They say love makes the world go round, and for one in love couple, a trip around the world is how their story began.

It's no wonder Romesh Devos's friends call him Romeo. He created a fake competition and made sure girlfriend Emma won the prize.

The trip of a lifetime started off like a fairytale, complete with a Cinderella shoe. Emma didn't suspect a thing.

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"She was going with it because I told her it was part and parcel with the competition," Devos said.

Then, on a private yacht, cruising around Paris, Devos popped the question.

The surprise trip and proposal took twelve months of planning.

More stories from reporter Lynda Kinkade

"I can't give you the cost. Usually people go for the expensive ring and the proposal, but I went more on the memory because I thought that was more important. I want to continue to make her happy, this is just the beginning," Devos said.

Another man in love bringing out the big moves was Charlie Youssef, who recruited a flash mob to help out with his big moment.

"I got all the family and friends to the studio two weeks out," Youssef said.

The airport traffic controller had two cameras on the ground and two in the sky, and with the Sydney harbour backdrop to set the scene on a song and a prayer he delivered his proposal to girlfriend of two years Lisa Menniti.

"I was so confused, I was like in shock. I think it will always be an inspiring story to show what somebody will do for love," Menniti said.

Youssef says he "got sick of all my friends doing the same thing, going to dinner and proposing over a dinner - sorry guys out there - so I decided to do something different."

Bride to Be magazine editor Sarah Stevens says not only is there pressure on proposing but also finding the perfect ring.

"I am always flabbergasted at how much efforts guys go to when proposing," Stevens said.

"I heard some men say it is more nerve-wracking than going to the dentist."

The magazine recently commissioned a Cost of Love study which found couples spend on average just over three and a half years together before getting engaged; almost 60 per cent have an engagement party - the average cost of which is almost $2,000; and the average spend on a ring is around $5,500 – double what it was a decade ago.

From flash mobs to fake movie trailers, love-struck men around the world are stepping up to the task.

But not all go to plan. In Russia Alexey Bykov hired stunt crews, makeup artists and set the scene of a dramatic car accident. His frantic girlfriend arrived to a dying partner, needing resuscitation.

Coming back to life to propose, his girlfriend was hysterical - not the reaction he was counting on.

• Colour Sock - www.coloursock.com
• iTrain Fitness Boutique Gym - www.itrainfitness.com.au
• DeVos Health Clinic - www.devoshealthclinic.com
• Romesh deVos: Live An Amazing Life - www.facebook.com/pages/Live-An-Amazing-Life

This reporter is on Twitter at @LyndaKinkade