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A SCOTS steelworker’s plans for an elaborate New York proposal were nearly ruined by a blundering security guard.

Darren McKinlay, 26, arranged a holiday of a lifetime in North America with the plan of popping the question to girlfriend Megan Reilly, 25, in the Big Apple at the start of December.

EXCL WILLIAMSON, , A SCOTS steelworker’s plans for an elaborate New York proposal were nearly ruined by a security blunder., , Darren McKinley, 26, arranged a holiday of a lifetime in North America all with the plan of popping the question to girlfriend Megan Reilly, 25, in the Big Apple., , The happy couple were to spend two nights in Miami before embarking on a week-long cruise around the Caribbean, Jamaica and Mexico, followed by three nights in Las Vegas and ending their holiday with two days in New York, where Darren would ask for Megan’s hand in marriage., , Inspired by the 1961 Audrey Hepburn flick, he booked a romantic breakfast at the Blue Box Café at Tiffanies in Manhattan., , He even had someone who was heading to the American metropolis deliver matching blue banners to the posh eatery to help aid his all-out proposal., , Darren told The Scottish Sun: “I wanted to propose to her in New York so I booked the holiday in May., , “It has so many places I could have asked her to marry me, it was really difficult to pick one. But when I saw the Blue Box Café it just stood out. It would have been a really nice and special place to do it.”, , But his plan was nearly derailed by a well-meaning cruise ship security guard when they were on a day trip in Jamaica., , While going through security to board the vessel they had their bags searched, and the officer pulled out the ring in front of Darren, while Megan was standing next to him., , But luckily, she was facing the other direction, giving quick-thinking Darren to save his proposal plan., , He said: “I kept the ring on me at all times to be safe, I had managed to keep it hidden so far, but when we got the ship we had to go through security., , “I asked them to let Megan go through first but while the guy was searching my bag he found the box. He took it out of the bag and asked ‘what is this?’ and opened it while Megan was really close., , “I quickly covered it with my hands and tried to whisper in his ear and let him know. He just looked at me, smiled and put it back. The whole time I was just hoping she hadn’t seen anything.”, , Fortunately for the loved-up steelworker, his plan went off without a hitch. And the happy couple, who met on dating site Tinder, got a special memory as Megan said yes., , Speaking about the special memory, Darren said: “I was really struggling with nerves, I kept having a wee drink to try and calm me down. She was like ‘why are you drinking at the back of eleven?’, , “I had told the staff that when Megan moves the water, that’s the signal to come over and start videoing the proposal., , “But I got really emotional asking the question. We were both in tears, but asking her to marry me just became the most natural thing.”, , As Darren gave the signal, everything fell into place as workers unfurled the light blue signs and he went down on one knee and asked Megan to be his wife., , Megan said: “I was really shocked, I was wondering why this woman was videoing our table and everyone seemed to be focused on us. Darren started to get emotional as soon as he started talking and I just knew what was happening.”, , After the pair were officially engaged, the whole café erupted into a round of applause to congratulate the happy couple., , But Megan revealed she had her suspicions about Darren’s intentions before they jetted off., , She added: “He never books anything, so as soon as he said he’d sorted everything I thought he might be up to something.”, , And the pair told how the happy memory will be a special thing to cherish for a lifetime., , Darren said: “This really is a holiday that we will look back on. And when we start a family we can have all the photos and videos to share a really special memory.”, , ENDS, ,
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Darren McKinlay popped the question to girlfriend Megan Reilly in the Big AppleCredit: Supplied
EXCL WILLIAMSON, , A SCOTS steelworker’s plans for an elaborate New York proposal were nearly ruined by a security blunder., , Darren McKinley, 26, arranged a holiday of a lifetime in North America all with the plan of popping the question to girlfriend Megan Reilly, 25, in the Big Apple., , The happy couple were to spend two nights in Miami before embarking on a week-long cruise around the Caribbean, Jamaica and Mexico, followed by three nights in Las Vegas and ending their holiday with two days in New York, where Darren would ask for Megan’s hand in marriage., , Inspired by the 1961 Audrey Hepburn flick, he booked a romantic breakfast at the Blue Box Café at Tiffanies in Manhattan., , He even had someone who was heading to the American metropolis deliver matching blue banners to the posh eatery to help aid his all-out proposal., , Darren told The Scottish Sun: “I wanted to propose to her in New York so I booked the holiday in May., , “It has so many places I could have asked her to marry me, it was really difficult to pick one. But when I saw the Blue Box Café it just stood out. It would have been a really nice and special place to do it.”, , But his plan was nearly derailed by a well-meaning cruise ship security guard when they were on a day trip in Jamaica., , While going through security to board the vessel they had their bags searched, and the officer pulled out the ring in front of Darren, while Megan was standing next to him., , But luckily, she was facing the other direction, giving quick-thinking Darren to save his proposal plan., , He said: “I kept the ring on me at all times to be safe, I had managed to keep it hidden so far, but when we got the ship we had to go through security., , “I asked them to let Megan go through first but