Louiline and Srinath virtual proposal
Louiline (Singapore) and Srinath (Sydney)
Srinath and Louiline have been together since 2017 and in November 2018 they both decided to grow their careers and enrolled in postgraduate degrees. There was just one catch, Louiline got into Monash University in Singapore and took up Master of Education while Srinath received a scholarship in The University of New South Wales in Australia to pursue his Masters in Business Administration. They decided their relationship could endure the distance and could always jump on a plane to come home or visit, so with that Srinath left for Sydney in January 2019.
”It was a tough and arduous experience to suddenly be separated from Srinath by miles and miles of distance. I must say that it was a tidal wave that hit our smooth sailing relationship. On the brighter side, this long-distance relationship made us realise how much we love each other and how strong our love is. Srinath always assures me that this distance is just temporary. He calls and messages me all the time. He would visit me in Singapore, before COVID, during his term breaks and sent flowers on our special occasions such as our anniversaries and my birthday. Indeed, this long distance is the cornerstone of our stronger relationship.”
After a year apart Srinath had already been planning his proposal and then COVID changed those plans. “Travel restrictions meant we were stuck in different countries and there was no way to plan a visit or meet.” With a little extra planning Srinath decided it couldn’t wait and proposed to Louiline virtually.
How was it planned without Louiline knowing?
Srinath: My original plan was to propose to Lui during her master's convocation ceremony in April 2020 however, it was unworkable since I'm stuck in Australia and I can’t fly to Singapore due to borders closures.
Having said that, I thought of an idea to propose to her virtually. I got in contact with @smittenocassions on Instagram to check if they could help me with my proposal plan. I'm grateful to smittensoccasion's team (namely) @antelopestudios @WuLaLa @85flowers because even though they may have not done this kind proposal before, they still gave me the confidence to proceed with the plan and they were more than willing to be flexible to tailor the decoration/set up to my specific needs. Further, Ju Lynn from smittenoccasions opened her home to receive the engagement ring shipped all the way from Sydney! She took good care of it and ensured it reached Lui safely.
Your first reaction?
Louiline: Months before the proposal, I already got a feeling that he's going to pop the question anytime soon. Srinath was totally acting differently over our video calls and I felt that something was going on! He was subtly dropping hints and started asking me about our future plans and my dream proposal. Nonetheless, I tried to brush off the idea of him proposing anytime soon since there's no way he could do it due to travel restrictions.
Without a doubt, great things really happen when you least expect it! Srinath's virtual proposal was a surprise! It was well planned and perfect! He put in so much effort and went an extra mile to make this special event unforgettable!
And how long had Srinath been planning?
30 days before the proposal, Srinath contacted 2 of my closest friends to bring me over the proposal place. Chen and Sun (2 friends) had a hard time convincing me to go over to the place because it just so happened that it was also my friend's wedding on that day too (I had to rush and meet them right after my friend's wedding! phew!)
Srinath also messaged my family and friends to create a short video congratulating us. My heart melted hearing all their blessings and wishes!
Everything was so perfect! These memories will be treasured and cherished in my heart forever.
What do you love most about your partner? What made you fall in love with your partner?
Srinath: Lui is the sweetest and most caring human being I know. She's affectionate and loving. She always does little things to make me feel appreciated like sending long messages saying how much she loves me - which never fail to brighten my day, creating scrapbooks of our memories together, remembering all our special dates and occasions, etc. She cheers and supports me to pursue my dreams even if it means we are going to be miles and miles away from each other.
Lui: He's calm, patient, and loving. He values healthy communication and has never raised his voice at me in spite of my crazy antics in life. We may sometimes have disagreements but I admire his calmness during the process, he respects my views without any judgement and shares his perspectives fairly and rationally.
Do you think the pandemic has made your relationship stronger? Something you learned about each other during this time apart?
Lui: Stay emotionally connected - To be honest, there are days that I feel frustrated because waiting for Srinath can sometimes be painful and disappointing. In times like this, he will patiently listen and remind me that this distance is just temporary. He comforts me with his future plans and reminds me why we made the decision to stay strong together until this far.
Be positive & creative - We support and help each other to cope with our emotions when we feel sad or lonely. We think of creative ways to bring positive energy to our moods such as watching comedy shows together via zoom, we celebrate each other achievements/milestones, virtual dinner dates, etc. just to keep the romance alive.
Srinath: Embrace the challenge together. This pandemic is out of our control, therefore, be each other’s support system and reassure one another that this distance is just temporary. Have faith and believe in your relationship.
credit to
Event Coordinator: Smitten Occasions
The Photographer: Antelope Studios
The Engagement Ring: Jacque Fine Jewellery
Location: Rawspace.sg
The Florist: 85 flowers
The Prop Rentals: WuLaLa
