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A businessman from Herne made a unique marriage proposal to his partner at a medieval banquet inspired by the television fantasy epic Game of Thrones.
David Aldridge, 43, made the proposal at the event in London on Friday to his partner Clare Price, 35, who is a huge fan of the programme.
The couple went to the All Men Must Dine 14-course banquet at the Andaz Hotel, where they were greeted by contortionists on the table, knights in armour, and bizarre menu choices including veal tongues and ostrich eggs.
Mr Aldridge, who runs Herne Bay Mobility, said: “There was a competition over three nights for 24 people at each event.
“But I hadn’t won tickets, so I emailed the organisers to ask them if I could come along to the event if a couple of people dropped out. So they called me on Wednesday to tell me two people couldn’t make it and that we could go.
“I arranged the proposal for about halfway through course 13. A monk called out for Clare and brought her a big copper plate with dry ice and a cup in the middle.
"You couldn’t see what was in the middle of the cup because of the effect of the dry ice smoke coming from the plate.
“I reached in, got the ring from the cup, then got down on my knee and asked her to marry me. And she said yes!”
Clare, a lunchtime supervisor at Herne Bay Infant School, had gone in the costume of her favourite character from the programme, Arya Stark.
She said: “I was shocked. When they announced my name I thought it was because I had won something for being the only one dressed in a costume.
“Everyone was looking over. When David got the ring out I thought, ‘are you joking?’ I didn’t expect it from David because I’ve been asking him about getting married for ages.
“He got down on one knee and asked ‘will you marry me?’ Everyone at the table had their phones and cameras out taking pictures. It was an amazing moment in such a lovely atmosphere, so of course I said yes.”
The couple have been together for nine years, and are now preparing for their wedding.
They are yet to set a date, but Clare says friends and family could expect a Game of Thrones-themed wedding in the future.
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