A playful bet to a sunset proposal. 

Cristina and her friend Sarah had been single forever, and over one tipsy night, they made a bet: they each had to land a date by the end of March. March came and went, and so did a few hopeful attempts—so they extended the bet to the end of May. Sarah dove into the dating apps and quickly lined up two dates, while Cristina’s attempts kept falling through. By the end of May, with no date in sight, Cristina was determined not to lose. During a long rosé-fueled lunch with her friend Rach, Cristina remembered the bet and asked Rach’s husband, Roger, if he had any eligible friends. Roger and Rach thought it over and suggested Pieter, who was charming and loved a good restaurant. To seal the deal, Roger created a WhatsApp group titled “Perfect Match” and added Cristina and Pieter. After some chat, they finally arranged their first date. But Pieter’s work and life kept getting in the way, leading to a series of reschedules. Finally, in December, they met for a romantic evening at The Fenwick in Balmain. The bet was long lost, and Cristina owed Sarah a celebratory lunch at Café Sydney. Pieter, ever thoughtful, even had a bottle of champagne waiting for them to celebrate her “loss.” 

The proposal took place in the stunning Maldives. Pieter had planned a special dinner, and after a beautiful day on the water, Cristina noticed him ironing his shorts—odd for an island night out. He also insisted they arrive precisely on time, which made her slightly suspicious. Inside, a private table was set with roses and champagne, and as they sipped their drinks with the sunset dipping below the horizon, Pieter grew quieter. Then, he took her hand, spoke about how much she meant to him, and dropped to one knee, offering a beautiful sapphire and diamond ring. Cristina was a bit stunned but said yes without a second thought. They shared a joyful dinner filled with laughter, then strolled back under the stars, stopping briefly at a moonlit outdoor cinema on their way.