How did you propose?

How did you propose?

Author
Discussion

Dixy

2,913 posts

204 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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ZOLLAR said:
If there's ever a time for a guy to put some effort in, it's the proposal.
You could have told me that 36 years ago.

We were having one of those conversation, I'm fine, Nothing, Whatever, if you don't know. I said I know what's wrong with you, you want to get married, she said yes I do and I said OK then we may as well.

It may have been used in evidence against me once or twice over the last 34 years.

sc0tt

Original Poster:

18,032 posts

200 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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I'm thinking over dinner and a bottle of wine.

Only problem is the in-laws are away with us for a few days.

I have booked us into a beach club on the wedneday

https://www.purobeach.com/en/beach-club-marbella/

Could be the time.

Prohibiting

1,734 posts

117 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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When we toured the Highlands I planned a day to hike up to Eas a' Chual Aluinn, Britain's highest waterfall. I downloaded the coordinates to a GPS app on my mobile and after 2.5 hours we reached it with her grumbling along the way getting tired and hungry.

We took in the views and the fall and I asked her to stand on a ledge so I could take her picture. Instead of getting my camera out I pulled the ring out. She was gobsmacked and had no idea as we had previously discussed months ago that it would be next year before we considered it.

Had a nice little packed lunch at the top and headed back down which took us around 1.5 hours with a new burst of energy. Had a bottle of champagne waiting for us in our room later that day and then went to a Michelin star restaurant for dinner.

For escape plan which everyone jokes about is that if she said no, I could have pushed her off laugh. I loved the whole thing though- definitely worth putting the effort in if you're gonna do it.



Edited by Prohibiting on Thursday 20th July 11:12

malks222

1,851 posts

138 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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I proposed in january of this year when we were away skiing. we had planned a day where we'd ski to the next valley and have lunch in a cool restaurant in the trees, thought about doing it on the track on the way in, but she's a nervous skier at the best of times so thought better not because she might not make it to the restaurant....... queue skiing through a pretty little forest track perfect setting passing me by......

gets to restaurant, dammit we need to ski out from here back to the slopes...... walking not really an option...... i know lets do it at the top on the way home, we can get lifts back home if required......

skiing out from restaurant she has a bit of a wobble and fall, we ski back to the lift, at this point she decides she's taking the quick way home on the lifts, but i've to get a few more runs in..... dammit!

decide to blast home as quick as possible, pick up some champagne on the way from the shop, on the way thinks crap- not asked permission, so phones her mum (doesnt talk t her dad any more)....... mums in car with me on loud speaker with her best friend in the car..... crap. bottle it say i'll phone her back when she's home....

gets back to chalet, gf is there pottering about, sneak onto balcony stick champagne in the snow...... as she walks back into the room- why is there champagne on the balcony? has one of the lads from the chalet stuck booze on our balcony...... dammit dammit dammit....... fine, quickly slides down to one knee while still in ski stuff produces the ring and goes- well?!?! her response- are you $hitting me......... she wasnt expecting it in the slightest, thankfully once calmed down she said yes.

I said can you now go phone your mum, she probably think you've broken your leg or are dead..... i tried to phone her earlier......

turns out her mum did think she was dead or broken and had to stop the car to regain her composure to get home!

alorotom

11,907 posts

186 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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First time round i actually didn't it just sort of happened when one day she decided we should "ring shop"

Second time round and it was in Central Park NYC in the snow overlooking the Woolman rink (I did plan it for the trip previously and to do it at the Statue of Liberty but she pissed me off that day so I didn't do it and waited 4mths lol)

We married in the park as well 4yrs ago this Christmas Eve at a bandstand on the Great Lake - was awesome smile

You may have guessed but its her favourite city lol

hairyben

8,516 posts

182 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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In a pub, or a beer garden to be precise.

She was annoyed that as form dictates her parents be told before anyone else, and I'd popped the q in the afternoon and they were in oz and alseep she'd have to wait 10 hours before informing anyone else

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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Just asked 'shall we get married' over dinner one night in London. No planning, just popped into my head to ask.

Her reply: "Are you serious??" followed by yes. That was about 18/19 years ago.

designforlife

3,734 posts

162 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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This is a good read, planning to propose to my GF on this upcoming Christmas day when we will be in L.A. visiting her family.

Not got any flashes of inspiration yet of the mechanics of it, other than just wrapping the ring box in a bigger, and very un-engagement ring-like box.




sc0tt

Original Poster:

18,032 posts

200 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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designforlife said:
This is a good read, planning to propose to my GF on this upcoming Christmas day when we will be in L.A. visiting her family.

Not got any flashes of inspiration yet of the mechanics of it, other than just wrapping the ring box in a bigger, and very un-engagement ring-like box.
I proposed to my ex 7 years ago on Christmas day. I've probably ruined Christmas forever for her.

RTB

8,273 posts

257 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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I proposed about 30 seconds after hearing the line "I'm pregnant"

Not sure it was really a proposal as such, more of a concession to an administrative arrangement to ensure we all had the same surname...... still, that was nearly 10 years ago and we're still very happy. We've outlasted all my mates who proposed in Time Square/on top of the Eiffel Tower/whilst free falling/on the summit of Kilimanjaro etc etc...

Just get the question asked, the proposal and the wedding are the least important bits of a marriage. It's how you treat each other every time you're together for the rest of your lives that counts.

In other words if you need to make some grand gesture to make your OH happy, you have bigger things to worry about than how you propose.


ollie05

697 posts

219 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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Some cracking ideas, but me I'm still not sold on it.

I'm not religious, and know of so many failed marriages that I can't really see the pro points to it.

My other half says name change and kids names if we are to have them, but that still doesn't quite make me want to spend Megabucks on ring and then the big event.

