When I proposed to my girlfriend (now my wife), I learned a lot about wedding proposals from the feedback my fiance got from her friends.
I like to think of myself as a helpless romantic, so I wanted to do some things to try making the proposal a special event and I think I may have succeeded on some small level. I wanted her to be surprised, I wanted her to see how big of an event this was for me, and in some small way, I wanted her girlfriends to be a little jealous about how I asked her.
It's all about the story
So, what was the big thing I learned? The main thing I learned was that the proposal itself is almost as important as the ring.
My wife works at an elementary school teaching kindergarten and first grade. Every day for two weeks after our engagement, she would tell me "I got to tell the story three times today"..."I got to tell the story twice today"..."I got to tell the story four times today".
So my suggestion is to not take the proposal event lightly. Spend some time thinking it through and planning it. The time you spend doing what you can to make this a special event will not go un-noticed and will be something she will brag about for years to come. You will be rewarded for the rest of your married life for the planning and effort that you put into this one thing.
Ten Wedding Proposal Ideas
Here are ten ideas for you. Good luck!
1. Give her multiple gifts leading up to the engagement ring (the engagement ring given as the last one).
2. Have flowers in her name pre-delivered to the location where you will be asking her. This shows how you planned ahead to make it a special time just for her.
3. Have someone taking pictures. This person could be hiding and taking pictures from a hidden location so they don't give away your secret too soon. Of course, after she says "Yes" the photographer can come out and get lots of pictures of both of you celebrating the proposal.
4. Take an art class together. There are many date-night type art classes available in almost every town. Sit facing her so that you can't see each other's canvas. At the end of the evening, reveal your canvas with "Will you marry me? painted in big bold letters.
5. Say it with flowers. Nothing says romance better than flowers. Spell out your love on the floor in flower petals or lead her to the proposal sight with flowers arranged to make a path to where you plan on getting down on one knee.
6. Photo finish. Find a photo booth and start taking pictures. Then pull out the ring and ask while the pictures are being taken. You will have the exact moment of the proposal caught on film. Of course, you could also have a group of friends and family ready to come celebrate with you as soon as you exit the photo booth.
7. Caricature. Arrange the proposal with a street caricaturist to draw both of you. But with asking "Will you?" and her answering "Yes".
8. Ask the manager of your favorite restaurant to have the chef write "Will you marry me?" in chocolate around the rim of the plate holding her favorite dessert.
9. First date revisited. Let her know that you remember special times with her. Take her on a date to the same place you had your first date together. Let her know that you hold this memory in a special place in your heart. She will glow just hearing that.
10. Follow the ribbon. Get some red ribbon and lay it out leading her on a treasure hunt of sorts. Along the ribbon place mementos, pictures of the two of you together, romantic cards telling her how much you love her, and finally at the end of the ribbon is you holding the ring.
In the end, it is all about letting her know that you thought it out ahead of time, spent time and effort thinking it though and planning the proposal. Above all, have fun.