Lucy sky-high with diamond

Lucy Thomas and Omri Yahel got engaged yesterday after Mr Yahel proposed on a sign flying over Waihi Beach. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

When Omri Yahel decided to propose to his girlfriend, he knew he wanted to do something "pretty epic".

And it was a Beatles song which inspired him to propose to girlfriend Lucy Thomas on a sign towed by a plane while the couple enjoyed a picnic near Waihi Beach.

"I'm a really big Beatles fan, and I was listening to Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, and I thought, this is Lucy in the sky, and I'm giving her diamonds," Mr Yahel said.

The 24-year-old Auckland winemaker decided the Western Bay was the perfect place to propose, as Miss Thomas is currently based in Mt Maunganui setting up clothing shop Bettie Monroe.

"I went on Google maps and tried to find a really nice beach.

"Orokawa sounded nice. It wasn't too populated because you have to walk there."

With a gourmet picnic and a 1999 bottle of French champagne in tow, the couple set out for their picnic.

But an unsuspecting Miss Thomas, 32, couldn't understand why her boyfriend was acting oddly.

"He was so quiet, and he wouldn't eat anything. It was very strange behaviour," she laughed.

As for Mr Yahel, he was worried they were going to arrive too late to see the banner.

"I was speeding the whole way, she was like 'why are you driving so fast?'

"Then I was powering along carrying a chilly bin, sweating!"

After a false alarm when a helicopter flew overhead, Miss Thomas looked up to see the plane with the message: "I love you Lucy. Will you marry me?"

She looked over to see Mr Yahel "scrambling in his bag" before he got down on one knee with a diamond sparkler.

"My legs turned to jelly," Miss Thomas said.

"People on the beach were saying, 'say yes, say yes!'

"I yelled out 'yes!' so everyone could hear it. They were cheering.

"There were strangers giving us hugs - it was perfect."

The romantic proposal was not out of character for Mr Yahel, who sold his motorbike to pay for the engagement ring.

Proposing was "the easiest decision" he's ever made.

"I can't let her get away, she's too good," said Mr Yahel.

The couple, who have been together for two years, plan to marry in Akaroa next summer.