Diepenbeek (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In Diepenbeek, Jo Weerts proposed to Leen in a heartwarming moment featuring squirrels as part of the plan, creating a memorable and unconventional proposal.
He enlisted Genk squirrel photographer Niki Colemont to assist make the May 12 proposal even more spectacular.
“I don’t normally do marriage proposals, but I didn’t have to think twice about this one,”
the photographer reflects.
Even though the year is just halfway over, Jo Weerts’ suggestion from Diepenbeek, Belgium, appears to be among the most creative. That’s thanks to Niki Colemont, a photographer from Genk, and a few squirrels.
“I don’t normally photograph marriage proposals,”
Colemont says.
“But when Jo presented his idea to me, I was immediately enthusiastic. To make such a unique contribution to such an important moment with my squirrels … I didn’t think twice about it.”
It took a lot of planning to get the ideal photo. Three days were required to set everything up, but that time was also needed to get the squirrels used to the ring box.
However, the outcome was worthwhile because everything came together just right, creating original images.
With photos like that, the proposal could hardly go wrong.
“When Jo got down on one knee in the field with the photo of the proposal, you could see pure surprise and joy on her face. That made my whole day.”
Colemont is very happy with the photos and is proud of the squirrels. However, he has also become a bit stressed.
“Now I have to come up with even more original ideas if I ever ask my girlfriend to marry me,”
laughs the Genk native.
How common are animal-assisted marriage proposals in Belgium?
In Belgium, proposals using animals, like the one in which Jo Weerts asked squirrels to pop the question to his wife Leen, are quite uncommon. Despite the fact that more than half of Belgian families possess pets like cats and dogs, the use of animals in marriage proposals is more of a rare, imaginative personal gesture than a common occurrence.
The evidence that is now available emphasizes Belgium’s rising acceptance of animals as sentient beings as well as their increasing incorporation into everyday life and legal systems; yet, it does not suggest that suggestions involving animals are a widespread cultural trend. These proposals are typically unique, one-of-a-kind occasions rather than regular occurrences.
