Yael Massias thought she was attending a Wizo Aviv fashion show at Mill Hill Synagogue to support her boyfriend Bar Konvisser, who was modelling at the event.
But Mr Konvisser had a surprise in store for her and the 250 guests. Moments before the end of the show, he called her up on stage, got down on bended knee and asked her to marry him. To the relief and joy of everyone in the room, she said yes.
“When he first announced my name, I was so nervous because I don’t like people looking at me,” said Ms Massias, 23. “But it meant so much to me as my grandmother is president of Wizo in Gibraltar. And it’s amazing for a man to do this in front of a female charity.”
Mr Konvisser, 25, had originally intended to propose during a helicopter ride. But after signing up to appear in the fashion show, he saw it as “an opportunity to do something we will remember forever”.
Although his family were in the audience, he revealed his plans only to Ronit Ribak, the chair of Wizo Aviv.
The north London-based couple have been together for a year, having met through Mr Konvisser’s job as a martial arts teacher. They plan to marry in 2018 in their native Israel.
Wizo’s Emma Yantin said the charity was happy to play cupid. “Our logo is all about changing lives and building futures so this fits perfectly,” she said.
“Everyone was cheering and clapping. It brought tears to people’s eyes.”