You’re in love. So in love, in fact, that you’re ready to spend the rest of your life with your beautiful partner. Getting married is an incredible moment in your life, and you want to make your proposal something you two will treasure, remember, and talk about for years to come. If you’re looking for something beyond the “get down on one knee after presenting her with a box of chocolates on [insert holiday here],” this article is for you. Here are some original and sweet ways to propose to your girlfriend.
The Word Nerd Proposal
My fiancée and I have been in a long-distance relationship together for two and a half years now (yes, it’s hard and yes, she’s worth it). We spend a lot of time playing Words with Friends against each other on our phones as a way of staying connected. And when we’re together, we tend to prefer nights in with board games—Scrabble being our favorite.
One evening when we were playing Scrabble, I excused myself to the ladies room after a couple of drinks. It was an evening like any other: We were in our pajamas, enjoying the game and each other’s company over a bottle of wine. When I came back to the room, I found she’d rearranged the letters on the board, asking me to marry her. Once my head stopped spinning, and I figured out what the words on the board said (“Love you forever – marry me”), she took my hands in hers and asked me to marry her more formally with a ring. I said yes!
The Singing Proposal
If you’re a musician, why not put your skills into action and write a song for your sweetheart? The lyrics could include all the reasons why you love her or what you hope for in your shared future. Croon all about your love for her and what makes her special and at the end of your song, pop the question! Not only will she be swooning over you writing a song for her, but this is a proposal that will be unique. How many women can say someone wrote a song just for them? If you don’t have a musical bone in your body, but you dig the idea, you could always hire a busker to sing in the street that you “just so happen” to pass by, as the singer belts out a variation of “Will you marry her?” Or you could write the song and enlist each of your family and friends to sing part of the song for and with you, and at the end, you could surprise her with the big question.
Scavenger Hunt Proposal
Ever been geocaching? It’s basically a scavenger hunt that adults from all over the world can participate in. All you need is a GPS and/or smartphone with the (free) geocaching app, and it’ll show you where things are hidden. Wherever you’re sitting now, either in the heart of the city or in the middle of nowhere, I bet there’s a treasure not too far away from you, just waiting to be found. If you haven’t gone geocaching, go! It’s a chance to get out and be a little adventurous while finding treasures others have hidden. And if you have gone geocaching, then you know what a great date activity it is. When you take your beloved out geocaching next time, why not hide your own treasures? Give her the coordinates and hints and hide the ‘treasure’ (whether that be a ring, a poem or something else you’ve planted for her to find) and then when she finds it—propose!
The Underwater Proposal
You’ve told her that you’d go to great depths to do anything for her, right? Well, prove it! A friend of mine rented out part of an aquarium fish tank in order to dive in and propose. When her girlfriend was walking through with her family, she was shocked to come upon her (now) fiancée in the water holding up a sign that said, “Sandra, there are plenty of fish in the sea, but you’re the only one for me!” She said yes. If you don’t have the desire or the funds to do something so grandiose, you could still do an underwater proposal. All you need is some water (a pool will do), a ring (if that’s your thing), your lover, and some goggles. And probably a waterproof sign to hold up, unless you want her to read your lips underwater as you pop the question.
The Movie Lover Proposal
If you and your significant other are big film buffs or TV fans, why not make your own movie? Even if video editing isn’t your thing, video creation is easier than ever thanks to the help of apps available on your phone. You could make a movie trailer proposal (“Coming soon… our wedding?”) or make a video montage of all the memories you two have shared. Photos, videos, and some heartfelt music with a screen at the end with the question, “Will you marry me?” The options are aplenty, and you can show her your creation when it’s just the two of you if you’re the private sort. Or, if you prefer a lot of fanfare, you could rent out a theatre for the evening or have friends and family over for a dinner and movie night and let them all be a part of this magical moment in your lives.
No matter how you choose to propose, try not to put too much pressure on yourself to get it perfect. What’s most important is that you express your love honestly, in a way that’s true to you both and to your relationship. You don’t need a lot of fanfare (unless that’s your thing!) All you need is the two of you and your love.
Have any unique proposal ideas or your own story to share? Let us know in the comments!
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