I love the way my parents got engaged. They were on vacation in Antigua and my mom got a terrible sunburn. As she was lying in bed, all red but relaxed, my dad lay down next to her, took out that tiny little box and said, “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

It was simple, but unbelievably romantic, and I love their story every time I hear it.

But these days, subtle proposals like my parents’ are losing their appeal. In fact, popping the question is getting to be such a grand affair, men are now staging elaborate performances in public parks, or hiring wedding planners to help them plan the big day.

Sarah Pease of Brilliant Event Planning in New York City says she’s been getting more and more clients requesting over-the-top proposals. “I get calls almost daily about proposal services,” she says. “While many say the wedding day is all about the bride, the proposal is really the guy’s time to shine.”

Read Study Shows: Monogamy Benefits Men!

These men have lavish ideas in mind and are willing to pull out all the stops and personalized touches for their fiancés-to-be.

Here are just two of the extravagant proposals Pease has planned recently, plus a bonus story from Paul Irvine of Dehouche, a travel agency in Brazil, who planned a very unique proposal.