Ways to Propose

You've found the perfect woman...you've decided to *gulp* ask her to marry you. The only problem is you want it to be PERFECT, and the sweaty palms you have at the moment tell you that you might need some help there. So, try some of these ideas on for size and maybe if they aren't the perfect way for you to propose, maybe they will inspire you to the perfect way to propose. GOOD LUCK!!

Ideas

Pop the question at the location where you had your first date.

Plan a treasure hunt with the clues leading her to a note that asks her to marry you.

At the movie theater with your proposal on the big screen.

Following a romantic dinner – have the waiter bring out her favorite dessert and the proposal written out around the plate.

Write out “Marry Me” in the sand at the beach

Ride a hot air balloon and, as you take off, have the staff below unroll a banner with your proposal.

Bring her one rose each night, for 11 nights. On the 12th night, give her a rose with a card inside that asks you to marry her. Then get on one knee and put the engagement ring on her finger.

At church walk up with her to the altar following a service. With the pastor tell her you want to stand at this location with her when you become husband and wife. Then get on one knee and propose!

Treat her to a decadent breakfast at a five-star hotel, and tell her that you couldn't wait until evening to ask her to marry you.

In a horse-drawn carriage.

Plant your proposal as a message in a bottle and partially cover it with sand on the beach

If you are both avid skiers, propose at the top of the slopes.

At a Chinese restaurant, with the fortune in the cookie asking her to marry you.

In a box of M&Ms with “marry me” printed on the candy.

Flying together? Let the flight attendants know ahead of time, then tell your girlfriend you are going up front to get some water. Then, have the pilot or attendant make an announcement: “Hello everyone. We hope you are enjoying your flight today. We have a special guest on board today, (your girlfriend’s name here) sitting in seat number X, row X. Go ahead and come on up here! Then, you'll come out from hiding, get on the microphone, and tell her how much you love her, then propose 30,000 feet in the sky! Have the crew pass around bubbly (7 Up will do) and celebrate with everyone on board.

On Christmas Eve, in front of the tree.

In front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle at Disneyland.

During a gondola ride: Venice, Italy, Naples in Long Beach, California, or at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. All romantic!

When your favorite singer or band is in town, propose just before your favorite song is sung.

New Year’s Eve, at a party with all your friends and family.

If you are both golfers, have a ball imprinted with “marry me”. Give her the ball to put on the tee, but have her “inspect” it first. Then, open the golf ball-shaped ring box when you get down on bended knee.

Arrange to go on air with her favorite radio DJ, and have her listen on her way to work when you propose.

Hire a friend to take photos of you both just for fun. Then, surprise her by getting down on one knee and proposing. You'll have photos you'll both cherish forever.

On the big screen at your favorite sporting event.

Go to your favorite karaoke place and sing your favorite love song. Then, as the song ends, ask her to come up to the front, then propose in front of everyone!

Carefully open a box of Cracker Jacks, steam open the prize packet and place the real engagement ring in and re-glue packet and box. Casually give her the box of Cracker Jacks during a movie and watch closely as she opens the prize.

Have a professional videographer follow you for an hour, under the premise that he or she is earning credits towards a film degree and needs to get footage at the park or on a beach. As the camera is taping a casual conversation, start to talk about your love for her, read a poem, and then get down on one knee and propose. You'll have this precious moment caught on film, to share with your family & friends.

Take out a small ad in the newspaper in a section she always reads, and write out your proposal.

Hide her ring in a bouquet of flowers with the note providing a clue that there is something unique about this arrangement.

Propose in the lounge of a romantic restaurant over a champagne toast. The next big surprise will come when you are seated at your table, and you pre-arranged to have her closest friends and family members there to celebrate in the engagement dinner.

Write your own proposal poem and put it in a book that has her favorite poetry.

Hide her engagement ring in a box of delicious chocolates!

Work with a local community cable network to film a 30 second proposal that they'll broadcast for a small donation on the leased access channel in your community. (Sometimes they charge only $100 or so and they'll run your “television spot” multiple times for everyone to see again and again.)

Spell out your proposal during a mock-game of Scrabble.

Have J. Shea Jewelers place the ring you selected in a case, with her name and “Will you marry me?” on the tag. Then, invite her to the store “just to look” and have the associate walk you to the case with this special proposal.

Make her guess: for her birthday, give her a giant box, wrapped up. Have smaller boxes within each big box, so she has to unwrap multiple boxes before getting to the small box that contains the ring.

Be her Knight in Shining Armor. (Rent the suit at a local costume shop or borrow one from the theatre department at a college or high school in your area.) Really wow her and arrange to ride up to her house or workplace on a white horse!