After seven years, Nick Ristevski finally got the itch to marry.
This week, three weeks of planning by the Sydney-based secondary school physical education teacher came to fruition when he proposed to his girlfriend, Natasha Kakouratos, with a little help from Onsen Hot Pools, Shotover Jet and family members.
However, the big moment didn't exactly go to plan.
Mr Ristevski, who had never seen snow before, said the couple had been planning a holiday to the resort when a chance email gave him the idea to propose - and to use a Shotover Jet boat to help.
''A lady from my work sent an email about Onsen Hot Pools and I looked at it and saw it overlooked the Shotover [River].
''Everyone in Sydney knows about Shotover Jet ... I thought about it and got [Matt Crannitch's] email address and asked him [if the company would help]. Mr Crannitch was only too happy to assist, and over about three weeks the plan was hatched.
Mr Ristevski, who had asked Miss Kakouratos' parents for permission, painted and then smuggled four signs in his luggage. A cleaner at their Queenstown accommodation removed the signs for storage at hotel reception.
Meanwhile, Mr Ristevski told his girlfriend they would be visiting the hot pools on the last day of their holiday on Monday because they would be ''sore from skiing''.
The Famous magazine stylist said she had ''no idea at all'' what Mr Ristevski was planning.
''They gave us binoculars [at the pools] - I thought there were animals in the trees or something.
''I started to get [angry] with him, actually, because he wouldn't give me any attention.''
Mr Ristevski was peering through the binoculars waiting to see the Shotover Jet boat float past with his hand-made signs. But trees blocked their view because the river was shallow and the boat could not drift out far from the bank.
Thinking his job was done, Mr Crannitch drove off, prompting Mr Ristevski to panic.
He made an excuse about using the bathroom before bolting up to the reception area and pleading for the jet to return.
Mr Crannitch said his staff responded. They jumped from the boat, stood on the beach and held up the signs.
After spending about six minutes in complete shock, Miss Kakouratos said ''yes''.
The couple returned to Sydney yesterday.