while the guy was searching my bag he found the box. He took it out of the bag and asked ‘what is this?’ and opened it while Megan was really close., , “I quickly covered it with my hands and tried to whisper in his ear and let him know. He just looked at me, smiled and put it back. The whole time I was just hoping she hadn’t seen anything.”, , Fortunately for the loved-up steelworker, his plan went off without a hitch. And the happy couple, who met on dating site Tinder, got a special memory as Megan said yes., , Speaking about the special memory, Darren said: “I was really struggling with nerves, I kept having a wee drink to try and calm me down. She was like ‘why are you drinking at the back of eleven?’, , “I had told the staff that when Megan moves the water, that’s the signal to come over and start videoing the proposal., , “But I got really emotional asking the question. We were both in tears, but asking her to marry me just became the most natural thing.”, , As Darren gave the signal, everything fell into place as workers unfurled the light blue signs and he went down on one knee and asked Megan to be his wife., , Megan said: “I was really shocked, I was wondering why this woman was videoing our table and everyone seemed to be focused on us. Darren started to get emotional as soon as he started talking and I just knew what was happening.”, , After the pair were officially engaged, the whole café erupted into a round of applause to congratulate the happy couple., , But Megan revealed she had her suspicions about Darren’s intentions before they jetted off., , She added: “He never books anything, so as soon as he said he’d sorted everything I thought he might be up to something.”, , And the pair told how the happy memory will be a special thing to cherish for a lifetime., , Darren said: “This really is a holiday that we will look back on. And when we start a family we can have all the photos and videos to share a really special memory.”, , ENDS, ,
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He planned to pop the question after a holiday of a lifetime but was almost rumbled by a security blunderCredit: Supplied
EXCL WILLIAMSON, , A SCOTS steelworker’s plans for an elaborate New York proposal were nearly ruined by a security blunder., , Darren McKinley, 26, arranged a holiday of a lifetime in North America all with the plan of popping the question to girlfriend Megan Reilly, 25, in the Big Apple., , The happy couple were to spend two nights in Miami before embarking on a week-long cruise around the Caribbean, Jamaica and Mexico, followed by three nights in Las Vegas and ending their holiday with two days in New York, where Darren would ask for Megan’s hand in marriage., , Inspired by the 1961 Audrey Hepburn flick, he booked a romantic breakfast at the Blue Box Café at Tiffanies in Manhattan., , He even had someone who was heading to the American metropolis deliver matching blue banners to the posh eatery to help aid his all-out proposal., , Darren told The Scottish Sun: “I wanted to propose to her in New York so I booked the holiday in May., , “It has so many places I could have asked her to marry me, it was really difficult to pick one. But when I saw the Blue Box Café it just stood out. It would have been a really nice and special place to do it.”, , But his plan was nearly derailed by a well-meaning cruise ship security guard when they were on a day trip in Jamaica., , While going through security to board the vessel they had their bags searched, and the officer pulled out the ring in front of Darren, while Megan was standing next to him., , But luckily, she was facing the other direction, giving quick-thinking Darren to save his proposal plan., , He said: “I kept the ring on me at all times to be safe, I had managed to keep it hidden so far, but when we got the ship we had to go through security., , “I asked them to let Megan go through first but while the guy was searching my bag he found the box. He took it out of the bag and asked ‘what is this?’ and opened it while Megan was really close., , “I quickly covered it with my hands and tried to whisper in his ear and let him know. He just looked at me, smiled and put it back. The whole time I was just hoping she hadn’t seen anything.”, , Fortunately for the loved-up steelworker, his plan went off without a hitch. And the happy couple, who met on dating site Tinder, got a special memory as Megan said yes., , Speaking about the special memory, Darren said: “I was really struggling with nerves, I kept having a wee drink to try and calm me down. She was like ‘why are you drinking at the back of eleven?’, , “I had told the staff that when Megan moves the water, that’s the signal to come over and start videoing the proposal., , “But I got really emotional asking the question. We were both in tears, but asking her to marry me just became the most natural thing.”, , As Darren gave the signal, everything fell into place as workers unfurled the light blue signs and he went down on one knee and asked Megan to be his wife., , Megan said: “I was really shocked, I was wondering why this woman was videoing our table and everyone seemed to be focused on us. Darren started to get emotional as soon as he started talking and I just knew what was happening.”, , After the pair were officially engaged, the whole café erupted into a round of applause to congratulate the happy couple., , But Megan revealed she had her suspicions about Darren’s intentions before they jetted off., , She added: “He never books anything, so as soon as he said he’d sorted everything I thought he might be up to something.”, , And the pair told how the happy memory will be a special thing to cherish for a lifetime., , Darren said: “This really is a holiday that we will look back on. And when we start a family we can have all the photos and videos to share a really special memory.”, , ENDS, ,
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He popped the question in the Blue Box CafeCredit: Supplied

