“Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you,” is an iconic line from one of Bruno Mars’ most popular songs. An Etobicoke fan knew this would be the perfect song to propose to the love of his life, during the artists’ Toronto concert.
Thousands of Toronto fans headed to the Rogers Stadium over the weekend for the first of five Bruno Mars concerts in the venue, filled with red outfits, singalongs, and some of the artist’s greatest hits. But as the city begins to prepare for the singer’s next shows, for one Toronto couple, the first one will remain unforgettable.
Couple goes viral for proposal
John Cuyugan and Itzel Olea went viral over the weekend for a video of their proposal, which happened during the concert on Sunday.
In the video, right as Bruno Mars sings “Marry You,” Cuyugan is seen getting on one knee and surprising Olea with a ring, while other fans cheer them on.
‘It’s like destiny’
In an interview with The Brandon Gonez Show on Wednesday, Cuyugan said it had always been his plan to propose to Olea during “Marry You.”
The couple first met at Square One in Mississauga back in 2022, and it was “love at first sight.” When they discussed their wedding plans about two years ago, Olea revealed she would like to be proposed to with Mars’ hit song, which Cuyugan had already considered doing before even meeting her.
“Way back I thought to myself also, ‘If I’m going to propose to someone as well, it’s going to be the same song.’ So, it’s like destiny, to be honest,” he said.
With four years of the relationship, Cuyugan said he had actually bought the ring back in December, and was originally planning to propose during Valentine’s Day while the song played in the background. But his plans changed once Bruno Mars announced he would be performing at the Rogers Stadium.
“When he announced it on his social media platforms…I [thought], ‘This is the time,’ and I asked my cousin to help me to buy the tickets,” he said.
“We both love Bruno Mars, and his music has been a part of a lot of important memories in our relationship. I wanted the proposal to happen somewhere joyful and unforgettable.”
‘It felt surreal’
Even with months to prepare, Cuyugan said he was extremely nervous about the proposal, and didn’t expect the crowd to jump into the moment.
He says the nerves combined with his excitement for the concert itself actually led him to almost forget he had to propose when the time came.
“I was very nervous about it, probably more nervous than I’d ever been. My heart was really racing the whole time, because once the moment started, it’s like, there’s no turning back,” he said.
“I almost forgot about the proposal. I was this close to forgetting about it because we’re having fun…we’re enjoying the moment.”
On the other hand, Cuyugan said his fiancé’s reaction made the whole situation worth it, despite the nervousness.
“Seeing her reaction made everything worth it. She was so emotional, I was so emotional, and for the moment, it felt like the whole crowd [was] celebrating with us…It felt surreal,” he added.
‘I will cherish that forever’
Even before the unforgettable moment, Cuyugan said he and his now fiance are both long-time Bruno Mars fans. The artist’s many hits are a constant soundtrack in the couple’s home, and even their 11-month-old daughter is an early fan.
However, last weekend’s concert was the first time Cuyugan saw the artist live, which made the moment that much more special.
“Bruno Mars is half Filipino, and I’m a Filipino, so I’m very proud,” he said. “I’ve [been listening to] his music for the last 15 years…so it’s really, really nice to have those experiences, and I will cherish that forever.”
Couple scores free concert tickets
After their proposal went viral online, gathering over 330,000 views and hundreds of comments from other fans by time of publication, Cuyugan said Live Nation reached out to the couple and offered them free tickets to attend Bruno Mars’ last concert at the Rogers Stadium on May 31.
In addition, the couple will also get free merchandise to remember the moment.
“I really didn’t expect that this video [went] viral, if you’re gonna ask me, because, for that moment, we thought it would just be a special memory between me and my family as well,” he said. “So, this was really [an honour] for me.”
A moment like this truly shows the power of music and speaks to why fans love Bruno Mars so much. His powerhouse vocals and his romantic lyrics have touched the hearts of so many, and for this couple, his artistry brought a lifetime memorable moment for them.
