12 Romantic Proposal Ideas

You’ll be telling this story to your kids and your grandkids, so you better make sure your proposal story is a good one. If you want to avoid slipping the ring into her champagne during dinner, then here are some of the most romantic proposal ideas.

1.At a Monument to your Love

Some of the best marriage proposals take a bit of planning. Find a monument nearby and convince the caretaker/city authorities/groundskeeper to let you decorate it for your proposal. Put up photos of the two of you and recreate the story of your romance. Tell your girlfriend you have to swing by that area of town and have her hop out with you. Once at the monument, give her a tour of the best thing that’s ever happened to you and propose at the end!

2.In an Ancestral Marriage Space

Figure out where her parents or grandparents got engaged or married. Propose to your sweetheart in the exact same spot to the day, if possible. The best proposal ideas are usually those that invoke a sense of history when embracing the future. Show her you value the past almost as much as your future together.

3.Something unique to YOU

Do something that you and ONLY you could do. If you’re in a band, sing a song about her and then bring her up on stage to propose to her. If you’re a pilot, take her on a private trip and propose a mile above the ground. If you’re a power line technician…propose from the top of a power pole or tower and have her brought to you in a bucket truck! The best marriage proposals don’t get more electric than that!

4.Something unique to HER

Prove that you know her better than anyone else in the world. Do something only she could fully appreciate, like recite some lines from her very favourite play or poem. Modify them to fit the situation, or stage and re-create them! This works best if it’s an inside joke/thing that you’re sure only the two of you know! Likewise, if she’s a huge cross-stitcher, make a cross-stitch. Take a leap into her world to surprise her!

5.In Her Favourite Place She’s Never Been

Some people have always dreamed of going somewhere they’ve never been- near or far, everybody’s got that one place! Find out what your girlfriend’s dream spot is, whether it’s Ghana or Paris, and arrange for a very special proposal on her terra nova! The best marriage proposals often combine a new and exciting experience with an equally new and exciting experience (i.e. Getting engaged!).

6.In a Foreign Country

While your own country’s all well and good, sometimes it can feel a little blasé (you know, since you’ve lived there all your life). Try taking her to a Swiss chalet, a French chateau, or a Portuguese palace. The exotic locale will make the moment that much more memorable and surely inspire a litany of romantic ways to propose!

7.On the Anniversary of Your Meeting

The right date goes a long way in romantic proposal ideas. Some couples like to celebrate the day where they first met (or started dating or, however, you’d like to define it). What better way to show how much you care by not only remembering the date the two of you met but also proposing to her with the ultimate commitment your love can express?

8.Where You Met

The best proposals are ones that are of personal significance to the couple, and few things are more significant than the first time you met. Any other places that have served as the setting for big milestones would be great to revisit!

9.Pop The Question with a Truly Unique Ring

For the past hundred years, diamonds have been the go-to choice for engagement ring stones. One way to make a proposal unique is to propose with something unpredictable.

Unlike diamonds, coloured gemstones are one of a kind. There will never be two coloured gems the same; they are each as truly unique as a couple’s love. Buying a coloured gemstone engagement ring ensures you won’t see another woman wearing a ring identical to yours.

10.Candle lit Dinner

This is a classic but one of the great ways to propose your dream girl. Candles are one of the quintessential elements of a romantic evening. The dim light of the candles burning flames and the romantic tunes sets one of the perfect settings for a romantic proposal. A candle-lit dinner is a romantic way to propose to anyone who holds a special place in your heart and the one you want to spend the rest of your life with. Guys set the mood, by preparing and cooking your significant other their favourite dinner. Turn off all lights and lit the candles, play romantic songs. The glowing of the candles sets a mood for a night full of romance and is one of the perfect scenes to propose. It will set the mood for love and romance.

11.Picture Perfect

Do you want to always remember your proposal? Do you want her to be surprised even after the ring is given? Hire a professional (or really good amateur buddy) photographer to take covert pictures while you propose (and maybe a video). Afterward, when they’re developed, you’ll have a photographic memory to remember that day with! The best marriage proposals are the ones you capture every moment of!

12.Simplicity Itself

Sometimes the best marriage proposals in the world might seem too much, too garnish; if that’s the case for you and your beloved, why not just propose quietly and simply? At home, on a park bench; no theatrics, no gimmicks, just a simple “will you marry me?” Sometimes the best is also the simplest!

Common Blunders:

Make sure you bring the ring—38 percent of women said proposing without a ring is the biggest mistake a guy can make—but be double-sure you bring the emotion and personal significance.

"It's all about being thoughtful and personalized," says Cicely Rocha-Miller, owner of Life Design Events. "This story is going to be told forever."

Keep it to yourself beforehand. Almost 60 percent of guys said they'd worry about such a mistake, and with good reason.

"The surprise is so important, so limit who you tell," says Kathleen Murray of TheKnot.com. "You never know if someone is going to slip or start acting weird around her."