Bryan Morris - Aruba’s Premier Wedding Photographer

On various forums I often see this question; “How can I propose to my girlfriend in a creative, romantic way?” After all, you want the proposal to be as original and impacting as possible. You want her to be blown away at your creativity and planning. You only ask someone to marry you once. You want her to have a great story to tell to her mother, girlfriends, and, someday, your children.

You can adapt them to fit your own relationship and resources. Remember, she’s worth it, and of course, the budget is not as important as your care, effort, and creativity. And those, unlike your pocketbook, are limitless!

One important question — Do you want to pop the question in public or privately? Is she shy and modest or does she loves to be the center of attention? The following suggestions are a mixture of ideas for public areas or solitary spots; the choice is yours…

Very important! If your choice of proposal is public, to avoid embarrassment, please be sure that she will accept.

• Consider all of the places that have been special in your dating relationship– maybe the restaurant where you had your first date, the swing under a tree where you shared your first kiss, a favorite park or walking trail, etc. Create clues that would help her to guess each place. Using a map, design a scavenger hunt for your girlfriend. Decide the order in which you want her to visit these favorite places. You’ll plant clues at each place leading her to the next place. Place the engagement ring in a miniature treasure chest. Plant the clues at each spot in advance. Make certain they are secure and not too difficult to find; you may even want to involve people whenever possible to ensure none of the clues are lost. (ask the restaurant hostess or movie theater ticket booth worker, etc.) Explain what you’re doing; maybe even show them your girlfriend’s photo so they know to be on the lookout for her. People love romantic proposals; they’ll be happy to help. Keep a cell phone handy and instruct your girlfriend to call you if she gets lost or can’t find the next clue. With the clue, place an explanation of why you selected the place and a favorite memory you’ve shared there. Tell your girlfriend to meet you and hand her the clue that will take her to the first spot. Explain that she’s going on a treasure hunt and that you’ll see her at her final destination. Make that final spot very special, if possible the place she’s said she’d always like to be married. Perhaps a small, quaint chapel, large peaceful church, ornate temple or pier overlooking the river. Wait for your girlfriend to arrive at the final point on the hunt. When she walks over to you, explain that for as long as you’ve known her she’s been your treasure. Ask her to allow you to treasure her for always as you pull out the box…

• This date depends upon several wonderful little surprises, each building up for the greatest surprise of you asking her to marry you over a romantic dinner. Feel free to add any other small surprises you might think of. For the day you’ve chosen to pop the question, tell her you’re throwing her a “surprise” date and that she should reserve the entire day. Plan a nice breakfast that you’ll cook and serve for her. Pick up the necessary ingredients. Make reservations at a very nice restaurant. Order flowers; buy her a nice new dress for the occasion. Make reservations for a car to pick her up and take her to dinner (or ask a friend to play chauffeur.) Rent a tux, or take your nicest suit to the dry cleaner. Get her a gift certificate to a day spa or for a facial, manicure, or some other kind of pampering activity. Make her an appointment for this if necessary. Let her sleep in and you cook breakfast. Omelets or Belgian waffles with strawberries, fresh squeezed orange juice, whatever she’d like. Serve it to her in bed. Then do the dishes. That part is very important! Tell her that you’re leaving but instructions will follow. Then leave! Have a dozen roses delivered mid-morning. Next, have lunch delivered (Chinese or whatever she likes.) In the afternoon call her to “remind” her of her appointment at the Day Spa, manicurist, etc. and the time and place for that afternoon. Then, drop the new dress off (anonymously if possible) with a note that she’s to wear it to dinner. Tell her what time to be ready by and that her driver will pick her up promptly at that time. Have her driven to the restaurant and seated. You will not be waiting at the table, but nearby, unseen. Ask a waiter to deliver a note to her that reads, “Say ‘yes.’” Then, approach the table and get down on one knee. You can tell her that she never ceases to surprise and amaze you, or that you’re surprised that an incredible person like her could love you, yadda yadda… In other words, ask her to marry you!

