Gabe Saporta opens up about romantic engagement

COBRA STARSHIP rocker GABE SAPORTA has opened up about his romantic proposal to fiancee ERIN FETHERSTON, revealing he popped the question in Barbados on New Year's Eve (31Dec12).

The Good Girls Go Bad hitmaker asked Fetherston to help design her own engagement ring last year (12), and since the fashion magnate knew a proposal was coming, Saporta admits he enjoyed teasing her with a few fake-outs.

He tells People.com, "Since she knew about the ring, surprising her with a proposal was going to prove a challenge. My first step was to psych her out. On Christmas Eve (24Dec12), I gave her a nicely-wrapped ring-box that did not contain her engagement ring. It contained a sick amethyst cocktail ring instead."

Ultimately the couple flew to the Caribbean to ring in 2013 and the singer reveals he went all out to make it an unforgettable moment: "I woke up at dawn to go collect coral and flowers from the beach next to our cottage. I used them to write out my proposal on our patio and then I woke Erin up in a frenzy to come see a 'monkey' that had appeared in our backyard. My sleepy-eyed bride quickly realized the only monkey that morning was me... and of course, she said, 'Yes!'"

The couple began dating in 2011 and hope to marry this spring (13).