Propose To My Girlfriend

You may have asked the question “How do I know if my girlfriend loves me?” You may think you know, but if you are head over heels in love with her, and you are contemplating proposing to her, you should be to be 100% sure.  So, what can you do if you have any doubts about her true feelings for you?

Well it really depends on the state of your relationship. Here are some questions to ask yourself. Has she told you she loves you? How long have you been dating? How much time do the two of you spend together? Are you joined at the proverbial hip? Do you have the same values and enjoy doing many of the same things together? Do you make her laugh? Answering “yes” to these questions is a good sign that she loves you, but doesn’t mean for sure she does.

If you have reason to think that she may not love you there are some things you can do to find out. If you are the dotting type that is always paying close attention to her, telling her you love her, and buying her flowers, try giving her a bit of space. Don’t come right out and say “I’m going to give you some space.” Just ease off a bit. If you have been going overboard with the show of affection, you may be just piling on too much of a good thing. Spend a bit more time with your friends and pursuing some of your own interest for a while. If she really loves you, this will probably make her take a bit more interest in your relationship.

Here is a definition of love for you to consider:
“When you are more concerned with someone else’s happiness, well-being, future and life than even your own, you’re in love.”

Does this sound like how she feels about you? Do her actions show she feels about you this way? Is she kind and considerate towards you, or does she seem to take you for granted?

Does she cook for you? How about slaving away in a hot kitchen creating your favorite meal?

Does she do nice things for you that are out of her way, difficult, or expensive? She likely wouldn’t put herself through that if she wasn’t in love with you. If you are thinking about asking her to marry you, you should be in a relationship where those kinds of things are a regular occurrence.

You can always ask, but that can seem needy, and you really shouldn’t have to. Besides, her actions speak louder than words anyway. Watch what she does, how she acts, and look at her facial expressions when she looks at you. If you’re sure she does love you and you are ready to propose, look through the archives and other posts here for exactly what to say when you propose to her, ways to propose, how to save money on your engagement ring, and great places to propose. Good luck!

If you’re going to get engaged there is almost no way around doing some ring shopping, and in most cases you’ll be choosing a diamond for your girlfriend’s engagement ring. Through a nifty bit of marketing by the De Beers family of companies, most people choose diamonds for their engagement rings throughout the western world.

As an aside, Cecil Rhodes, the founder of De Beers, started out just renting pumps to the diamond mines. He grew his little operation, invested in the mines he was supplying the pumps to, and ended up owning all the diamond production facilities in the nation of South Africa. That’s a bit of shrewd investing.

A few months back, I posted on choosing a diamond for her engagement ring, and discussed the 4Cs of a diamond. These are it’s color, cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Here is more about how to choose the right diamond, so you can walk into a jewelery store without that “deer in a headlights” look or browse an online jeweler and know more about what you are looking for. Remember, you can get a great diamond for her ring without spending so much for it, if you have a bit more knowledge.

Different Diamond Cuts
Many people confuse diamond cut with it’s shape, and I discussed this a bit in my earlier post on how to choose a diamond for your girlfriends engagement ring. The cut is actually the angle and shape of the facets. Here are some of the more popular cuts, so you can actually see what they look like.

Diamond Shape
Again, this is sometimes confused with the diamond’s cut, but it is actually just what it sound’s like, the overall shape of the stone, as described by it’s outline. Here are some pictures of the more popular shapes:

Here are some of the more popular diamond shapes. Your girlfriend probably has a favorite already. Your job is to find out what it is.

Diamond Ideal Cut Proportions:

Notice how the permissible variation in tolerances for the cut decrease with quality level.

Why are the angles of a diamond cut so important?

The various cut angles determine how the stone will reflect light. That’s what gives a diamond it famous “fire” qualities that are so prized. Without these, diamonds would just be a really cool glass cutter.

If the cuts are outside the ideal angles, your girlfriend’s diamond will not have the brilliance through the sides and bottom that you want. That is because it will lose light as the light is refracted, or bent, as it goes through the diamond. The angle of the cut helps determine how which direction the light exits. The angle must be just right, and each facet angle must be consistent in order to get the brilliant diamond that most people want. That ensures the diamond has that same fire and brilliance from any side.

Here you can see why the angle of the cut is so important. The arrow represents light entering the diamond. You can see how an improper cut angle lets light “leak” out of the stone, rather than sending it back to your eye.

