The Empire State Building has always had a special place for tourists, giving them an unequaled view over New York City and beyond from the observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors.
But when Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) and Annie Reed (Meg Ryan) met atop the building on Valentine’s Day in Sleepless in Seattle in 1993, the Empire State Building took on a whole other level of interest, especially for romantic souls.
Building officials are now giving couples looking for a special location to pop the question an opportunity with the Happily Ever Empire promotion.
For the price of $1,000, couples have the opportunity to play out their engagement in a private setting at the top of the building. The package includes a private tour through the building’s exhibits, VIP access to both observatories, and a bottle of champagne to mark the occasion.
“There is no better place to celebrate love than the world’s most romantic building,” Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory said in a release.
Hanks and Ryan aside, Ghazi said the building has been a key location for real couples throughout the years.
“The Empire State Building has played host to so many love stories in its history, and we are delighted to now offer an exclusive, romantic, and customizable proposal experience for couples from around the world,” Ghazi said.
With the package, couples will celebrate their engagement on the 86th-floor observatory, then head up to the 102nd floor with its floor-to-ceiling windows and 360-degree views of New York and beyond.
The Happily Ever Empire package must be booked at least 24 hours in advance and is just for the couple. Additional tickets can be purchased for a photographer, who is not supplied by the building, or for any family and friends that want to take part.
Plenty of proposals take place on the observation deck without being part of the VIP package. In that case, the proposal will be done with other guests and visitors milling around the deck.
“We recommend proposing when our musician, Tony DePaolo, is on the 86th Floor Observatory,” the building’s website suggests. “You may request your special song to help set the mood.”
DePaolo currently plays Thursdays through Saturdays, although building officials suggest contacting them for exact hours.
Originally built in 1930, the building recently underwent an overhaul that includes a dedicated entrance for observatory guests, a 10,000 square-foot museum, and a completely redone 102nd-floor observatory.