• Find someone in your community who performs as a magician for parties. Hire him to perform a 45 min. show at the local Mall and help you propose to your girlfriend. Arrange the exact time and place in the mall that he is to perform. Show him your girlfriend’s photo. Check with the Mall authorities to make certain it is okay (they shouldn’t argue with getting a free entertainer — explain that you’re paying for the magician to perform.) Suggest that you and your girlfriend go for a shopping trip during the time you’ve asked the magician to perform. “Just happen” to walk upon him (there should already be a small crowd gathered.) When he sees you he is to ask for volunteers for his next trick and choose your girlfriend. Arrange with him ahead of time how you’d like his help. Maybe he could do an ordinary trick, then call for another volunteer and bring you up. Maybe you’d rather he call you both up together in the first place.

• Freeze the ring in an ice cube and drop it in her glass, while you are at your favorite restaurant. When she realizes what is in her drink, get down on one knee and ask her to marry you.

• Go to a local bakery. Instruct them to bake a cake with a marriage proposal on it and put it in the window. Take her on a romantic nighttime stroll right past the bakery, and point to the personalized cake in the window. Drop down on one knee, pull out the ring, and ask her to marry you. This way you can have your cake and eat it too, literally.

• Surprise her by sending a bouquet of flowers to her office or home. Tie the ring to the end of one of the stems. After the flowers are delivered, go to her office and propose.

• Pretend to drop your napkin in front of her at a restaurant. Ask her to pick it up, and while she is not looking, drop the ring in her wine glass. When she sees the ring, propose to her.

• Purchase fortune cookies and take out the fortunes with a pair of tweezers. Swap the fortunes with a piece of paper that says, “Will you marry me?” Then bring her to your favorite Chinese restaurant and have the waiter bring out her fortune after the meal.

• Bring her to one of her favorite restaurants. Make a menu with your proposal printed inside of it. Then have the waiter deliver the menu to your sweetie. As she opens it, ask for her hand in marriage.

• Have breakfast in bed together on a Sunday morning. Make her a beautiful breakfast with scrambled eggs, fruit, and mimosas. After you are done eating, tell her there is just one thing left you have to give her, and pull out the ring.

• Book a room for the two of you at a fancy hotel. Decorate it with flower petals and scented candles. Put rose petals all over the room, leading into the bathtub. Give her a robe, and ask her to look in the pocket. After she finds the ring, propose. Then give her a relaxing massage in the tub.

• Make a rose petal trail from the front door to the bedroom. Create a heart shape with rose petals on the bed, and put the ring in the middle. Tell her to go see what is in your heart.

• Deliver one rose to her every hour for 11 hours. On the 12th hour show up to meet her and propose.

• If she is a thrill seeker, take her skydiving. After you land, tell her if you made it through this you can make it through anything. Pull out a ring from your pocket and propose.

• For a more tame air idea, arrange a sunset hot air balloon ride for her. As you watch the beautiful sky, tell her how much you love her and ask her to marry you.

• Go Bungee jumping. When she is at the top of the cliff, pull out a sign that says “Will you marry me?” at the bottom

• Bring her back to the spot where you went on your first date. Tell her that ever since then, the relationship has grown so much and you hope she feels the same way. Then ask her to marry you.

• Propose to her on Christmas. Put the ring in a box, and hang it like an ornament on the tree. After all the presents have been opened, tell her there is one more special gift for her. Direct her to the ornament, and get down on your knees to propose.

• Put the ring in several layers of boxes so that each box fits inside another to create an illusion of a giant present. Have her unwrap it until she finally gets to the ring, and ask her to marry you.

• Write an advertisement slide, and ask the movie theater to show it as a preview before the movie. Get to the theater early, and let her watch the previews. When it gets to her slide, get down on one knee and propose.

• Take her on a surprise trip somewhere special. Blindfold her so she has no idea where she is going. When you get to the spot, take off the blindfold and ask her to marry you.

• Pop the question on the PA system on the airplane on your way to a vacation. She will be surprised, and all eyes would be on you (both) during the entire flight and even after you land.

Blessings,

Bryan Morris