Look at how the cut angle affects the light path through a diamond.

Hopefully you can use this info to help pick out the diamond your girlfriend deserves. Check out my post on how to find and affordable engagement ring for strategies that can save you big money on your ring, but still get the spectacular ring she wants.

There are countless ways to propose to a girl. Here are some great ones that just might just kick start the ole' noggin' and get you thinkin'

If you’ve been thinking about proposing to your girlfriend, you probably never realized there are so many ways to propose to a girl. Now that you’re in the hot seat, you’ll want to get some proposal ideas so you can see what way will be the best fit for your girlfriend. There are romantic ways to propose, fun ways, and unique ways. The key is to choose a proposal that properly fits with your gal’s personality and what she likes.

Korbells, the champagne producer, does a wedding survey. One of their recent surveys discovered that almost 80% of women weren’t especially satisfied with their marriage proposals. Here are some proposal ideas to help make sure your woman is in that top 20%.

There are some things you should do to make your proposal is all it can be, and I’m not talking about anything to do with the U.S. Army, although I am a strong supporter of the armed forces and those who people who sacrifice to serve our country. The first thing is planning. Too few people actually take the time to plan out all the details of their proposals, beyond making dinner reservations and ordering flowers. While you may think taking these essential steps qualifies as planning, you’ll want to go a bit farther on something so important.

Think about everything you know she really likes, and all the things she’s mentioned about her likes and dislikes during your relationship. What does she talk about wanting to do in the future? How would she spend her time if she didn’t have to work, and could do whatever she wanted for the rest of her life? Is she very social, or a woman who is happier alone or with only a few close friends? The important to think about when planning your proposal is to make sure it is for her, and fits her personality perfectly.

Plan every detail, and have a back up plan in the event things change. You may not stick to the plan exactly, but if you have one, and some contingency plans, you’ll be much more confident, and your chances of success will be much higher. If you have to deviate form your plan, so be it, but at least this way you’ll be much more sure all the details are covered, rather than fumbling around later, with your girlfriend wondering what the heck is up.

The next thing is to practice your proposal speech. Speech doesn’t mean you have to deliver the Gettysburg Address or anything, but if you plan to say more than “Will you marry me?” you should at least run through it a few times. You’re going to be nervous, and nerves have a funny way of messing things up. A few run throughs before the show will really help you minimize your chances of a colossal screw up. The confidence gained from practicing it will help your nerves and help make the whole thing go more smoothly. Trust me, proposal can never go too smoothly.

What the heck are you going to plan and practice, anyway? Here are some of the ways you can propose, so you have something you can plan and practice.

There are many romantic ways to propose, and many of these are old standbys. You’ll rarely go wrong with a well planned and  implemented romantic proposal. Most women really appreciate romance, especially when it comes to their proposal. In light of the aforementioned survey results, going the romantic route would seem a safe bet.

What are some ways you can bring romance to your proposal? A wonderful view sure never hurts, so look at proposing in a place with a panoramic mountain, water, or city view. Adding in a sunset sure doesn’t hurt the view or romance component either.

Another way to include romance is to be sure there are some flowers and candles around. Make sure you are in an intimate setting. You can be at a restaurant, but be sure you’re at a private booth or a cozy table for two in the corner. Here is where the planning comes into play, because you have to actively pursue such details and make sure they happen according to your plan.

Here are some classic, romantic ways to propose.

Walk on the beach proposal – You can do this either at sunset or by moonlight. Both are very romantic, but if you want to do a moonlight proposal, you’ll need to look at the weather report, and a moon phase chart. After all, it will be hard to get a romantic, moonlit walk on the beach if the moon isn’t full, or if it’s obscured by clouds.

Romantic restaurant proposal - This is probably the most popular proposal scenario of all. Chose a restaurant that either has some romantic significance for you, or one that has a great reputation in the city where you’ll be proposing. If it has nice views, arrange a table that takes advantage of the view. If you can go on a night that isn’t busy, so much the better. You’ll have more privacy, and a smaller chance of obnoxious dinner guests interrupting your evening.

Go there a few times beforehand so that when you’re proposing it will be more of a surprise. If you haven’t ever been there before she’ll suspect something is afoot, unless you customarily dine out at nice restaurants. Remember, many women say that surprise is one of the keys to a successful proposal.

