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Popping the question is one of the most life-changing moments of your life. You’ve been building up to this exact second from the moment you first met your partner. So, it’s only natural that you want to propose in a way that symbolizes the beauty of your relationship.
The reason these bad boys are on our list is simply because they’ve been executed a million times over. If you and your partner are more traditional and enjoy the classics, please don’t take offense to our list. These cliche proposals are best to avoid if you and your partner enjoy being different.
So, without further ado: here’s our list of 5 proposals to avoid, (and the reasons why).
1. Hiding the ring inside food
Listen, we appreciate the gesture. And, at the end of the day, if we love you, we’ll marry you, regardless of where you’re hiding the ring.
But, on behalf of 99% of women: please don’t hide the ring inside food.
Whether you’re concealing the ring in a ooey-gooey chocolate cake, a fizzy glass of champagne, inside the shell of an avocado in the place of the stone or inside the meaty juices and melted cheddar of a Big Mac, (this is one of the most popular foods to hide an engagement ring. I know. I didn’t expect it either), it’s not a good idea.
We’ll be beyond thrilled that you’ve proposed, so we’ll stick the ring on our finger without thinking about it. But, the smell of minced meat sticks on our hands for ages. Plus, the grease is not a natural cleaner for your engagement ring and it will take some delicate but intensive cleaning to get it sparkling again.
There’s also the fact that we could actually choke. And, what a waste of delicious food. Nothing says ‘I love you’ like a trip to the Emergency Room!
(We’re kidding. Please don’t propose using food.)
2. Popping the question at the top of a rollercoaster
Disney World is well known for being the happiest place on earth. If your partner is Disney-royalty, I’m pretty sure you’ve already considered proposing in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle. It’s a common method of proposal. And the staff at Disney World are well trained to do whatever they can to make your special moment all the more special.
If it works for you and your partner then great. You can’t take a Disney Princess to Disney World and not pop the question.
But, be careful about where you do it.
Doing it on top of a rollercoaster, for example? Bad idea. You could drop the ring right off the side. Splash Mountain is not the place for a proposal.
Make sure you propose somewhere that isn’t risky. The last thing you want to do is lose the ring.
3. Propose at someone else’s wedding
Sure, the bride may say she’s cool with it, but I promise you: she’s not. That’s a total thunder-stealing moment. And, you wouldn’t want someone to get engaged at your wedding, would you?
In all serious-ness: everyone will be pretty mad. The couple who have just got hitched will feel like you’re taking the attention away from them. The guests will feel the same. And, the person you’re proposing to? They’ll likely feel a tad embarrassed and awkward. They’ll want this moment to be truly theirs.
Sharing attention on someone else’s wedding day? That’s a hard ‘no’ from us.
4. Changing your relationship status on Facebook
I mean, can we not?
Your relationship status on Facebook is a public thing. What if other people saw before your partner And worse, what if she says ‘no’?
Changing your relationship status to ‘engaged’ on Facebook is not cool or edgy. Nor is it quirky or romantic. It’s lazy, takes 0 effort and creates a ripple effect of facepalms.
We’re not saying that you shouldn’t change your relationship status to ‘engaged’ at all. We welcome that. Show it and share it.
But, only once you’ve actually popped the question and she’s said ‘yes’.
5. Proposing at a sports game on those massive screens
You know the type, right? The proposal method Mike initially went with for Phoebe in F.R.I.E.N.D.S There’s a reason Monica and Rachel reacted so negatively with comments like ‘ergh, that’s so tacky.’
Not only is it incredibly risky because she could say ‘no’ in front of thousands of people, but it’s also far too public. Unless she’s an exhibitionist and enjoys the attention, public proposals are generally not favored by women.
We prefer a private, intimate moment. And while using the big screen is courageous, we value the effort and thought that goes into a special proposal. It doesn’t take a massive amount of consideration to arrange a proposal like this.
Well, how should I propose?
The main thing to remember is: how do you want your partner to tell this story in 10 years from now?
You also need to keep in mind that your other half has probably been dreaming about this moment since they were a child, so don’t let them down.
I haven’t said this to add to the pressure, but to put the scale of this moment into perspective.
You need to carefully consider your partner and their personality. If they enjoy big, ‘extra’ proposals, you’ll need to match that.
If, however, they prefer romance in private, don’t organize a flash dance for them.
You’ll also need to think about little things like her nails. She’ll want to show everyone her ring, so having her nails done will make it all the more perfect.
Think carefully about getting footage of the proposal. If you don’t go all in and record it, at least have a proposal photograph so she’s able to share this moment with the people who matter to her.
In short, you’re going to need to propose in a way that makes sense to both of you as a couple. What works for one partnership may not work for another.
So, take some time to think about a few different options. If you can, try to involve their best friend (but only if you know they can keep a secret!). Failing that, chat to their family to do some real digging.
You only have one chance to make this moment as perfect as they’ve dreamed it to be. So, do your research and plan the details.