A Proposal Story

Sure, it would be nice to propose to her at the top of the Empire State Building like in “When Harry Met Sally” or to pop the question on the JumboTron during a Patriots game, but those ideas can feel stale and overused. To make a proposal that is romantic and memorable, you’ll have to get creative.

Women love to tell the story of the proposal, so get to thinking how you can make that story great. First, think of a place that is particularly poignant in your relationship. Maybe it’s the place you first met, or where you had your first kiss, or a place you both always dreamed of visiting. Once you’ve chosen the site, think about the “story” you could create around the site and your proposal. Make sure that it has a connection to your relationship. Don’t feel pressure to make the location really “romantic.” The fact that you choose a meaningful place will naturally make the romance ooze out of the proposal.

For example, Mike G.* used to call up his girlfriend often to find things he lost around the apartment. One day he asked her to check to see if certain videotape was in the VCR. When she hit play, there was Mike on the screen proposing to her. On the other hand, one of our expert’s favorite proposals involved a guy getting a butler and dinner table up into the mountains, since the couple often went hiking. In both cases, the proposals were good because they were personal.

Don’t feel pressured to make the proposal complicated, but do make it thoughtful. Also, think long and hard before you go ahead with that JumboTron idea; most women prefer a private setting.