Warwick romantic Ashton Easton made a piece of history by proposing in the skies to his future bride Maxanne Caines, popping the question with lights on drones.

The 32-year-old struck on the idea to become the first couple on the island to become engaged with the help of drones after watching events run by Navigate Drone Light Shows.

He then hatched an elaborate plan to take Ms Caines, 29, from Southampton, for a meal with friends and family to the Rosewood Beach Club at Tucker’s Point.

She had no idea of the marriage proposal until Mr Easton got down on one knee on the beach as the message “Will you marry me?” lit up the night sky.

She immediately accepted.

Mr Easton said: “Everyone is ecstatic and the families helped plan it. I had asked her father, Wayne Caines, for her hand in marriage. He was delighted and said he already thought of me as a son.

“It’s the first one over here in Bermuda but I saw it before at different events and came up with the idea to do it and have a lasting impression on my fiancee.

“We have no dates set for the wedding but it will be sometime next year.

“We have known each other since we were young and grew up together. It was only after Covid that we hit it off then got serious for the last five years.”

The event took place on June 24.

Ms Caines recalled: “It was amazing and really unexpected. I never knew a thing.

“But at first I thought it was for the 250th anniversary of America and thought they were doing it quite early.

“I was elated with joy when he proposed.”

Mr Easton, who works as a senior analyst, said: “Our surprise engagement was at Rosewood Beach Club, a location that held special significance for us.”

He said his partner’s parents invited her to dinner, allowing her to arrive without suspecting what was about to happen.

He added: “Had I invited her to another beach in the evening, I believe she would have quickly guessed that something special was planned.”

The vantage point allowed more than 40 family members and friends to watch the proposal unfold without his fiancee noticing them until the big moment.

“When we were looking up at the messages and images in the sky, Maxanne turned to me and said she just wished her whole family and friends could be here to see it.

“I said, ‘just turn around’ and there they all were on the balcony, cheering and filming.”

He explained the meticulous planning that went into the night to remember.

“To co-ordinate the surprise, I created a group chat called ‘Operation Dove’ and invited all of the guests, giving them only minimal details such as the time and place so the proposal would remain a complete surprise,” he said.

He called the sight “one of the most incredible moments of my life” and said their parents were equally thrilled.

Mr Easton’s father, Anthony, has passed away. Mr Easton said: “My mum Valencia Swann Valis, and Maxanne’s parents, Wayne Caines and Maxanne Anderson, were overjoyed and shared in the excitement of celebrating this special moment with us.”

Ms Caines, who works as lead consultant in a marketing and events company, added: “My job can involve being wedding planners and we do about 20 weddings a year in Bermuda.

“We do them every day of the week although the traditional day for Bermuda is a Thursday.

“My engagement ring is a toi moi ring, which is French for ‘you and me’, and has two stones to represent you and me. It’s two diamonds and one is pink, which is my favourite colour.”