Romantic Bath Proposal - This works best if your girlfriend has had an especially difficult day, and would really appreciate a nice, hot bath. If she has a job where this is a regular occurrence, finding such a day will be so much easier for you. Get her bath ready and put in some nice, scented oil. Make things a bit more romantic with some soft, romantic music, flowers, and candles. You can even scatter some rose petals around the bathtub. Sure, she may think you’re getting her in the mood for something else, but that will only make it easier for you to surprise her.

As she is relaxing in the bath, give her a nice massage to make her even more relaxed. As she settles into an extreme state of relaxation, get down on one knee next to the tub, take her hand, slip the ring on her finger, and propose to her.

Romantic Adventure Proposals – These are not so classic, but are romantic just the same. If your girlfriend is the adventurous type, you can propose to her while doing something exciting, but you can make it romantic at the same time. Hiking or mountain biking is great, because you can go to a place with a spectacular view. Plan a picnic for when you arrive at the scenic view spot. Enjoy the view, and while she is paying attention to the view, surprise her with your proposal.

To take it a step further, you can go beforehand and prepare a proposal message for her that she can see as she views the landscape. You can also set it up so that your proposal is visible through binoculars as she is enjoying the scenery. As she looks through the binoculars, she’ll discover your proposal, and as she turns around to look at you in disbelief, you’ll be on one knee with the engagement ring for her.

I wrote in another post about proposing while white water rafting, and that is another great adventure proposal idea. You can also propose while scuba diving. As you surface with your bag full of whatever the heck you found down there (she’ll soon forget whatever it was anyway) turn to her, pull the ring out of the bag (making sure it is secured, so it doesn’t fall into the watery deep) and propose to her.

If your proposal is going to be more than “Will you marry me?” (and it should be) You can find some more ideas in one of my my posts on what to say when you propose to your girlfriend.

There are countless ways to propose marriage to your special girl. Maybe romance isn’t your thing, but it probably is hers. However, if you are sure she would rather have a proposal with a bit more zest, or intrigue, you can check out some of these others:

The day at the museum proposal – If your girlfriend is an Art or museum aficionado, you can arrange your proposal to happen during a trip to her favorite museum. Even better is to take her to a new one she has always to visit. She’ll be excited to visit a new museum, so she won’t suspect you’re about to propose to her. The great thing about museums is that there are so many different kinds, and chances are, if your girlfriend is really into visiting them, you’ll be able to find her one she hasn’t been to before, but has always wanted to. If it is in another town, you can make it a proposal trip.

You can arrange this with the museum director if you want to take things a step farther. That is great, because it will let you be a bit more creative than just asking her on the steps, although there is nothing wrong with that, either.

The huge party proposal – This works great if she is extremely social. Be aware that many women who love social gatherings and partying would still rather have their proposal be an intimate, romantic affair (maybe not the best word choice here) If you want the social / party proposal, have a huge party somewhere; at the beach, or at a large home works very well. Have all her friends and family who she would typically inviter to a large party.

Make it about some specific occasion such as Independence Day or the end of summer, but not about a milestone on someone else’s life, like a graduation. Making the party about a date or event can throw her off the trail, so she doesn’t suspect what you’re about to do.

When you propose to her, get everyone’s attention first. When everyone gathers around, and all eyes are upon you, make a short speech about how much she means to you and why she is the woman for you. When you’ve completed your speech, turn to her, get down on one knee, and propose as you take her hand and slip the ring over her finger. If you do this during an Independence Day celebration, time it so that the fireworks show starts just as you finish your proposal.

These are some great ways to propose, but if you didn’t find anything here you think would suit her, check out some other posts about Ways to Propose to a Girl.

If you have any proposal stories you’d like to share, please leave them in the comments section.

There have been many famous wedding proposals throughout history, but was anyone prepared to go as far as England's King Edward VIII to marry their sweetheart? Doubtful. Find out what he gave up to marry.

Not everyone proposes like you and I. Some proposals are either unique or are made by celebrities and a guaranteed to be remembered for years. Here are some famous wedding proposals that we may never forget. Use them for inspiration when planning your own proposal. (You are planning yours, aren’t you?)

