Aaagghh, trying to come up with brilliant ideas for a marriage proposal is enough to drive you crazy. Not only that, but after all that planning, you’re still nervously waiting to see if he says “Yes!” And to top it all off, after all is said and done, not only will everyone be looking at his engagement ring, they’ll also be asking… “so how did he ask the question?”

Joel asked me to marry him on Valentine’s Day. I had no idea that he was going to propose to me, so it was a total surprise. However, he called my parents several weeks before to ask their permission for my hand in marriage. Then he made them swear total secrecy. He also called his parents several days before proposing to me, to alert them to what was going on. He cooked me a 7-course meal at his apartment. Then we watched an episode of “24,” his favorite TV show. Therefore, it had the feeling of a very typical evening. After he finished “24”, he handed me my Valentine’s gift… which surprised me. He “re-gifted” a stuffed animal that he had given her during our first Valentine’s Day together. The stuffed animal was a running joke in our relationship… as he admitted to me years after the fact that it was probably the worst gift he had ever given her and that most grown men don’t want fluffy green frogs like gift. gifts. Still, he reveled in my puzzled expression for a while as he simultaneously pretended to appreciate the gifted frog. Several minutes passed and then he said matter-of-factly that he actually had one more gift for me. He took me by the hand and led me into his bedroom. He had candles lit all over the room and rose petals scattered on the bed. In the center of the bed, there was a small box. He took me to the box, knelt down and asked me to be his wife. He opened the box, and then, forgetting tradition and overwhelmed with emotion, I took out the ring myself and put it on my finger. So I started kissing him. He stopped me because I never answered his question. After I responded with an emphatic “Yes!” the rest is history……

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Do not be afraid. Here are some marriage proposal ideas that you can take full credit for and present as your own:

– Marriage Proposal Ideas: #1 Do it outdoors… the proposal that it is… pack a 5-star signature picnic with champagne, chocolate covered strawberries and other such gourmet treats. If you have one, go to one of your favorite natural picnic spots. Give him a list of 100: unique things you’ve done together, inside jokes, favorite moments, etc. After she has eaten the delicious food and read the list, she will be like putty on your hand… Take out the ring and ask her if she will be your ancestor.

– Ideas for marriage proposals: # 2 Do something special to a memory you have of one of your dates. I mean, frame a movie ticket stub from the first movie you went to together. Go back to where you had your first date. Remember all the good times you’ve had together since you started dating. Present the memory to him and talk about how you’ve had so many adventures together and how you never want that to end. After he’s screeched about the memory and how thoughtful you are, pull out the ring and ask the question. This will be a night that she will remember forever and you will look like a romantic stud.

– Marriage Proposal Ideas: #3 Print a t-shirt that says “Next Mrs. _______ (insert your last name)”. Cook a romantic dinner at home for her. When it’s time right after dinner, tell him you bought him something. Present the t-shirt (which must be elegantly wrapped in a gift box). As her eyes bug out as she reads the shirt, I pull out the ring and ask.

– Ideas for marriage proposals: #4 Take her to the neighborhood of your childhood. Show him some of the special places you loved growing up. At the last place, kneel down and propose. Have a fabulous evening planned following the proposal.