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?
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