Perhaps the most famous proposal, if not for the actual proposal itself, but for the people involved and what the groom to be sacrificed, is the proposal of King Edward VIII  of England. Sharp readers will note that he’s no longer the king, and hasn’t been for over half a century. Part of that is due to his death in 1972, but King Edward VII actually abdicated his throne, just gave it up, to propose to the woman he loved. Quitting your job for your girlfriend is one thing, but giving up the helm of an entire empire is quite another.

Here is one wedding proposal that will be tough to top, literally. When singer Seal proposed to his super model girlfriend Heidi Klum, he did it in a custom built (really, aren’t they all?) igloo in Whistler, BC. To make it even more remarkable, the igloo wasn’t in Whistler Village, just a short hop from the Longhorn Saloon. No, Seal pulled out all the stops and had his proposal igloo built on a glacier at over10,000 feet above sea level. Did she like it? Klum called the proposal a “Once in a lifetime event.” and said “Yes!”

Uber Novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald proposed to his wife to be, Zelda Sayre, immediately after the success of his first novel, This Side of Paradise. Like many would be husbands, his future father-in-law was none too impressed with Fitzgerald’s prospects for supporting his daughter. In retaliation, F. Scott wrote a bestseller, then sent his girlfriend an engagement ring with a proposal note. In a classic, romantic twist the engagement ring he used was originally his mother’s. What did the wedding proposal of one of the best writers of the 20th century say? “Darling, I love you so much, much, much that it hurts every minute I’m without you. Goodbye, My own Wife.”  Maybe not a master work, but short, and to the point.

Although experts agree it is best to propose with an engagement ring, some people just don’t listen. Take ex-President Bill Clinton, for example. When he proposed to his future wife Hillary, he reportedly exclaimed “I bought that house you like, so you better marry me because I can’t live in it by myself”. If you can’t buy your girlfriend a house just yet (although interest rates are low, and home prices have never looked better in some areas) just stick with a diamond. Even Clinton eventually popped for one. Hillary now sports an estimated 3 carat rock.

Not everyone can propose on stage, but if you’re an NFL superstar and your girlfriend is a gorgeous actress, you can probably pull it off. In  1998, that’s just what former Giants DB Jason Sehorn surprised dark haired beauty Angie Harmon with, right on the set of the Tonight Show, in front of Jay Leno, the studio audience, and the millions watching at home.

The astonished Harmon promptly sputtered “Oh, Baby, Yes!” and the couple enjoyed a song by Elton John, who happened to be in attendance. Sehorn did the classic, down on one knee proposal, the difference being, of course that he was on live TV in front of millions. You would probably find yourself in a slightly different environment.

One of the best known marriage proposals of the 20th century wasn’t even real. It existed only on the set of the 1990′s TV smash hit Friends. Like the Sehorn / Harmon proposal, it too was viewed by millions. In a conclusion many Friends fans awaited for what seemed like years, Monica and Chandler proposed to each other in a romantically packed proposal. The room was decorated and hundreds of candles lit throughout the room.
Here are the words Chandler spoke as he delivered his wedding proposal to Monica on Friends:
“I thought that it mattered what I said or where I said it. Then I realized the only thing that matters is that you. You make me happier than I ever thought I could be, and if you’ll let me, I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you feel the same way. Monica, will you marry me?”

When writer / director Jesse Warren proposed to his actress girlfriend Autumn Reeser (The O.C., Valentine, Entourage) in Los Angeles, he devised a scavenger hunt that would have Reeser going to all the important spots in their relationship. Eventually the hunt led to dinner at a romantic restaurant in Malibu, where Warren proposed with a vintage, 1910 engagement ring.

Okay, so that may not be a truly famous proposal, but it is romantic and many women would love it.

This one, however involves celebs who are considerably more well known, and was witnessed by thousands of people. When country superstar Garth Brooks proposed to fellow country superstar Trisha Yearwood in 2005, he did so at a live awards ceremony in Bakersfield, CA, in front of the roughly 7,000 in attendance.

Part of the ceremony included uncovering a large,bronze statue of Brooks. Unbeknownst to Yearwood, Garth had the sculptor include a wedding band on his finger. The couple stood there as the cover came off, and Brooks pointed out the ring on his likeness’ finger. He then removed his cowboy hat(!), got down on one knee, and delivered his proposal; the classic “Will you marry me?” She, of course, said yes.

