Ash Fox, Founder
Ash Fox Proposals
What does it actually take to plan a marriage proposal for a living?
Ash Fox has spent the last 15 years answering that question, literally. As the founder of Ash Fox Proposals, a full-service proposal planning business in New York City, she’s helped orchestrate more than 3,000 engagements, from private rooftop reveals with skyline views to a proposal staged inside a designer sample sale.
In this episode of What She Does, Ash walks us through how a photography side gig turned into an entirely new career category, what a proposal planner’s day-to-day actually looks like including decoys, timelines, vendor logistics, and all. And, the surprisingly deep emotional work of coaching men through one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
We also get into a theme that comes up again and again in her work: the modern tension between wanting a say in your own proposal and giving the person proposing room to lead.
In this episode:
✦ The accidental origin of how she fell into marriage proposal planning
✦ A typical proposal planning timeline, from first consultation to ‘she said yes’
✦ How proposal planners keep months of planning a total secret
✦ What skills and background it actually takes to do this job (hint: not a wedding-industry degree)
✦ Why letting him plan it might matter more than getting exactly what you pictured
✦ The wildest proposal stories after supporting over 3,000 ‘yeses’
MBTI vibe: ENFJ / ENFP / ISFJ
High empathy • Strong trust-building • Creative problem-solving • Meticulous follow-through • Comfort under pressure • Airtight discretion
Need to Know Facts*
Salary Range:
Entry-Level Education &
Additional Certification
Work Experience in Related
Occupation:
Type of organizations to
work for:
Job Outlook:
Resources:
• Event planner avg annual:
$59,440
• Services
– Pre-made packages: $200-
$500
– Custom, Full Service:
$1,000 – $5,000+
– Corp/Luxury Specialist:
$10,000 – $50,000+ per event
• Vendor commission:
– Passive revenue – 10% – 20%
referral fees from preferred
related local businesses
• No formal degree required
• Bachelor’s degree helpful
• Business classes helpful
• Wedding Planner
• Event Planner
• Key skills include:
– Business Management
– Photography
– Videography
• Independent planners
• Self-employed
• Hospitality venues
• +5% Event planning roles
• Increased demand in the
luxury and custom proposal
market
About Ash Fox
Ash Fox is the founder and owner of Ash Fox Proposals, the leading full-service proposal planning company in New York City. Offering everything from private venue sourcing and custom décor to professional photography, Ash and her team turn marriage proposals into meticulously crafted, unforgettable experiences for couples from around the world. With over 3,000 engagements planned and photographed, Ash has established herself as the world’s foremost expert in the art of the perfect proposal. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Knot, Business Insider, Martha Stewart Weddings, and The Huffington Post, and a 2017 Elite Daily profile of her business went viral with over 11 million views. Trained in fine arts, Ash brings a photographer’s eye and a planner’s precision to every proposal she touches. She is also the host of The Proposal Podcast — the first podcast dedicated entirely to the art of getting engaged.
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