Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:56 pm
I don't think there is one uniform way to propose, but the most common way is to drop on one knee, pull out a lovely ring, and say, "Will you marry me?". ;P
Congratulations mercurius and on_diet_cat! I hope your weddings turn out to be everything you've imagined them to be.
Congratulations mercurius and on_diet_cat! I hope your weddings turn out to be everything you've imagined them to be.
Tue Sep 14, 2004 8:02 pm
Aww congratulations! You'd better get things in motion, it generally takes people aaaaaaages to get prepared for that kinda thing.
Tue Sep 14, 2004 8:07 pm
robot wrote:I don't think there is one uniform way to propose, but the most common way is to drop on one knee, pull out a lovely ring, and say, "Will you marry me?". ;P
Congratulations mercurius and on_diet_cat! I hope your weddings turn out to be everything you've imagined them to be.
Or you could just say, "Marry me, or I KEEL YOU!"
Tue Sep 14, 2004 8:10 pm
Ah, yes, I'm sure that works just as well. ;D Forceful yet strangely romantic, perhaps?
Tue Sep 14, 2004 8:16 pm
Haha! Finally, advice I can offer with some degree of experience behind it!
How to propose to a lady:
1. Propose to your girlfriend. Proposing to women you do not know or who you are not dating doesn't usually go over well in Western culture.
2. Choose a romantic evening. It need not be Valentine's Day, or Christmas, or the anniversary of when you started dating. It can be any old day, but find some way to cook dinner or to go out for a nice one at a good restaurant. Do not propose at a Wendy's or a movie theater, unless it's absolutely spur-of-the-moment.
3. Choose a romantic place. You know how some cities have beautiful parks or tourist spots with nice views? Those are good ones. Even a riverbank works, as long as it's purtyful. Your apartment/house can work, if you made dinner. Light candles. Dim lights.
4. Choose a nice ring. Don't get one from a jeweler at the mall. They may be certified gemologists, but the companies there pay waaaay too much in rent to be able to sell diamonds for reasonable prices. The ring doesn't have to be yellow gold - it can be white gold, platinum, whatever. It doesn't have to be diamond. But it does have to be something that she'll wear for the rest of her life. So get it right. Make sure to pay extra for the warranty.
5. Make sure you get it the right size. Very few things put strain on an engagement like a band that is too small or that is liable to fall off your lady's finger. Don't be afraid to take the girl to a jeweler to get her finger sized. Some, maybe most, women like to know that you're really serious about them, serious enough to discuss rings. Let her pick out a style if she likes. Couldn't hurt. Also, if you buy the wrong size, you'll have to have it resized, which strains a ring, and can cause the band to break or the stone to fall out.
6. Get down on bended knee. This is tradition for a reason. Basically, you're bowing to her, and offering yourself to her with humility. Say something romantic (you'll think of something. Do not steal a line from a movie!!!), pop the ring out of thin air (if you can; if not just pull the box out of your pocket). Present the ring to her, in the box with the top open. Ask if she'll marry you. If she says yes, slide that bad boy on her lefthand ring finger. If she says no...you're in a world of emotional hurt. I'm not entirely joking when I say you'll probably need therapy for yourself, and couples counseling for the both of you.
You can also skip step 6 and make it a complete, out of the blue surprise. At a restaurant, tell the maitre'd that you're planning to propose, and ask him to bring the engagement ring by on a tray by itself at a specific time. Tipping for this is mandatory, and it'll set you back between 25 and 100 USD. The surprise is worth it, though. For other locations, use your imagination. Do not propose on the jumbotron at a football game. I consider this to be the epitome of lameness. You can, however, arrange for a private tour of a sporting facility and propose at midfield after punting footballs or whatever for a while. If there's a tour guide, make sure he/she knows to make him/herself scarce at the appropriate time. Again, tip.
After this point, you're just hanging on for the ride. While a wedding is a huge event in anyone's life, I have yet to see a guy who is as excited about the planning stages as his fiance'. Be sure to be helpful in the planning, but trust me on this one: This ain't your party any more than senior prom is. It's hers, so follow her advice if you aren't totally sure about something.
How to propose to a lady:
1. Propose to your girlfriend. Proposing to women you do not know or who you are not dating doesn't usually go over well in Western culture.
2. Choose a romantic evening. It need not be Valentine's Day, or Christmas, or the anniversary of when you started dating. It can be any old day, but find some way to cook dinner or to go out for a nice one at a good restaurant. Do not propose at a Wendy's or a movie theater, unless it's absolutely spur-of-the-moment.
3. Choose a romantic place. You know how some cities have beautiful parks or tourist spots with nice views? Those are good ones. Even a riverbank works, as long as it's purtyful. Your apartment/house can work, if you made dinner. Light candles. Dim lights.
