Leigh man makes sure marriage proposal is the icing on the cake (From Echo)

Leigh businessman spelt out proposal in cupcakes at Morrisons supermarket in Hadleigh

2:00pm Thursday 11th October 2012 in News By Emma Thomas

A WEEKLY shopping trip proved to be the icing on the cake for one woman when her boyfriend dreamt up a romantic way to pop the question.

Peter Joseph, from Windsor Gardens, Leigh, met his now bride-to-be while browsing the aisles of Morrisons supermarket in Hadleigh just over a year ago.

Mr Joseph, 44, was trying to come up with a special way to propose to his girlfriend Joni Thipthorp, 32, from Benfleet Road, Benfleet, when inspiration struck him in the very place he met her.

He enlisted the help of staff at the store who created 19 individual cupcakes to surprise his unsuspecting girlfriend.

They arranged the cakes, which spelt out “Joni will you marry me?” in icing, on the cake counter.

The couple were doing their weekly shop at the store when Joni walked past the counter and spotted the special message.

Mr Joseph who owns his own property business, www.iThinkproperty.co.uk, then got down on one knee in front of delighted shoppers and proposed.

He said: ““It sounds like a cliché but I was browsing the aisles and spotted her, we smiled at each other and a year later we’re engaged.

“It was a magical moment and I was so happy she accepted. I had been racking my brains for the perfect proposal and this was definitely it, everyone involved helped to make it special for us both.”

Miss Thipthorp said she was shocked by the gesture.

She said: “I had absolutely no idea! It was the most perfect and romantic surprise and was so individual to us and of course I said yes.”

Michael Nichols, the Morrisons cake shop assistant who baked and iced the cakes for the proposal, said: “It was a pleasure to make the cupcakes for such a special occasion and it was lovely to see the delight on both of their faces when they saw them, I’m just so pleased that we were able to help Peter carry out such a fitting proposal.”

The couple are planning their big day for some time next year.