With the help of Netflix and the cast of Stranger Things, Nicholas pulled off what might be the most EPIC proposal to his girlfriend of 10 years, Salena! Nicholas told Salena they were cast in a new Netflix show Couple's Couch. Little did Salena know, the whole thing was staged, and instead, Nicolas used the set to propose! Watch the full video and read our interview with Nicholas and Salena below!
Nicholas, how did you come up with this idea and how did you get Netflix to help?
Salena and I had submitted ourselves to a project by the casting company working with Netflix a year prior [to the engagement] as a goof to see what would happen. That project end up getting scrapped, but they liked us so much that they interviewed us for a Netflix Casting Couch spoof. They set us up to review shows on a show called Couple's Couch, but it was all an elaborate ruse so I could get down on one knee and propose!
Salena, this was a pretty big, well-thought out surprise. What was going through your mind when you heard Natalia Dyer say Nicholas's name? Were you surprised by the proposal?
I was completely shocked. I was like \"why is [Natalia Dyer] saying my fiancé's name?\" I was totally caught off guard. I had no idea what he was planning or how he got all these people involved.
Nicholas, what was going through your mind when you sat down on that couch? You've been planning this surprise for a long time now, so I imagine you were nervous.
I was super nervous. We had to do a lot of prep the day of [the engagement] while Salena was upstairs getting her makeup done. They kept her busy so I could shoot b-roll, set up the ring, and walk through how everything was going to happen. Salena can read me like a book, so I didn't want to mess this up or give it all away! But once I got the ring, I just spoke from my heart and it all worked out.
How did you know you had met The One?
We are two peas in a pod. It wasn't always easy and we had broken up at one point, however God had a bigger plan and we couldn't stay away from each other. When I got her back in my life, I knew I couldn't loose her. She makes every piece of my life better–I never question if she loves me completely.
Do you have an idea of what you want your wedding to be like yet?
Yes, we will be doing a traditional New Orleans southern wedding at Whitehall Plantation. The wedding will be complete with Creole food, which is my (Nick's) culture, a second line jazz band, and our closest family and friends. We are foodies, so the food was very important. Salena also feeds into my nerdiness, so there will be a Batman symbol on the cake!
You've already been together for 10 years, so where do you see yourselves in the next 10 years?
I see us traveling the world as man, wife, and child. Salena completely supports me being an educator and hopefully, I'll get to share my music program for at-risk youth, with the world. We look forward to going on adventures, as we call them, and exploring new things. One constant in our relationship is that Salena always wants to do things that are new or out-of-the-box, like trapeze, the Fire and Ice Festival in Montreal, Gun and Arrow ranges, etc., and I always indulge her. Wherever she leads, I'll follow.
What is the ~secret sauce~ to your relationship?
We have learned to better understand each other. We support each other's goals and began to realize its [Salena] and I versus a problem–we are a team. Salena is an awesome planner and I'm amazing at handling problems on the fly, so we make a good partnership.
What is your favorite thing about the other?
Nicholas: My favorite thing about Salena is that she is my rock and my support system. Her laugh can fix my entire day, her support means I can do anything, and I feel stronger with her by my side.
Salena: My favorite thing about Nick is that he is my bear. He makes me laugh, stands by my side, and is willing to go through with any idea I come up with.