These are just a few of the famous proposals delivered throughout history. Although you may not have the means or desire to emulate them, you can glean some inspiration that can help you with your own wedding proposal. Good luck!

Asking the right questions before you get married, and honest answers to them, are the key to a successful marriage.

You may think you are ready to propose to your girlfriend, or maybe you’ve proposed already, but there are some questions to ask before you get married. The answers to these questions will go a long way toward determining your happiness together in your new life. Get together with your girlfriend and discuss your future together so you can be assured of having a long and happy one. An hour or so now will pay huge dividends in your relationship later.

Just because you love each other, and you are the proverbial soul mates, doesn’t mean that you can just propose, then go off and get married and everything will be happier ever after, just like in the storybook. No, it is more complicated than that. You have to figure out some of life’s little conundrums first, and answering these questions together before you get married, rather than finding out the answers later, is a great way to help pave the road to  a long and happy married life together.

Note that these questions are not a substitute for pre-marriage counseling, but if you aren’t prepared to get that, or don’t believe in such things, they can be a good way to stop potential problems before they turn into real issues later in your marriage. Some of these appear to be nitpicking, but better a little bit of that now, than a lifetime of it later.

Question 1)
Are we going to have kids, and if so, how many? This is a big one. Failing to agree on this can spell doom for a marriage early on. If one of you want s a big family, and the other genuinely wants no children, that spells trouble ahead.

Question 2)
What religion(s) are we going to practice and how are we going to practice it? This is a core values question and you’ll need to be on the same page here in order to live a long and happy life together. Do you have the religious or spiritual belief system, or are they closely aligned? If you don’t already know, find out now.

Question 3)
How will we structure our professional lives? This is actually a whole series of questions, such as:
Are we going to both work, and if so how much? Who’s career will dominate if one of us should get on an upwardly mobile track? In many cases one of the partners in a marriage will find themselves with career requirements that don’t mesh with the other’s? How will you handle such an occurrence? How much are you prepared to have your spouse work? If one of you is regularly traveling on business or at the office late on a regular basis, will that lead to problems in the marriage?

Question 4)
If we have children, how will we change our lives? Myriad things enter into this question, such as will one parent quit working, and if so for how long? Will we relocate to an area for better schools or neighborhood? Where? Would we like to put our children into a private school? If so, what kind?

Question 5)
How will we handle the holidays? Whose parents will we visit, and for which holidays? You may think this is trivial, but don’t. Many arguments have been started or resentments built by such seemingly benign things as whose parents are we going to for Thanksgiving this year? It only gets worse because so many people have divorced parents, potentially doubling the number of possible destination choices every holiday. It really gets more important to have an answer to this question before you have children.

Question 6)
Are we comfortable with the way things are sexually? Are both of you fairly equal in your sex drives? Does one of you want sex way more than the other. If so, is the other partner comfortable with this? Have you discussed in depth (no pun intended) what the other likes during sex, and are you comfortable with it? A couples intimacy and sexual issues can become stumbling blocks to long term happiness, so it is best to work on these things now. Remember that if and when you have children your sex life will likely experience a bit of a decrease. That’s not a sure thing, but millions of parents will likely concur.

Question 7)
How will we deal with our finances?  How will we divide our budget? What percentage of our income will we put aside for retirement, housing, transportation, and other important things? How much should we spend on entertainment? How much do we want to spend in each of those areas? Are we in general agreement on this? Will we keep separate bank and checking accounts? Will we have a joint account? If we have both joint and separate accounts, how will we allocate resources between them?

Financial matters are extremely important,and money issues are one of the leading causes of divorce in the United States. Examine each other’s spending patterns, because if one or both of you tend to spend large portions of your income on certain things, the other may not be comfortable with it after you are married. This is a generalization, but guys tend to spend more on tools and outdoor recreation, such as motorcycles, hunting, fishing, and attending sporting events, while women tend to spend more on shopping trips and personal care. Be sure you are comfortable with the other’s level of spending in these areas, and how they fit into your long term financial plans.

Speaking of long term financial plans, what are they? How soon would you like to retire, and what are you doing to make that happen? Would either of you like to own your own business some day (providing you don’t already). That is a huge commitment for both of you from both a financial and time perspective, so that is a decision both of you should make together. Keep in mind that if one of you is very entrepreneurial and wants very much to start a business, and the other is risk averse, this could lead to large problems later in the relationship.