4. Choose a nice ring. Don't get one from a jeweler at the mall. They may be certified gemologists, but the companies there pay waaaay too much in rent to be able to sell diamonds for reasonable prices. The ring doesn't have to be yellow gold - it can be white gold, platinum, whatever. It doesn't have to be diamond. But it does have to be something that she'll wear for the rest of her life. So get it right. Make sure to pay extra for the warranty.
5. Make sure you get it the right size. Very few things put strain on an engagement like a band that is too small or that is liable to fall off your lady's finger. Don't be afraid to take the girl to a jeweler to get her finger sized. Some, maybe most, women like to know that you're really serious about them, serious enough to discuss rings. Let her pick out a style if she likes. Couldn't hurt. Also, if you buy the wrong size, you'll have to have it resized, which strains a ring, and can cause the band to break or the stone to fall out.
6. Get down on bended knee. This is tradition for a reason. Basically, you're bowing to her, and offering yourself to her with humility. Say something romantic (you'll think of something. Do not steal a line from a movie!!!), pop the ring out of thin air (if you can; if not just pull the box out of your pocket). Present the ring to her, in the box with the top open. Ask if she'll marry you. If she says yes, slide that bad boy on her lefthand ring finger. If she says no...you're in a world of emotional hurt. I'm not entirely joking when I say you'll probably need therapy for yourself, and couples counseling for the both of you.
You can also skip step 6 and make it a complete, out of the blue surprise. At a restaurant, tell the maitre'd that you're planning to propose, and ask him to bring the engagement ring by on a tray by itself at a specific time. Tipping for this is mandatory, and it'll set you back between 25 and 100 USD. The surprise is worth it, though. For other locations, use your imagination. Do not propose on the jumbotron at a football game. I consider this to be the epitome of lameness. You can, however, arrange for a private tour of a sporting facility and propose at midfield after punting footballs or whatever for a while. If there's a tour guide, make sure he/she knows to make him/herself scarce at the appropriate time. Again, tip.
After this point, you're just hanging on for the ride. While a wedding is a huge event in anyone's life, I have yet to see a guy who is as excited about the planning stages as his fiance'. Be sure to be helpful in the planning, but trust me on this one: This ain't your party any more than senior prom is. It's hers, so follow her advice if you aren't totally sure about something.
Tue Sep 14, 2004 9:04 pm
Wow, that's wonderful! Congratulations. Hope you live happily ever after. 
Well, I'm not marrying anyone unless he proposes on the jumbotron at Fenway Park and uses a replica of the One Ring as an engagement ring.
Okay, maybe I could go without the One Ring, but it HAS to be at Fenway. It's the equivilent of a church or temple for many serious Red Sox fans.
shapu wrote:Do not propose on the jumbotron at a football game. I consider this to be the epitome of lameness.
Well, I'm not marrying anyone unless he proposes on the jumbotron at Fenway Park and uses a replica of the One Ring as an engagement ring.
Okay, maybe I could go without the One Ring, but it HAS to be at Fenway. It's the equivilent of a church or temple for many serious Red Sox fans.
Tue Sep 14, 2004 9:07 pm
shapu wrote:Hey, congratulations! Mazel tov! Felicidades! Uhm....Gratz!
Alright, I'm out. Someone else pick up.
Congratulazioni! Gelukwens! Parabéns! and Mabrook!
I hope the planning doesn't make you too crazy.
Tue Sep 14, 2004 9:45 pm
Naniwai wrote:Wow, that's wonderful! Congratulations. Hope you live happily ever after.shapu wrote:Do not propose on the jumbotron at a football game. I consider this to be the epitome of lameness.
Well, I'm not marrying anyone unless he proposes on the jumbotron at Fenway Park and uses a replica of the One Ring as an engagement ring.
Okay, maybe I could go without the One Ring, but it HAS to be at Fenway. It's the equivilent of a church or temple for many serious Red Sox fans.
Fenway is okay. Really, most baseball parks are OK. But I stand by my football statement.
EDIT: I'll add this qualifier. If going was the woman's idea, then setting something up to get on the jumbotron is fine. The thing is that I consider football to be much more of a male-centrist sport, with a male-dominated fanbase. Dragging someone off to an american football game, or any sporting event, really, solely to get on the giant screen and profess your love is a bad idea. There are better ways.
Tue Sep 14, 2004 11:56 pm
Aww...Congratulations!!!
Hope you 2 have a happy future together
Hope you 2 have a happy future together
Wed Sep 15, 2004 12:16 am
May you have a very happy, healthy and lovely marriage that lasts forever. And have a very good wedding, but don't go insane planning. A friend of mine was getting married a while ago and she almost went mad with preperations. So, best of luck to you!
Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:47 am
Congrats! Many years of happiness to you!
Wed Sep 15, 2004 12:17 pm
Congratulations. ^___^
OH! If you're still around PPT by then, we can have a bachelorette party in Divas!
Hehee... my dad proposed to my mum in a cool way. He'd already given her a 'going steady' ring. On her 18th birthday, they were just hanging out or something, when he said "Your ring is dirty, give it here and I'll go clean it." She did, and he disappeared off to the kitchen. When he brought the ring back, he had an engagement ring instead.
One more thing....
Shapu... Marry me... Now.
OH! If you're still around PPT by then, we can have a bachelorette party in Divas!
Hehee... my dad proposed to my mum in a cool way. He'd already given her a 'going steady' ring. On her 18th birthday, they were just hanging out or something, when he said "Your ring is dirty, give it here and I'll go clean it." She did, and he disappeared off to the kitchen. When he brought the ring back, he had an engagement ring instead.
One more thing....
Shapu... Marry me... Now.
Wed Sep 15, 2004 12:36 pm
shapu wrote:Haha! Finally, advice I can offer with some degree of experience behind it!
How to propose to a lady:
1. Propose to your girlfriend. Proposing to women you do not know or who you are not dating doesn't usually go over well in Western culture.
2. Choose a romantic evening. It need not be Valentine's Day, or Christmas, or the anniversary of when you started dating. It can be any old day, but find some way to cook dinner or to go out for a nice one at a good restaurant. Do not propose at a Wendy's or a movie theater, unless it's absolutely spur-of-the-moment.
3. Choose a romantic place. You know how some cities have beautiful parks or tourist spots with nice views? Those are good ones. Even a riverbank works, as long as it's purtyful. Your apartment/house can work, if you made dinner. Light candles. Dim lights.
4. Choose a nice ring. Don't get one from a jeweler at the mall. They may be certified gemologists, but the companies there pay waaaay too much in rent to be able to sell diamonds for reasonable prices. The ring doesn't have to be yellow gold - it can be white gold, platinum, whatever. It doesn't have to be diamond. But it does have to be something that she'll wear for the rest of her life. So get it right. Make sure to pay extra for the warranty.
5. Make sure you get it the right size. Very few things put strain on an engagement like a band that is too small or that is liable to fall off your lady's finger. Don't be afraid to take the girl to a jeweler to get her finger sized. Some, maybe most, women like to know that you're really serious about them, serious enough to discuss rings. Let her pick out a style if she likes. Couldn't hurt. Also, if you buy the wrong size, you'll have to have it resized, which strains a ring, and can cause the band to break or the stone to fall out.
6. Get down on bended knee. This is tradition for a reason. Basically, you're bowing to her, and offering yourself to her with humility. Say something romantic (you'll think of something. Do not steal a line from a movie!!!), pop the ring out of thin air (if you can; if not just pull the box out of your pocket). Present the ring to her, in the box with the top open. Ask if she'll marry you. If she says yes, slide that bad boy on her lefthand ring finger. If she says no...you're in a world of emotional hurt. I'm not entirely joking when I say you'll probably need therapy for yourself, and couples counseling for the both of you.
You can also skip step 6 and make it a complete, out of the blue surprise. At a restaurant, tell the maitre'd that you're planning to propose, and ask him to bring the engagement ring by on a tray by itself at a specific time. Tipping for this is mandatory, and it'll set you back between 25 and 100 USD. The surprise is worth it, though. For other locations, use your imagination. Do not propose on the jumbotron at a football game. I consider this to be the epitome of lameness. You can, however, arrange for a private tour of a sporting facility and propose at midfield after punting footballs or whatever for a while. If there's a tour guide, make sure he/she knows to make him/herself scarce at the appropriate time. Again, tip.
After this point, you're just hanging on for the ride. While a wedding is a huge event in anyone's life, I have yet to see a guy who is as excited about the planning stages as his fiance'. Be sure to be helpful in the planning, but trust me on this one: This ain't your party any more than senior prom is. It's hers, so follow her advice if you aren't totally sure about something.
Wow! A proposal expert. How many times have you proposed to a girl before?
Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:48 pm
Proposed? Just once. 'Twas accepted, but the relationship fell apart not long after. I've got cousins out the wazoo, though, and a lot of the kids in my high school were engaged not long after graduation (including me).
And Saph, I'm sorry...but I think my girlfriend would probably dislocate my head. Otherwise, I'm flattered...esp. since I'm from WV originally, and have a thing for southern girls...
And Saph, I'm sorry...but I think my girlfriend would probably dislocate my head. Otherwise, I'm flattered...esp. since I'm from WV originally, and have a thing for southern girls...
Wed Sep 15, 2004 3:05 pm
Congratulations! 