LOVE is literally in the air when it comes to marriage proposals in the high country with a balloon ride amongst one of the most popular ways to pop the question.
Ed and Vickie van der Hoeven, owners of local luxury farmstay BullerRoo, are no strangers to romance whether it is St Valentine’s Day or any other time of the year, with guests regularly “popping the question” to the surprise of their partners.
According to Ed, “We try to do extra special things as one offs, like private baloon flights or a catered dinner at Craig's Hut.”
One novel way of conveying the question “will you marry me?” is on the side of a hot air balloon as it inflates before taking off with the happy couple on a private flight.
Vickie and Ed said they love the interaction with guests and being able to provide “personal and meaningful” occasions.
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One such occasion was a low-key wedding with the happy couple photographed fully-dressed under the shower.
Vickie said their guestbook contained many happy comments from couples who have stayed with them.
Newly engaged Josh and Savannah thanked Vickie and Ed for the wonderful hospitality, saying it was an “absolute pleasure to share this moment in this space” and added a Polaroid photo of themselves in the guest book.
Another couple Tiff and Dean Trickery who were engaged in Mansfield returned for a romantic getaway late last year for their 27th wedding anniversary, telling Vickie and Ed they had many happy memories of the area.
The couple wrote “Thank you both so very much for creating an absolute paradise.”
Another couple Emma and Daniel celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary which was a surprise treat for his wife.
They wrote, “We have very much enjoyed our stay and will be back with our children who will love the goats.”
The van der Hoevens' own romance began when Ed was backpacking through Indonesia and he met Vicky in 1998.
After living overseas for several years they moved to Australia in 2003 and together they started building BullerRoo on a 24 acre property near Mansfield.
Having found their dream property with breathtaking views of the Barwite Valley, to Mansfield and beyond – with its own flowing river – Vickie and Ed knew they would eventually welcome visitors to share and experience this special part of Australia.
They have loved the challenge of transforming the farmland into their own home and tourism accommodation with a miniature Pygmy goat stud farm.
Vickie said, “There are beautiful champagne breakfasts and hampers we can organise for our guests as a surprise.”
The pair pride themselves on those little add-ons to make a memorable experience for their guests such as rose petals strewn across the bed or breakfast tables.
Vickie said you get to know some of the male guests who ring ahead to set up the romantic proposal escapes quite well and then have to be extra careful not to let anything slip in conversation when they arrive with their intended.
“Then we have people who keep coming back over the last seven to eight years,” said Vickie, adding that they will happily welcome anyone who wants a romantic setting to hopefully hear the words “I do” down the track.