Discuss the other’s credit score, and know how many credit cards  and their balances the other has before you get married. Each of you should get a copy of your credit report and go over it to ensure it is accurate. In some cases up to 25% of the negative information on a credit report is inaccurate. You do not have to pay for this. You are entitled by law to receive one free copy of your credit report annually from each of the three credit reporting agencies; Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian.  Your credit score is one of the most important numbers in your life.

After you get married each of your financial information will affect you as a couple. If one of you has a poor credit score, it can be financially devastating for both of you. It can make it more difficult and expensive for you for major purchases such as a car or a home. In addition, your credit card’s interest rates will be higher if your credit score is low.

Do either of you gamble? If so, how much and what kind of gambling? This is something you can not look at too seriously. If one partner gambles, and the other does not, it can wreck a marriage if the gambling gets out of control. There are so many avenues available for gambling on today’s society that it opens the possibility of gambling causing martial problems to a greater extent than in the past. If both of you gamble, it could still wreck your finances, but may not have the same effect on your marrige.

Question
Who does the housework? In the Beaver Cleaver era, that was a no brainer. Ward went to work, and June stayed home and took care of all the household chores they couldn’t get the kids to take care of. If you hadn’t noticed, times have changed. It’s likely that both partners work. If you are both putting in 40 – 60 hours a week climbing th corporate ladder or slaving away at some dead end job, neither of you is going to be too inclined to do the dishes before collapsing on the couch in front of the TV to enjoy a glass of Chardonnay (weather it came from a box or bottle). It is best to figure this out sooner, rather than later, after it becomes a point of contention. If you think this is bad in the beginning, wait until you have a couple of children.

Question 9)
Are we comfortable with each other’s views on health? If one of you is serious about health and fitness and the other isn’t, are you both comfortable with this? Are you fine with the time you each want to spend pursuing health and fitness related activities?  What about your position on overall health? If one of you eats a healthy diet and the other eats without much regard for, or even seeming disdain for their health, will this be okay? If one of you cooks, and the other chooses not to eat the meal for health reasons, will that be acceptable? If you eat it even though you would rather not do so, this can cause resentment or health problems down the road.

Question 10)

Hey, we’re almost done! Look at both partner’s friends, and the kind of friends you keep and make. Are both couples comfortable with them? If one partner is more comfortable meeting people and is very outgoing, and the other is more introverted will that create problems? If one partner meets and befriends people the other thinks of as less desirable, will this create friction in the relationship? How about your social calendar? Is it as full or as empty as you’d like? If one of you wants to go out all the time, and the other is more comfortable staying home, this could spell trouble.

These are all questions to ask before you get married, rather than have their answers cause you relationship problems later. As with so many things in life, a bit of work up front can pave the way for success in the future. Good luck!

You can never have to many ways to propose. Whatever you choose, make sure your proposal is tailored just for her. If you're stuck, here are some more proposal ideas.

Finding new and unique ways to propose marriage isn’t all that easy. After all, most of the traditional ways to propose have been tried a few million times before, and many others have been seen and talked about more than a few times. Want to propose on the scoreboard in Fenway, while falling from a plane, or diving on the Great Barrier Reef? Sorry, somebody has already beat you to it.

How about spelling your proposal in candles on the beach, in flower petals on the bed, riding up to her in a suit of armor, or having your proposal announced over the PA system at Candlestick Park? The fact is that no matter what you are thinking of to propose to your sweetie has probably already been done by some other guy, somewhere, at some point in history.

That doesn’t mean that you should give up on doing something original. The important thing is that no matter what you decide is the best proposal, what really matters is that it is the best one for your girlfriend. Every person is different, and what is important is that you create the perfect proposal that fits her better than anything else would.

You know her better than anyone else, except maybe some of her family members. Think about what she likes. What really makes her shine? Is she a romantic. Most women are, and even if she doesn’t talk about romance or while away her days watching romantic movies, there is a better than even chance she has a strong romantic streak buried in there somewhere.

Some women have been thinking about their perfect proposal since they were little girls. Chances are that your girlfriend has thought about hers more than once. It’s up top you to find out what it is. You don’t have to copy it exactly, but it wouldn’t hurt, either. In any case, it will give you an idea of how she would really like to be proposed to. If you are going to ask around to her family or friends for clues, watch out. Surprise is important in a proposal and if you start asking too many people, news of your impending proposal could easily leak back to her, potentially spoiling the surprise.