The happy couple had just enjoyed a luxury cruise - and three nights in Las Vegas - before heading to New York for the perfect ending to their trip.

Inspired by the 1961 Audrey Hepburn flick, Clydebank-born Darren booked a romantic breakfast in the Blue Box Café at Tiffany's in Manhattan.

He even had someone who was heading to the city deliver matching blue banners to the posh eatery to help aid his all-out proposal.

But his plan was nearly derailed by a well-meaning cruise ship security guard when they were on a day trip in Jamaica.

While going through security to board the vessel they had their bags searched, and the officer pulled out the ring in front of Darren, while Megan was standing next to him.

But luckily, she was facing the other direction, giving quick-thinking Darren the chance to save his proposal plan.

Darren said: “I kept the ring on me at all times to be safe, I had managed to keep it hidden so far, but when we got the ship we had to go through security.

“I asked them to let Megan go through first but while the guy was searching my bag he found the box. He took it out of the bag and asked ‘what is this?’ and opened it while Megan was really close.

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“I quickly covered it with my hands and tried to whisper in his ear and let him know. He just looked at me, smiled and put it back. The whole time I was just hoping she hadn’t seen anything.”

Fortunately for the loved-up steelworker, his plan went off without a hitch. And the happy couple, who met on dating site Tinder, got a special memory as Megan said yes.

My boyfriend proposed to me in the middle of McDonald’s - haters say they’d be traumatised but he knows how much I love my food

Darren said: “I was really struggling with nerves, I kept having a wee drink to try and calm me down. She was like ‘why are you drinking at the back of eleven?’

“I had told the staff that when Megan moves the water, that’s the signal to come over and start videoing the proposal.

“But I got really emotional asking the question. We were both in tears, but asking her to marry me just became the most natural thing.”

As Darren gave the signal, everything fell into place as workers unfurled the light blue banners and he went down on one knee and asked Megan to be his wife.

Megan said: “I was really shocked, I was wondering why this woman was videoing our table and everyone seemed to be focused on us.

Darren started to get emotional as soon as he started talking and I just knew what was happening.”

Darren added: “This really is a holiday that we will look back on. And when we start a family we can have all the photos and videos to share a really special memory.”

EXCL WILLIAMSON, , A SCOTS steelworker’s plans for an elaborate New York proposal were nearly ruined by a security blunder., , Darren McKinley, 26, arranged a holiday of a lifetime in North America all with the plan of popping the question to girlfriend Megan Reilly, 25, in the Big Apple., , The happy couple were to spend two nights in Miami before embarking on a week-long cruise around the Caribbean, Jamaica and Mexico, followed by three nights in Las Vegas and ending their holiday with two days in New York, where Darren would ask for Megan’s hand in marriage., , Inspired by the 1961 Audrey Hepburn flick, he booked a romantic breakfast at the Blue Box Café at Tiffanies in Manhattan., , He even had someone who was heading to the American metropolis deliver matching blue banners to the posh eatery to help aid his all-out proposal., , Darren told The Scottish Sun: “I wanted to propose to her in New York so I booked the holiday in May., , “It has so many places I could have asked her to marry me, it was really difficult to pick one. But when I saw the Blue Box Café it just stood out. It would have been a really nice and special place to do it.”, , But his plan was nearly derailed by a well-meaning cruise ship security guard when they were on a day trip in Jamaica., , While going through security to board the vessel they had their bags searched, and the officer pulled out the ring in front of Darren, while Megan was standing next to him., , But luckily, she was facing the other direction, giving quick-thinking Darren to save his proposal plan., , He said: “I kept the ring on me at all times to be safe, I had managed to keep it hidden so far, but when we got the ship we had to go through security., , “I asked them to let Megan go through first but while the guy was searching my bag he found the box. He took it out of the bag and asked ‘what is this?’ and opened it while Megan was really close., , “I quickly covered it with my hands and tried to whisper in his ear and let him know. He just looked at me, smiled and put it back. The whole time I was just hoping she hadn’t seen anything.”, , Fortunately for the loved-up steelworker, his plan went off without a hitch. And the happy couple, who met on dating site Tinder, got a special memory as Megan said yes., , Speaking about the special memory, Darren said: “I was really struggling with nerves, I kept having a wee drink to try and calm me down. She was like ‘why are you drinking at the back of eleven?’, , “I had told the staff that when Megan moves the water, that’s the signal to come over and start videoing the proposal., , “But I got really emotional asking the question. We were both in tears, but asking her to marry me just became the most natural thing.”, , As Darren gave the signal, everything fell into place as workers unfurled the light blue signs and he went down on one knee and asked Megan to be his wife., , Megan said: “I was really shocked, I was wondering why this woman was videoing our table and everyone seemed to be focused on us. Darren started to get emotional as soon as he started talking and I just knew what was happening.”, , After the pair were officially engaged, the whole café erupted into a round of applause to congratulate the happy couple., , But Megan revealed she had her suspicions about Darren’s intentions before they jetted off., , She added: “He never books anything, so as soon as he said he’d sorted everything I thought he might be up to something.”, , And the pair told how the happy memory will be a special thing to cherish for a lifetime., , Darren said: “This really is a holiday that we will look back on. And when we start a family we can have all the photos and videos to share a really special memory.”, , ENDS, ,
4
Darren booked a romantic breakfast in the Blue Box Café at Tiffany's in ManhattanCredit: Supplied
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