked.
“Well, not on the Fourth of July,” she responded. “That would be too weird.”
Of course, we had both seen marriage proposals — in movies and on TV — that were perhaps more romantic, involving a diamond ring and maybe some champagne. Possibly a fancy dinner?
But not even in my wildest dreams have I imagined a marriage proposal with a view of the lunar landscape.
From the Apoteo Surprise website:
What you will experience together during this exclusive proposal:
Starting from 2029, you will embark on a journey that will take you to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, where you’ll begin an adventure unlike any other. As you embark on your journey to the Moon, you’ll be traveling over 500,000 kilometers in space, following in the footsteps of the historic Apollo 8 mission of 1968. What’s more, this journey will feature the most spectacular marriage proposal of the past 13.8 billion years, as love and science come together to create an unforgettable experience…
One thing I didn’t know, until visiting the Apoteo Surprise Paris website. The French term for a marriage proposal is “Demande en Mariage”. Which could easily be misunderstood, I think, as some kind of “demand”. If you didn’t know French, I mean.
I think if I had demanded that Darlene marry me, it would not have had a good result. Ultimately.
Fact is, it ultimately didn’t have had a good result, regardless. But I blame myself, mostly, for the ultimate outcome. (Not entirely, though.)
Apparently, Apoteo Surprise Paris has had considerable experience putting together unique situations for making your marriage demand — oops, I mean, proposal — in various Paris locations, at various prices, ranging from about 9,900 Euros to as little as 390 Euros.
Presumably, a marriage proposal made while orbiting the Moon — to become available in 2029 — will cost more than 9,900 Euros.
And the preparation will be somewhat more extensive.
Before takeoff, you will undergo a series of medical exams and physical assessments to ensure your readiness for this epic adventure. You’ll be trained for three months by aerospace professionals, including cardio training sessions, high-G training in a centrifuge, acclimation to microgravity through a series of parabolic flights on board a Boeing 727, acclimation to high accelerations and speed changes on board a fighter jet flying over Mach 2, a complete presentation of the spaceship and flight schedule, stress management strategies, and emergency simulations.
From my experience, stress management situations and emergencies are part of any marriage, and I think it would probably be a good idea if everyone involved in a marriage demand — I mean, proposal — should be trained for at least three months by aerospace professionals.
After nearly three days, you’ll orbit around the ash-colored satellite, flying over the surface at an altitude of only 300 kilometers! As the spaceship slows down, the hidden face of the Moon will appear, and for about thirty minutes, communication with Earth will be impossible. This will be the perfect time to propose to your beloved, as no one ever has before! As “Fly me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra plays in your headset, you’ll pull the engagement ring out of the box that you’ve secretly hidden in your suit, while the lunar craters continue to pass under your feet. You’ll be totally swept away by the moment!
My only problem with this package is the choice of an old Frank Sinatra song as the background music.
I would prefer “Walking on the Moon” by The Police, or maybe “Man in the Moon” by REM.
Or better yet, “Talking to the Moon” by Bruno Mars. Performed live. Considering that L’argent n’est pas un problème.
But I especially like the idea that all communication with Earth will be impossible.
I wouldn’t want anyone to hear her say, “That’s a sweet offer, Louis, and the trip has been amazing… but… “