Congrats to all you romantic bds though smile

Pistom

4,914 posts

158 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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Portmeirion, filming location for The Prisoner.

I told her that this was where a thriller was filmed about a bloke who got held here against his wishes and was always trying to escape. On occasions, he thought he had managed it but no, he was still back here.

Many episodes made no sense at all but you felt compelled to carry on watching.

26 years on we are still married and the proposal location seems more apt than ever.

Octoposse

2,152 posts

184 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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ollie05 said:
My other half says name change and kids names if we are to have them, but that still doesn't quite make me want to spend Megabucks on ring and then the big event.

Congrats to all you romantic bds though smile
Doesn't have to be Megabucks . . . ring I bought was vintage (not just value, I preferred the colour of the gold, design, etc). And small, intimate wedding . . . which we both wanted, having each had 'unhappy' first marriages (her's traumatically so).

I'm aware of people up the more lavish end of the spectrum who were still paying for the wedding at the time of their divorce!

Proposal? Knelt down in the snow and tried hard not to drop the ring.

Wallace12R

280 posts

189 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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We were out shopping and casually browsing in a jewellery shop, and we were looking at rings, no thought whatsoever of getting married as such and I said she could choose one if she wanted and she asked which finger it would be for. I just said it's up to you. She chose.

I did the whole down on one knee thing later that day at home in the kitchen. Just over a year later we were married on our sons 14th birthday ( he passed away a year before ) as we always wanted that day to be a celebration. That will be 4 years ago in October.

ClaphamGT3

11,269 posts

242 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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On the night we conceived our second child......

We'd gone away for our first proper 'grown up' two nights week-end away since our first was born a year before. Staying in a great shabby-chic hotel just outside Weymouth and asked her over cocktails before dinner.

Shirt587

360 posts

134 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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Puggit said:
Outside Tiffany's on 5th Avenue in New York. Mrs Puggit's favourite film is Breakfast at Tiffany's.

We then went in to buy the ring...

We'd been up the Empire State Building earlier in the day, and I'm sure she expected the question then wink
That sounds familiar! Top of the Empire State at sunset (admittedly in January and it was fking cold!). Then ribs at Virgil's and we bought a ring in the Diamond District the following day.

WestyCarl

3,217 posts

124 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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RTB said:
Just get the question asked, the proposal and the wedding are the least important bits of a marriage. It's how you treat each other every time you're together for the rest of your lives that counts.
This is probably the truest thing I have read on PH..............


skilly1

2,700 posts

194 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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Bit long winded, but I decided to get the ring made in the USA as it was cheaper due to exchange rate (at the time) before we went to NY a few months later, over valentines - which was on the Sunday.

It was a hell of a trauma !!

Ring was supposed to delivered to the local Fedex station for pick-up on Saturday. Phone Ring Company (Lesley) on the Wednesday to see if everything was OK and she said the local FedEx was shut on the weekend and I would have to go 3 miles away to pick it up. I explained this was not possible - what the hell was I going to tell the G/F !!

So we decided to send the ring straight to the hotel (after I sent a disclaimer), but what would I do when I arrived and the front desk gave me a parcel in front of the G/F. Came up with a cunning plan, put the ring in with a box of chocs and a letter from my Uncle (who lives in Florida) congratulating us on the news of the baby (shotgun engagement!).

Arrive at the hotel late Friday and no parcel given to me - great I thought, I'll pick it up in the morning.

Saturday, go down to reception while G/f is in the shower, they don't have a parcel for me - check with Concierge - no parcel. Staring to panic, try to phone Lesley but the office is shut. Send an email and rush back to G/F who is wondering where I am !!

Spend the day out and about in NY, all the time trying to check my emails and phone Lesley ! Get back to the hotel – no parcel. Its Valentine’s day the next day - now really panicking.
Wake up Sunday (Valentines day), escape from the room – no parcel but Lesley had e-mailed me the tracking number of the parcel. Concierge check tracking number – it has been signed by someone who does not work at the hotel. Now I’m thinking it’s been stolen!!

Go back to room to G/F wondering what the hell I’m up to. I escape from room again to get some ice from the machine!! Call Lesley who says she will find out what is going on. G/F asks if I am having an affair as I am always popping off and checking my phone!

Valentines day comes – no ring. Valentines day evening (mega restaurant planned) – no ring – st st st. End of the mega meal G/F goes very quiet. I ask what’s the matter and she said I thought you might propose this evening – don’t be silly I said. She followed this up with – well don’t ever bother proposing to me, in fact even if you propose to me tomorrow I will f'ing say No !!

Monday call Lesley from the Ice Maker (again!)  and she has tracked down the ring and it will be with me in the next hour. Make up an excuse to G/F  about a hotel calling to say a parcel is being delivered so we have to wait. Parcel arrives, I shoot downstairs, remove the ring then show Chocs and letter to G/F. Get away with it.

Decide to propose at the top of the Empire State Building. Get G/F there and there are bloody security metal detectors !! Hide ring in jacket and have it scanned – no detection. Get in the lift and think – that’s it, nothing else can go wrong. Lift opens to a party of G/F school kids on a school trip right in front of us. Everyone says hello, I think God is trying to tell me something here!!
 
Loose the School kids, find a quiet spot and popped the question, she said yes, snow started to fall and it was amazing !!
Go for another mega meal and everybody’s happy !!


Wobbegong

15,077 posts

168 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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On Christmas Eve. I sent her on a trek through the house looking for presents (clue at each present site for the next gift). Last site had the ring biggrin

Was hard work in the pathetic half-bedroom 'house' we lived in hehe

AshBurrows

2,552 posts

161 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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WestyCarl said:
This is probably the truest thing I have read on PH..............
it's not one or the other.