Childhood Sweethearts Proposal

This story warmed my heart. It seems even more rare these days that people stay together for an amazing length of time. So when I found this proposal, I knew I had to share.

Stephen and Sarah have been together since sixth grade. Stephen started setting money aside in an envelope in his room for three years to buy her the perfect engagement ring. At the top of Larch Mountain in Oregon Stephen had Sarah throw a paper airplane off the top (which just happened to be made out of the envelope the money was saved in)… right before he drops to one knee to propose.

Please excuse the quality. I imagine whoever was filming was not meant to be seen.

I think it’s so adorable that they’ve been together for so long, and she kept exclaiming, “You’re kidding! You’re kidding!”

Isn’t it wonderful when women are taken by complete surprise?

Emily

State Fair Proposal Ideas

While many state fair proposals may seem cliche or not very unique, there is nothing wrong (in my opinion) in going for the classic-romantic proposal. I mean, come on, what girl doesn’t fawn over The Notebook?

My husband had such a hard time coming up with a way to propose. I’m a snooper, so he had no way of planning it without me finding out (truly… I’m that good). He says that’s why he jumped the gun and proposed randomly. I clearly wasn’t expecting him to propose to me while we were watching Aladdin. I was envisioning fireworks, New York lights, or something out of a Nicholas Spark’s book/movie. Whether you prefer A Walk to Remember or The Notebook, you can’t deny that those guys have some moves.

Why all the Nicholas Sparks references? Well, every time I think of classic romance, I think of the scene on the ferris wheel where Noah is desperately trying to get Allie to go on a date with him. What’s more romantic than being at the top of the ferris wheel with your sweetie? Having a guy hang there until you agree to go on a date with him. Am I wrong?

OK, I’ll stop jabbering. Here are my ideas!

1. Go for a ride. Whether you’re at the top of the ferris wheel (with the ring secured somewhere) or being competitive at bumper cars, find a time to pop the question. While you may not be able to drop to one knee, you will certainly take her by surprise and there will be moments to follow for all the crying, kissing, and traditional stance. She may not think you’re serious until you present her with a ring. I would suggest saving that for after the ride, so you don’t risk losing it, but that’s just my worry-wart self.

2. Win her a prize. What girl doesn’t love the idea of her boyfriend winning her a giant stuffed animal or goldfish at the fair? Win something (or have something planned ahead of time) and find a way to attach the ring to it before handing it over. Don’t want to drop your ring into the bag with the fish? Win her prize and use that opportunity to tell her what lengths you would go to for her, then drop to a knee and present her with a true prize– one awesome rock!

3. Use a booth. I don’t know if every state fair has this, but my home state always has craft booths set up from locals selling things. Rent a booth just for your proposal! People will be walking by it all day thoroughly impressed, but ultimately it will come down to your sweetie being taken by total surprise. Also, talk about a photo opportunity! Step up into your little booth with her and pop the question, having a photographer (friend/family member) waiting to snap a shot!

4. It’s all about atmosphere. In the end, just taking her to the state fair, eating the food, riding the rides… it all adds up to one awesome date and opportunity to propose. At the end of the evening, whether there are fireworks or just pretty lights, find a spot and use your words and there’s no doubt it will mean more than anything else ever will.

My husband always talks about re-proposing for a vow renewal ceremony. I confess I’m a sucker and would want to go on the ferris wheel (which I am, possibly, a little bit afraid of otherwise) just to get a movie-moment proposal. If you have the same thoughts, share this with your sweetie!

Emily

Photo Credit: freeweb.com

Best of Rhode Island Proposal

The Best of Rhode Island Party is one where people gather to receive awards in the state of Rhode Island. People vote on their favorite restaurants, hair salons, and more and in July they get their awards. This year the awards took a bit of a turn.

Jason and Andrea met at the Best of Rhode Island Party in 2012, so Jason decided that it was the most appropriate place to propose to Andrea. She was called on stage after being praised for her salon helping people with products for the party, and told she was going to receive an award. Little did she know Jason would emerge with flowers and a true award– dropping to one knee.