If you are still stuck for proposal ideas, here are a few more to think about.

Propose to her in a beautiful flower nursery, the kind where there are shelves of flowers in a greenhouse. You’ll have to set this up beforehand, but you will have to make preparations with many proposals. Have the nursery spell out your proposal in flowers on one of the shelves. Have it on a full shelf, in a contrasting color so it is easy to read. Just have them put her name, then “Will you marry me?” and then your name. You can get down on one knee and read your entire proposal when she sees the flower proposal.

Don’t think flowers will be a big hit with her? How about this one? Have your proposal cut into crops, like a crop circle. You’ll have to get her into a plane or on a tall hill adjacent to the circle, where she can see it. Farmers have done this before, but you’ll obviously have to pay them for their crops. It is definitely proposing in a big way.

Not into the whole farm motif, or live in the city? Are you the creative type? Do a video proposal, but not just any video proposal. It has to be creative enough to go viral on YouTube. Once it goes viral, she’ll see it (or you’ll arrange to have her see it). It will definitely be a surprise. The only downside to this kind of proposal is that you probably won’t be there when she sees it. She’ll probably get a phone call or get it sent to her, when it’s got about 100,000 views on YouTube.

Another tech related proposal idea is to start a website or blog with your proposal. People have been very successful using this idea. You can easily use WordPress to craft a high quality proposal blog or site with a minimum of technical aptitude. Remember though, that your proposal should be all about her and should take her personality into account in a big way. If a blog or website proposal isn’t going to be the sort of thing she’s be excited about, move on to another idea.

Propose to her on her birthday. The advantage of a birthday proposal is that she’ll expect you to take her out somewhere, so it will be easy to surprise her with a proposal. If you are a couple that rarely goes to a nice restaurant, she will think something is up if you all of a sudden want to take her to a nice restaurant or on a romantic getaway. If you do it under the guise of a birthday trip or dinner date, it will be so much easier to surprise her with your proposal.

Propose at Disneyland in California or Disney World in Orlando, Florida. There are so many places to ask her to marry you at either of these theme parks, but you can take it a step farther. You can get some of the Disney characters to help you in your proposal. To enlist their help, you’ll have to contact Disney first. You can contact their wedding guest services at (714) 520-7005 or guest relations at (714) 781-7290 (Disneyland) or (407) 824-5130 (Disney World) for more information.

Take out an ad in her favorite magazine. You can make it look just like a real ad, with a photo of yourself down on one knee presenting her a ring. Make it whatever theme will go best with her personality. This can get a bit expensive, depending on the magazine and your taste for the extravagant. A nice, quarter or ½ page ad works nicely, but there’s nothing wrong with a full page one, either. You could easily spend many thousands of dollars for such an ad, but you could just as easily do that for a trip to Paris too, but this way you won’t have to pack, and you’ll have the ad forever.

There are so many ways to propose marriage to your girl. You’re limited only by your imagination, wallet, and time. Find a way, and get down one one knee…but don’t forget the ring!

Just proposed and want to get married in Las Vegas? You are not alone, buster....

Are you thinking about getting married in Las Vegas? If so, you’re certainly not alone. More than 110,000 couples get married in Las Vegas every year. While not all of them get married in a chapel by Elvis, many people who want to get married in Las Vegas do so because they want to get married fast. Sometimes there is a bit too much liquid courage involved in their decision.

On other occasions however, it’s the mystique of getting married in the same chapel where such celebrities as Jon Bon Jovi, Kelly Ripa, Carmen Electra, and Lorenzo Lamas (no, not all to each other) tied the knot. In Vegas, you can get married at almost a moment’s notice, in an old fashioned church, or in one of the many themes wedding chapels strewn throughout the city.

What are the requirements to get married in Las Vegas?  According to the Clark County court, who has authority over such things, you need the following:

Non U.S. citizens should check with your local officials for special documents that may be needed to ensure that your marriage will be recognized in your country.

Applicants must be a male and a female, at least 18 years of age, and not nearer of kin than second cousins or cousins of half blood, and not having a husband or wife living.

Applicants may be required to prove their age. Those not having acceptable identification to prove age may be refused a marriage license. Faxed copies, damaged identification, privately issued I.D., check cashing cards or photocopies of identification are unacceptable.

