marriage proposal

LAETITIA, WILL YOU MARRY ME?

We can all think of typical ways of asking our lovely girlfriends to marry us. The man gets down on one knee and gets out a box with an engagement ring (probably worth a month's salary) before asking her to spend the rest of her life by his side.

This traditional way of proposing still works, and can be categorized as the conventional way of asking a woman to marry you. But these days, women want to be mesmerized with emotion, romanticism and originality. And not necessarily in that order either.

The following are a mix of both innovative and more traditional ways to pop the question.

1. To the extreme
If your woman is the sporty type, you can propose to her from the heights of a mountain after a day of rock climbing. Other possibilities would be during a parachute jump or a scuba-diving session in South America, or anywhere else for that matter.

2. Make a video
Making a personal video of yourself proposing to her can have a great effect, especially if you are watching it with her. She will likely jump from joy and want to skip straight to the honeymoon...

3. In mid-air
A more public display of affection is to have the captain of an airplane you are on recite your marriageproposal to your woman over the intercom. You can just picture it: "We are now flying over the Grand Canyon and will be arriving at our destination in approximately 45 minutes. And, by the way, Joanna, Michael would like to know if you would do him the honor of marrying him."

Of course, after this, all you should hope for is a "yes" and a safe landing.

4. My way or the highway
Just imagine driving home from work and seeing a billboard that says "Lucy, will you marry me?" This will have an amplified effect, and the rest of the commuters who see it will hope it works out for you.

They will also hope that she doesn't slam the brakes in excitement.

5. Marriage on the big screen

Let's say you agreed to go see the latest Julia Roberts movie, and right before the movie is about to start, as part of the previews, one frame action simply displays the words: "Maria, will you be my wife?"

Although this is not likely to win you an Oscar nomination, it will certainly go down in the annals of history for best dramatic sequence.

6. Raindrops falling on my head
The Canadian Niagara Falls are an ever popular destination for honeymooners, but few people actually think of it as a great place to ask for your girlfriend's everlasting love.

7. Vegas-Style
Ever thought of going to Sin City to prove your love to each other? This is still one of the most popular locations for couples to get married. But who says you can't get engaged over a game of roulette at the Caesar's Palace?

8. Valentine's Day surprise
Instead of offering a traditional card, flowers and chocolates, why not offer her the greatest sign of love by asking her to marry you? Your girlfriend will surely remember this holiday for the rest of her life.

The only bad part is that it will be hard to surpass this gift every following year.

9. Indecent proposal
The ultimate way to ask your woman to marry you would be during an intense lovemaking session. Popping the question while bringing her to ecstasy is one of the ultimate thrills for a woman.

Imagine your woman climaxing physically and emotionally. She is not likely to forget that day anytime soon.

10. The love police
Although this one requires quite a bit of work and coordination, getting your girlfriend pulled over by a real cop to give her a "love ticket" is quite unexpected and very original.

Just make sure any outstanding parking tickets are taken care of beforehand.

11. Happy birthday to us
Proposing to her on her birthday is another great way to go about it. And another positive aspect of it, she probably won't notice that you forgot to get her a birthday present.

12. You've got love mail
The Internet era is upon us, driving us to adapt to the technology. So why not send her a love note by email along with the big question?

13. Radio dedication
If you know she listens to the radio at a certain time everyday, making a dedication will work charms with her. Except that this one will have the disc jockey asking your girlfriend to marry you. A good follow-up is to call her while the question is being asked.

If you want to be more personal, you can also ask your girl to marry you live on the air.

14. Take me out to the ball game
Bringing your girlfriend to a Yankees game might not be the most fulfilling experience for her. But just imagine her expression if during the Lucky 7th inning intermission, the stadium big screen is focused on you on one knee asking her to marry you.

This is a great way to have 20,000 people witness your display of love, which is a nice gesture in itself.

This list is by no means exhaustive; people are coming up with new and innovative ways to propose every day. Whichever way you choose, remember, the only thing you have to worry about afterwards is whether or not she'll say "yes".

"Will you marry me?" Those four little words may well be the most important question you'll ever ask. The rest of your life flows from the answer to that question. It joins two families, begins a new one, and determines everything-what you'll eat for dinner; where you'll spend your holidays; what your children will be like.

In other words, this question and the way it is asked is a BIG DEAL-too big to treat casually. You don't want to just pull out the ring box while you're watching TV and say, "Oh, yeah, I thought you might like to, uh, y'know...would you?" Make it a moment you'll both remember forever!