Public proposals are always a big deal. After all, what if she was to say no? That would definitely be awkward.

I love that afterwards they are presented with a “Best Proposal of 2013” award. Too adorable.

Emily

Balloon Proposal

Do you love balloons? I must confess there was a point in my life where I did. These days I love the idea of waking up to tons of balloons scattered in my room and around the house for my birthday (hint hint, nudge nudge sweetie). So what if this was done for a proposal?

AliExpress.com has these fabulous balloons that offer so many options.

Want her to wake up in the morning to these? It’s possible.

Want her to come home to these ready? Done.

How about delivering them to her at work?

If you are getting ready to propose to someone fun-loving and/or light-hearted, I would definitely say this is a way to go.

Emily

Proposing with Spud

Proposing with animals always seems like a win to me. Of course, there are a few things that could go wrong. The dog could try to eat the ring. The cat could try to play with the ribbon and lose the ring. Basically, anything that could go wrong would usually involve the ring.

Even still, John took the plunge with Sarah and used their dog, Spud, to help him propose. My favorite thing about this proposal?

This face.

Emily

How to Keep the Expected Unexpected

If you’ve taken a very open road to getting engaged, odds are you’ve talked about everything together. What type of ring she likes, wedding details, etc. You may have even told her when/if you were going to talk to her parents. So how do you make the proposal a surprise when she knows it’s coming?

1. Create anticipation and tension. Have multiple opportunities before the actual proposal to propose. Go out to a romantic dinner dressed to the nines and go home at the end of the date without popping the question. Take her out to do something she loves to do (and you don’t enjoy that much) to make her happy, but still don’t drop to a knee.

While this may drive your girl absolutely crazy,  she will possibly stop expecting the proposal, be more annoyed with you than anything, and then when it does happen be so overjoyed and surprised that you will have won the game! Truly, that’s what it is. It’s a game. If you guys have been talking about it openly and she knows you have the ring and the blessing, then you want to do everything possible to keep her on her toes.

2. Take your time and make it special. This may be difficult, but the timing of the proposal is everything. Just because you present decoy moments or picture-perfect-opportunities without the actual plunge doesn’t mean your proposal should be rushed and thrown into the middle of an awkward or casual moment.

If she knows you’re going to propose, you still have to make it special and worth her anticipation/tension/wait. By the way, don’t take all the time in the world. Talking about a proposal and then not doing it for another year (even if that’s what you two talked about) filled with moments that could have been a proposal… I’m not sure that’s too clever.

With all that being said, you can still be an “in-the-moment” person with this. If you plan on taking her for a hot-air balloon ride at sunset but think that will be too obvious, pop the question in another timely moment before or after to keep it less cliche.

In the end, make it all about your love, your story, and your plans… and make the proposal all about her dreams. A girl doesn’t just dream about her wedding, she dreams about being asked.

Emily

Photo Credit: Slate.com

Arrested for a Proposal

This man had his girlfriend “arrested” as part of his proposal. Not entirely sure how I feel about this. Apparently he was doing it (in Canada) to win a contest where the prize was a $20,000 wedding. While I’d say he’s definitely showing gumption, I’m not sure I’d pick him as the winner. I mean… come on. Who wants to be arrested and then surprised with an engagement ring? It’s like the worst episode of Punk’d ever.

The saddest part is this poor girl is sitting in the back of the police car crying, not understanding what’s going on, and then her boyfriend shows up to propose. I personally would have probably smacked him before answering. She said yes, though, so it must be love!

Maybe they have the same sense of humor. What do you think? How would you react to this proposal?

Emily

3 Creative Proposals for a Teacher

It’s the middle of July, I’m walking around the store… and I see them. School supplies.

If you ask me, it’s a little early to remind kids that school is just a month or so away from beginning. Even so, I couldn’t help but push my cart down the aisles of crayons, folders, and locker adorations. Someday I’m going to bother my kids so much because I love school supplies. When I was younger I used to look forward to shopping for the new school year.