Social Security Numbers are required on the Affidavit of Application for a Marriage License. Please know your Social Security Number. Those without knowledge of their Social Security Number may be refused a marriage license.  It is recognized that non U.S. citizens will not have a Social Security Number.
There is no blood test and no waiting period after a license is issued.

If you hail from a country outside of the U.S., but feel the need for speed, you’ll be pleased to discover that there is no difference in the requirements for U.S. citizens and non citizens.

If either of you are divorced, you need only know the exact date of your divorce, and it must be final, but you don’t need to bring it with you to get your marriage license.

What are some of the more popular wedding chapels in Las Vegas?

Graceland Wedding Chapel is certainly near the top of the list. I have even attended a wedding there myself, and no, it wasn’t my own. Rocker Jon Bon Jovi did attend his own ceremony there, however. So did music and TV star Miley Cyrus’ dad, Billy Ray. If you want to get married by Elvis, The Graceland is the chapel for you.

Another top Las Vegas Wedding Chapel is The Little Church of the West. Like the Graceland Chapel, it has had its share of celebrities get married there. Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton got hitched there, as did Betty Grable, Mickey Rooney, and Dudley Moore. It is the oldest of the “quickie” wedding chapels, opening its doors all the way back in 1942, when Vegas as we know it today didn’t really exist.

Another option if you want to get married in a Vegas chapel is the Chapel of the Flowers. This is one of the nicer chapels, and it’s right on the Las Vegas strip. Brides magazine even picked the Chapel of the Flowers as “The most beautiful and private wedding chapel in Las Vegas, without comparison.” That’s pretty high praise from a magazine that tends to know about such matters. Who has shared their sentiments? Dennis Rodman and Carmen Electra were married at the Chapel of the Flowers.

One more chapel in Vegas that has gotten some well deserved attention is the Little White Wedding Chapel. The LWWC has an actual drive through tunnel, for God’s sake! It has also been hosting weddings on the Vegas strip for decades, and many celebrities have gotten hitched there. Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Micheal Jordan, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, and Joan Collins are just a few of the celebrities whose weddings have taken place at the Little White Wedding Chapel.

Weather you’re looking at getting married in Las Vegas because you’ve always wanted to, you wanted to share in the celebrity mystique, or because you found the girl of your dreams and proposed last night, there are many options and few restrictions. That’s why Las Vegas has long been a favorite of people that want to get married sooner, rather than later.

There is no question that proposing is a time of questions for most men. After all there is a pretty good chance you’ve never done it before. If it is time number two or three, you probably have things all figured out. Here are some of the most common questions guys ask.

What knee do I kneel on when proposing?

As when being knighted, the left knee should be down when you are proposing. Have the right knee up and hold the ring box in your right hand while opening it with the left. If you are left handed, you can make an exception to this rule.

Should I let her pick her own engagement ring?

Yes, you should let her choose her own ring. You should actually find out exactly what she likes first, then buy the ring yourself so that you can make the proposal a surprise. It is a very good idea to discuss marriage before you actually propose to your girlfriend. Part of those discussions can be on the kind of ring she likes. If you are smoother than the guy in the Keystone Light commercials you can find out without letting her know you’ll be buying her the exact same ring anytime soon. See my post on how to save money on engagement rings to find out how you can get her a really nice engagement ring without spending so much money.

Should women propose to men?

Although definitely not the norm, women proposing to men is a growing trend. 63% of Americans in a recent survey agree that women getting down on one knee is more commonplace now than in the past.

Do you need to have a ring to give to her when you propose?

Well, maybe not have to have one, but it is a really good idea. Almost 40% of women surveyed indicated that they though not having a ring to give at proposal time is mistake numero uno a guy can make. I don’t know about you, but avoiding the number one proposal mistake sounds like a good idea to me.

Should I tell anyone before I propose to my girlfriend?

If you are a traditionalist, you should tell her father or parents when you ask for their permission first. Other than that, no, it just adds stress and pressure that you do not really need, and increases the chances that she’ll find out before you actually propose to her, spoiling the surprise. Also, if she thinks you are going to ask her to marry you but for some reason you don’t do it when she thinks you are going to, it can really put a strain on the relationship. If you do ask her father, make sure that he knows not to tell anyone you asked first.