20 Great Proposal Ideas

Last updated on April 24, 2023

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Realizing that you are with the one person in this whole world you want to spend the rest of your life with is an amazing feeling. We often can’t wait to get started on that magical journey through life as a couple but first must come the proposal.

There are definitely traditions surrounding this such as asking their parents for permission, getting down on bended knee and many others. The truth is though that a proposal is a personal decision and the manner in which you do it should reflect both you and your understanding of your beloved.

They may be traditionalists or perhaps they are a little more creative and enjoy being more alternative in their day to day life. There is no one script for a proposal situation so it's good to try and find ways that will be unique to your relationship, romantic and of course memorable.

In this article we are going to offer up some great ideas that you may be able to make your own with a little tweaking. Remember to use your knowledge of your partner to try and find a way that may surprise them and leave them with a fantastic memory.

1. The Airport Chauffeur

Your partner has been away somewhere and is getting back home so they have asked you to come and get them at the airport, bus station or meet them off the train. This fun plan may see you dress up as a chauffeur and take a written sign much like the ones you see in the movies that have a person's name written on it.

The addition here however will be that your sign will have their name accompanied by “Will you Marry Me?” They will be getting home excited to see you and will be looking through the crowd of people waiting only to be surprised and delighted when they see that sign and you holding it.

2. A Big Event

If you and your partner like to go and watch sporting events together such as baseball or basketball games where there are periods of down time you may be able to contact the arena. It is not at all uncommon for arenas to put messages up on their scoreboards on request from visitors for just such occasions.

If it is a televised event they may even train cameras on you to catch the reaction to a scoreboard proposal. Alternatively you can request getting onto a kiss cam lineup and when the cameras cut to you, you then propose.

3. Take a Long Hike Together

If you are the kind of couple who love getting out in nature and taking long hikes you may have a great potential proposal opportunity. Choose a hike you both love or something you have both been wanting to try.

Bring along the ring with you and carry it until you reach a scenic point that you either both like at the moment or have already discussed as being a goal on the hike. Once there take in the view and then pop the question in whichever style you choose.

4. A Zoo Proposal

If your partner loves animals and you are the type who likes to visit the zoo to see all the wild and exotic animals, this can be a very surprising and special place to pop the question. Some zoos actually have ways of helping you make the perfect proposal which can incorporate the help of some of the animals.

Contact your nearest zoo and see if there is anything they can do to help you craft the perfect proposal. Some may not have anything to offer but you can still go to the zoo and propose in front of her favorite animals as part of a really fun day out.

5. Get a Pet to Help

This a great and really cute way to pull off a proposal. If you both live together and have a dog or cat you can try and slip a note in their collar and send them off to find your partner wherever they are in the house. Make sure the note is obvious so they will spot it and then read it. Try to stay out of sight until they have found the note and start to read it. Be ready with the ring and on bended knee (if you follow that tradition) to receive their answer.

6. Put the Ring Under the Tree

Now some people think proposing over the holidays is bad luck but assuming you do not have any such hangups it can be a great time for a surprise proposal. Wrap the ring up as a gift under the tree but of course don’t make it the only one.

You will want this to be the last one they open and when they do unwrap it and open the box while they are focused on what is inside get down on one knee and pop the question. If it's just you two that’s great but if there are other family members around maybe, if you feel they can play it cool, give them a heads up as to what you are planning.

7. Use a Sky Writer

This one takes some planning but when it goes well it can be very impactful and pulled off almost anywhere. Plan an outdoor excursion of some type and ahead of time book a sky-writer to be in the skies above where you will be.

You will need to time this out well and hope that the weather holds but when that plane arrives in the air get your partner's attention and get them to look up. You can play it off initially as wondering what that plane is doing. Once they are focused on the writing, situate yourself to be able to present them the ring.

8. Use the Airwaves

This one works if your partner is very consistent with their routines and habits, for example if they listen to the same radio station every morning. Contact the station and see if it is possible for you to call in to get on the air and propose or if they can perform a proposal for you.

You can make it seem like a song dedication initially and have the DJ say your partner's name and the song you are dedicating to them. Then give them the proposal before playing the song.

9. The Fortune Cookie Switch

This one requires a little sleight of hand or forward planning. If you both enjoy Chinese food you likely visit restaurants and perhaps like opening the fortune cookies to see what is written inside. You can purchase fortune cookies online that have a fortune that reads “Will you Marry Me?”

The trick here is replacing your partner's fortune cookie with the one you brought. You can try and enlist the restaurant's help to pull this off and have them put the special cookie on the plate or you can try and make the switch yourself.

10. The Zoom Proposal

If you are in a long distance relationship and don’t get to see each other as often as you might like there is no reason you can’t make your proposal over Zoom. You can make it special by sending them a gift but making it clear they have to open it on a zoom call with you.

Get to the call and let them open the gift inside should be their ring and you should be ready with special words. Long distance is hard and this is not the ideal way to do this kind of thing but sometimes you have to work with what you have.

11. The Shoelace Feint

While strolling with your partner perhaps somewhere beautiful find the perfect spot to pull this little trick. Declare that your shoelace is untied and drop to one knee in the pretense of tying it. They will usually turn to watch you, and as they do, produce the ring and pop the question. It's simple and sneaky and will catch them off guard.

12. Scavenger Hunt

This is a really fun one for playful couples. Craft a short scavenger hunt with clues that will direct your partner to locations that have significance to you as a couple. Inform people that work at those places what you are doing and see if they can help you in any way.