SHE will remember it; every tiny detail of it-the weather, what she was wearing, what you were wearing, the time, the place, everything. She'll remember whom she told first and what they said, how her parents reacted, and how your parents reacted-everything! So take the time and make the effort to plan it so the details come out right. Why spend a lot of time and money getting the perfect diamond only to have the Big Moment turn out to be a flop? The diamond is just one part of the Perfect Proposal. It takes thought, planning, loving attention to detail, and occasionally teamwork to create the kind of fireworks that will leave a lasting glow on your lives together.  One great source for romantic proposal ideas is the wildly popular The RoMANtic's Guide to Popping the Question.  This guide can help any guy come up with the perfect proposal for his true love.

If you're wondering how to propose to your girlfriend or boyfriend, this step-by-step guide should help you come up with some strong wedding proposal ideas. Here is how to propose marriage to your special someone.

Planning the Perfect Proposal: A Worksheet

1. Attire. Will you wear a tux? Maybe a gorilla suit to say that you're not monkeying around? Make a statement with your wardrobe.
2. Budget. A romantic proposal doesn't have to mean expensive. Romantic means different things for different people. But, know your budget and what kind of romantic proposal your budget can get you. Do you rent a plane or a limo? Take her to the most romantic restaurant? Feed her champagne and caviar? Determine what you can afford to spend on a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.
3. Location. Very important! The observation deck of the tallest building in town? A hilltop under the stars? On the deck of a sailboat? On a moonlit beach? Don't forget, romantic proposals can be a "combo" - first a restaurant, then the beach, for example.
4. Day & Time. Pick a day that's special to you, such as the anniversary of your first date. Or, an evening, when a full moon rises over the lake.
5. Food. Taking her to the first restaurant you went to together can be fun. Cooking her a meal is a sure winner!
6. Flowers. Absolutely! Whether it's great bouquets of flowers or a single red rose, flowers are a must for romantic moments--especially marriage proposals.
7. Candy. Find out what her favorite is, and present it as a treasure, wrapped in gold paper and tied with a bow, even if it's a Snickers bar.
8. Accessories. Take along a cell phone so she can call her mother or her sister. She'll be bursting to tell everyone! If you can, set up a video camera to record the moment.

Five Proposal Styles 
There are many different ways to propose marriage. Over the years, I've come across five basic styles of proposals. Which one of these styles best describes your situation?

1. The Total Surprise. She doesn't know it's coming - not a clue, not a hint. You've never even discussed it. This is gutsy! It reminds me of the school dances of my youth, where all the girls were on one side of the gym and all the boys stood on the other. You'd finally get up the nerve to make that long walk across the floor to ask a girl to dance. If she said no (and they often did), the walk back across the floor felt like an eternity.
   
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   I figure fewer than ten percent of all proposals are in this category. It's like doing a high-wire act without a net. Most guys drop hints first, or get hints from her that indicates which way the wind is blowing. But there are the big risk-takers, the guys who live on the edge, who just go out and buy the ring and make the dinner reservations and GO FOR IT! Hurrah for them, but I have to tell you I don't recommend popping the question "cold."
2. She Knows. You've talked about getting married, you know you both want to get married and spend your lives together, you've talked about having kids, you've pledged your undying love. The only thing she doesn't know is when it's coming.
   Men, the time between when she knows you'll give her a ring and the moment when you actually give it to her can be one of the greatest times of your life! Have some fun! Research unique and special marriage proposal ideas that will sweep her off her feet. Keep her guessing, plan the moment well, and when she least expects it, spring your wonderful surprise.
3. Let's Elope! "Will you marry me? Right now? Tonight?"
   Wow! This one makes no sense to me unless:
   • The Early Pregnancy Test came up positive.
   • America's Most Wanted is profiling you tonight
   • It's her fifth marriage, your seventh.
   • You don't want to give her a chance to change her mind.
4. It's Now or Never. Way to go-you've waited so long she's resorting to threats: "We're getting married or I'll find someone who'll appreciate me!" Fish or cut bait, guy. If you love her, get off the fence and show her you can't live without her. If it's come to the threatening stage, you have to be extra, extra romantic to make up for her long wait. Use my proposal planning worksheet and make it a good one!
5. Ringless. You and your True Love are in each other's arms, caught up in a rising tide of passion. The dialogue goes like this:
   "Honey, I love you!"
   "I love you, too, sweetheart."
   (Kiss kiss smooch kiss)
   "I can't live without you!"
   "Oh, baby, you're the only one I'll ever love!"
   (Smooch kiss smooch kiss)
   "I want all our days to be like this."
   "Oh, sweetie, I do too!"
   "Will you marry me?"
   "Yes! Oh, yes, yes, yes!"
   But does Romeo have a ring in his pocket? Nooooooo. So where do we go from here? Don't think this lets you out of getting her a ring! Get that thought out of your head right now!
   A lot of Ringless proposals lead to a couple shopping together for the ring. Or, you could revert to the "She Knows" proposal and keep her guessing. Either way, the ringless proposal shouldn't be ringless for long.

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