Most people spend weeks planning the perfect proposal. But Edi Okoro spent weeks trying not to get caught.

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The Hertfordshire man carried an engagement ring around in his pocket for more than a month while secretly taking photos and videos of his girlfriend, Cally Read, completely unaware that he was moments away from proposing at almost any given time.

What started as a spontaneous idea quickly turned into a hilarious month-long challenge involving fake proposal moments, hidden ring boxes, and increasingly risky photos — all before Read eventually said “yes” for real.

Okoro explained that he struggled to come up with a proposal idea that genuinely suited them as a couple.

“You want to propose in a way that speaks to you as a person and couple,” he said, per the Huffington Post.

While many people organise huge romantic gestures, Okoro knew that approach would never work for him.

“Some people plan a flash mob or a fancy meal,” he explained. But, as he later wrote on Facebook: “I couldn’t do this because ‘Edi doesn’t plan’… I’m a spontaneous improviser.”

He also admitted his girlfriend probably would have figured out something was happening if he suddenly started planning elaborate dates or trips away.

Instead, he decided to lean fully into chaos.

Okoro carried the engagement ring with him everywhere for weeks, secretly slipping it into photos while Read was distracted, often standing just inches away from discovering the surprise.

“The idea was to take as many photos, in more daring scenarios, until I found the perfect moment to propose, or until I got caught, at which point I would propose,” he wrote.

Some of the photos were genuinely nerve-shredding. In one image, Read can be seen browsing through binoculars at the seaside while the ring box sits clearly in frame beside her.

Another shows Okoro standing behind her in a DIY store while casually holding the ring up for the camera as she pays at the counter.

He even placed the ring in her hand while she was asleep — something he later admitted pushed his confidence levels to the limit.

At one point, he hid the engagement ring inside Read’s jewellery bowl for two full days without her noticing.

The ring also appeared next to her while she was texting, brushing her teeth and relaxing at home, with Okoro documenting the entire build-up through around 20 photos and two videos.

According to reports, the couple originally met through athletics, with both competing at a high level before eventually starting their relationship.

Despite the increasingly risky challenge, Read never realised what was happening behind the scenes.

Eventually, after more than a month of secretly carrying the ring around, Okoro finally found the perfect moment to actually ask the question.

Sharing details later on Instagram, he wrote: “Reminiscing about that time we got engaged

“Taking random photos of the ring and Cally until I found the right moment!

“Good thing I didn’t get caught, and I was able to find the perfect moment on sandbanks beach… collecting a “shell” for our collection – which happened to be an engagement ring …And she said yes”

And social media users have adored all of Okoro’s efforts, with one person commenting: “That photo with the ring in her palm was risky but I love it.”

“Imagine checking your camera roll and seeing you were engaged for 30 days without knowing it,” another wrote, with a third typing: “How the heck did he get away with putting it in her hand?”

And by the looks of things on Instagram, Edi and Cally are still together and enjoying life. We wish their family all the best!

Featured image credit: Instagram/@eolo11