After a few stops get them to come to somewhere of deep significance perhaps where you met or where you shared your first kiss. Be there waiting and ready to surprise them with the question. You can be as creative as you like with the hunt, just make it fun.

13. Hide It in Their Easter Basket

This is a fun way to do it, get them an easter basket with those plastic eggs that usually contain small pieces of candy, In one of them put the engagement ring. Be ready when they open it to ask the big question.

14. Get a Cameo From Their Hero

We are all fans of people who we like or aspire to be who are famous. Many of these people offer fan messages on Cameo. I myself was given a message from one of my heroes for my birthday. You can ask the person to wish you a happy birthday or if they are willing to make a marriage proposal on your behalf.

This does require finding someone they are a big fan of on Cameo and that person being willing to make the message but as it is a paid service chances are they will. In an ideal world they may even do it in character if you ask respectfully. Some celebrities will be more amenable than others. I know my Cameo was fantastic and the celeb went above and beyond.

15. Say It in Song

If you are a musical couple who enjoys singing then going to karaoke together may be something you do often. It's fun and entertaining. This presents a great opportunity for a clever proposal. Either choose a song to sing to them or with them.

Talk to the karaoke runner ahead of time and ask if they mind you proposing after singing a certain song. A generous gratuity will usually smooth the way to them being fine with it and leaving the microphone on so you can pop the question. A fun choice may be the Bruno Mars track "Marry You."

If you go to the same karaoke regularly and they do not have the right song, ask the runner if they can get the one you need. They sometimes can do this if it is available.

16. The Message in a Bottle

This one is fun and also a great way of getting across how you feel especially if you get tongue tied when emotional. Find an old bottle and create a message in the bottle scenario. Take a trip together to the beach and either have it hidden there ahead of time or find a way to make it look like you found it.

Play up the excitement of what the message inside says and how old it might be. Have them read it out to you and see how long it takes for them to catch on. Have that engagement ring ready for when they get to the big question.

17. A Romantic Anniversary Meal

Sometimes the best time and place for a proposal is where you went on your first date on the anniversary of that event. It’s not uncommon for couples to recreate first dates on anniversaries. It can be very sweet.

Be ready with your speech, tell them how great the preceding however many years have been and how much you want there to be many many more together. Speak from the heart and then pop the big question.

18. Involve the Kids

We live in the 21^st century. Sometimes there are already kids before marriage has even been considered. They may be your children together or kids from a previous relationship. Getting them onboard with the proposal can lead to a memorable event.

Be creative with this to try and find ways for the kids to be involved, perhaps even have them ask the question on your behalf. A great example may be getting the child to flex their acting muscles and pretend they are disappointed in you both for not being married. You play along by simply producing the ring and saying "I am sorry you’re right," then propose to your partner. This can make for a truly sweet memory whichever way you pull it off.

19. Find a Perfect Romantic Spot

The location can do so much to enhance a proposal and sometimes you don’t need trickery to make it memorable. Sometimes just finding somewhere idyllic to ask the question is enough. This can be a field of flowers, a mountain top, the beach, basically anywhere beautiful, calm and where you feel the romance.

20. On a Vacation of a Lifetime

Sometimes the perfect place is thousands of miles away and you will have to travel to get that memorable proposal. When you go on vacation together you should look for something amazing to incorporate into the proposal.

Perhaps a major landmark like the Eiffel Tower, Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Colosseum, basically somewhere that is a once in a lifetime experience just like the question you plan to ask.

Bad Proposal Ideas

We have gone through some great ideas in this article but we are yet to mention any ideas that you really should avoid. These are ideas which can be awkward and may border on just being really terrible unless things go absolutely perfect.

Not on Valentines Day

You may be thinking surely Valentine's Day would be perfect. When you really think about proposing on that day it may seem great at the time but after that you can only celebrate your proposal day and Valentine's Day at the same time. If you do it virtually any other day of the year it’s a celebration all its own that is just yours as a couple.

Another point is that if you propose in a full restaurant on Valentine’s Day surrounded by dozens of other couples you might be making a bunch of people look bad who are not going to be proposing. The start of your proposal may be the end of several strangers' relationships and that’s some karma you don’t want.

Do Not Use Food

Aside from being frankly cliché at this point, hiding an engagement ring in food or a drink is simply asking for someone to swallow a diamond ring. Unless things go absolutely perfectly you're risking choking, a hospital visit and frankly getting food all over the ring is not good for it.

Not in Crowded Places

Sometimes people will propose in crowded places such as Times Square, Disneyland or Disney World. It may seem a romantic idea but really consider it. You are surrounded by all manner of tourists who could potentially ruin the moment. It's just not worth the risk.

Never at Someone Else’s Wedding

We really shouldn’t have to be telling people this but you might be surprised how many individuals will try and use the situation of another wedding to pop the question. We get it, it’s a highly romantic environment, a celebration of love but it is the celebration of someone else’s love.

It is the height of disrespect to co-opt someone’s wedding day for your proposal. It is simply tacky and I’ll pull no punches. It makes you look like a bad person. Once you leave the wedding on the way home, have at it, but you should never try to draw focus from the happy couple.

Final Thoughts

Each and every proposal is unique and you should make yours match your personality and the type of person your partner is. If they don’t like big surprises keep it low key. If they thrive off of romantic big gestures try and match that energy.

Ideally this is a once in a lifetime event so make it unique, fun and try to express your feelings. Good luck. I hope whatever you choose to do will go great and you will be soon married to the one you love so much.

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