LOVE is in the air at Old Market Square after a grand proposal won the heart of a City Hospital maternity nurse.
Barry Harley has been with the love of his life Hayley Bell for three years after a chance meeting at a birthday party on October 1, 2011.
But the 31-year-old of Edwards Lane, Daybrook, wanted to make his third anniversary special with a big – and very public – surprise.
"We spoke over the past few years and she really wanted to get married," he said. "I did as well, but I wanted it to be special. I thought if you wait long enough then she won't expect it and it will mean more."
Barry began plotting the perfect way to pop the question and roped in close friends to make a proposal to remember for his 28-year-old bride to be.
The plan was to gather on the steps of the Council House on the couple's anniversary with each person holding up a letter to spell out 'Hayley, will you marry me?'
Dianne Thompson, who works at City Hospital with her, was delighted to be involved.
The 60-year-old of Sherwood said: "They met at my granddaughter's 16th birthday. It was a pure fluke as a friend of hers was meant to come but couldn't make it, so my friend asked if Hayley could come in her place.
"They are just so wonderful together. I am going to sob my heart out!"
Just before the clock struck noon, Barry led his unsuspecting girlfriend into the centre of Old Market Square and asked her to turn round to see her friends posing the question – before turning back to him down on one knee.
After getting her breath back from the surprise and shedding a joyful tear, Hayley said yes and gave her sneaky boyfriend a well-deserved kiss.
"I am really happy, though really shocked!" she said. "He kept telling me just to look at the shops, so I did, and the next thing he told me to turn around and I saw everyone and him on one knee."
"He is very romantic, with flowers and chocolate and all of that, but I didn't expect this!"
The ring Barry gave to her belonged to his aunty and he said it meant a lot to keep it in the family.
He said: "It may need a bit of resizing but it is special and I am sure it will be nice and snug soon enough."
The last part of his plan was around the wedding date as another little surprise for Hayley.
"We met on October 1, we got engaged on October 1 and I want us to get married on October 1," said Barry. "It will either be next year or the year after, so we have a lot of saving to do."
The couple's best friends, Ryan Brown and Lindsey Pridmore, cheered and clapped as the couple went to celebrate with their loved ones.
Mr Brown, 25, of Arnold, said: "I met him years ago when he was going out with someone else but he has picked a better one now! They have been so good to us as well, so supportive. I wish them all the luck in the world."
