Bobby Hiranandani & Shaila Tanwani.

In the Fall/Winter 2016 issue of Tatler Weddings, society’s married couples (including one soon-to-wed pair) share heartwarming tatler_tatler_stories of their marriage proposal, and we discover that planning the perfect proposal takes a good amount of legwork, and indeed, some element of espionage! Here, they recount the moments leading up to that magical proposal.

Bobby Hiranandani & Shaila Tanwani

Bobby, managing director and co-chairman of Royal Group, and Shaila, who is studying business in the UK, are longtime family friends who got engaged in July 2016

What did you look for in a life partner?
Bobby For me, it’s always been important that she should fit in with my family; likewise, I should also be comfortable around her family. I knew Shaila’s family before I got to know her, as our families have been friends for a long time. That was the one biggest drivers at the very early stages that made me think this relationship could move forward.

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How were you introduced to each other?
Shaila We have been family friends for a while. The first time I saw him, I was 10 or 11 years old. He was close to my father and brother. He used to come to our home often and he’d take my brother out for drinks. I always wanted to tag along but I was too young. We eventually started going out and getting to know each other.

How did your courtship begin?
Bobby Every now and then, my mum, like most mums, would hint about marriage and settling down and she’d throw up a name. I’d promptly end the conversation each time. One day, Mum pops Shaila’s name up. I didn’t say a word. I just continued eating my food and acting like I was eating it. Mum knew she had hit something there. Even before I could do anything, my mum goes and speaks to her mum and they organise a dinner for our families together.

Because it wasn’t unusual for our families to go out together, I didn’t realise what was happening. At the end of the dinner, after dropping Shaila off, Mum asks, “What do you think of her?” Up till then, she still hadn’t told me that she had gone to see Shaila’s mum. Then she goes, “I really like her.” I was clueless.

Shaila Meanwhile, after the dinner, my mum tells me, “They like you.” My reply was: “I’m only 19 and still studying.” Mum said, “Okay, but get to know him.” I said, “Yeah.” After a few months, Bobby started communicating with me on Facebook, then he got my number and started messaging me more. A year later, when I came back to Singapore from the UK, he asked me out to dinner.

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What’s the first thing you did when you knew you were ready to take the leap?
Bobby I had this urge to get this off my chest. I had to tell someone about it. I did not tell my parents first because our families were so close, I was sure my mum would go telling her parents but I wasn’t ready to tell them yet, either. So I was worried my plan would leak out but needed to tell someone.

So after two weeks of trying to find the right opportunity, when Shaila left town, I finally got the chance to tell her brother. Her dad soon came to know because her brother and I spoke about how to break it to her dad. After telling her dad, and texting her mum to tell her, I told my dad. Both sets of parents found out on the same day but my mum found out last and, naturally, she was upset with me. She said, “I’m the one who got this started yet I’m the last to know.” So it was pretty hilarious!

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How did you choose the time and venue for the proposal?
Bobby I already had a plan and wanted to throw Shaila’s mum off guard by telling her I was going to propose in June this year.

Shaila I kind of knew this because I saw that message on my mum’s phone. That was in was January.

Bobby Meanwhile, before Shaila left Singapore to go back to the UK, I told her that I’d go up to the UK to spend my birthday with her in February. She said she wanted to come here to celebrate instead. So I thought I’d spring the surprise on her while she was here, but as it turned out, there was a whole string of events taking place during the time she was to be here and there wouldn’t be a proper opportunity to propose. So, I decided to go to the UK to receive her and do it there, before returning here together. 

What were some of the elements of the proposal?
Bobby Champagne, red roses, chocolate, Justin Bieber music (her favourite song, Baby, was playing in the background).

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Did you have a Plan B, in case her answer was “no”?
Bobby Honestly, I never thought of what would have happened if things went the other way until I landed in London and the guy who helped me arrange the proposal received me. I only got in the night before the proposal, at 7pm. He showed me the whole setup and I was helping him tweak a thing or two, then he goes, “Don’t worry, Mr Bobby. I’ve got a big bottle of really expensive brandy for you here, in case the answer is no.” Only then did it dawn on me, that she actually has a choice. I couldn’t sleep that night!

Did you have any rehearsals prior?
Bobby Yes! The only person outside the family who knew was my best friend so I practiced with him. He used to tease me so much. I’d be a certain way and he’d pretend to be a certain way, and he’d be so stale, telling me I have to be softer, work harder on this and that. He’s a bachelor and I made him act like a girl so he wasn’t too pleased but hey, I’d switch places when his time comes! 

How did you calm your nerves in the moments before the proposal?
Bobby The proposal was early in the morning. I had about three double espressos before that.

What’s the strangest marriage proposal story you’ve heard?
Shaila I don’t know of many strange ones but there have been some very different ones, like underwater proposals.

Bobby I’ve heard of a very strange one: A friend took his then-girlfriend shopping. They stepped into a jewellery boutique and she said, “Oh, I like that ring.” Knowing that they were going to be together for a long time, he said, “You want or not?” She said, “Okay!” He took it out, paid for it and put it on her finger. And they walked out of the shop. Obviously, she didn’t know what she was saying “okay” to, she didn’t realise what was going on, but they got married soon after!

Read the full story of how Bobby proposed to Shaila in the Fall/Winter 2016 issue of Tatler Weddings.

Styled images: Bryan Jean Photography
Other images: Courtesy of respective couples