If you’re dating a teacher, they’re doing different sorts of shopping. They’re planning how to decorate their classrooms, what they may need to provide their students with, and more. It’s possible that they’re already starting their lesson plans, getting ready to go in and set up shop, dreading (or anticipating, or both) the end of summer as much as their prospective students.

Want a way to ease the stress and make the future school year extra special? Here are some proposal ideas that combine your love and your love’s work.

1. Bouquet of Sharpened Pencils. Ever seen “You’ve Got Mail” with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan? If you haven’t, go watch it and you’ll understand the reference. Also, you may want a box of tissues.

Propose to your sweetie with an extra special arrangement of school supplies she is bound to need. Number 2 pencils, extra erasers, chalk, notebook paper. Present her with some must-haves and hide the ring somewhere within. Now, do make sure she knows something’s going on. You can’t hide the ring in the midst of a stack of papers and expect her to find it without some prompting.

2. Do your homework. It’s easy for the back-to-school-frenzy to cause some stress. Offer to help her set up her classroom, or stay up while she reviews some lesson plans, or bring her lunch on her first teacher workday. Show her that her job and commitment to her job is high on your priority list. Be an “A+” pupil!

3. Involve the students. If you’re fiance-to-be is a dedicated, heart-warming teacher, nothing could be more special than involving her pupils. Whether it’s them holding up signs or during an assembly of some kind, you’re letting her know that not only is she close to your heart, but all the wonderful work she does is as well.

If nothing else, take a few notes from this guy.

Emily

Photo Credit: RandolphSchool.net

Comic-Con Proposals

Comic-Con San Diego officially started two days ago for 2013. For those of you who don’t know what Comic Con is (You know nothing, Jon Snow.), it’s been referred to as many things. The most recent I saw is the West Coast’s “annual nerd prom” (thanks Huffington Post).

Seriously, though, it’s where fans of comic books, science fiction, fantasy and everything in-between come together for seminars, portfolio review sessions with top comic book and video game companies, and even preview upcoming feature films, shows, and more.

With all this being said, I just knew there was no way an event so extraordinary could happen without some awesome proposals.

Check these out! I threw in the sneak preview for Fox’s Bones as well that has a spoiler in it!

 

 

 

 

 

Emily

3 Suggestions on Testing the Waters for a Proposal

I don’t know about you, but it seems to me proposing is more than a step towards marriage. It’s not just a huge commitment or life decision, but a moment in time where there’s so much hanging in the balance. Even in a “perfect relationship” there is the chance that she just might say no.

How do you prepare? Sadly, I’m no expert. I mean, come on, do you really think there’s a way of figuring out if the odds are in your favor? I really think it all comes down to the girl.

However, maybe there are a few things you can do to see if she’s thinking marriage without giving up your surprise. Here are my three suggestions.

Ladies, you can also use these if you feel the need to drop a hint. 

1. Use the phrase “if we were married”. Just so you are aware, if she’s not ready this could send the girl running. But if you want to really test the waters, then do this. If you’re having a conversation about a house she wants, or taking a class together, or truly anything, drop it as casually as you possibly can. “If we were married that house would be the perfect size for us, don’t you think?”

2. Talk to her friends and/or family. Keep in mind that if you do this, there’s a 99% chance it will get back to her. Tread as carefully as possible. Mention how long you’ve been together, or ask if she’s ever talked about a certain wedding she loved or ring she desired… or make something up. “One of my friends from [high school, college, work] just got engaged and I’m totally excited for him.” Present this to a girl friend, perhaps, that is in a relationship and ask if she’s thought of marriage. More than likely she will bring up your significant other, or the conversation can take that turn.

If she’s close with her parents, odds are they will know if she’s mentioned it or not. If this doesn’t work, go to her closest relative and bring it up. Hopefully in the family there’s a lesser chance of it getting back to her, but in order for it to be so talk to as few people as possible.

3. Talk openly about marriage. If dropping hints isn’t your forte, or you just want an open discussion, then bring it up. If she’s ready, this will be a wonderful moment that gets the wheels turning. If she isn’t, then at least you’ve done this in a safe way so you got a reasonable idea of when she will be ready.

Chin up, friends! One way or another this will lead to a happy ending!

Emily