Fun ways to propose

March 26, 2009 4:21 PM

What are some fun ways to propose to my girlfriend? (long story + strange situation inside)

Last February, I was assigned to a new job position in my company's offices abroad. I was expecting this to happen at some point in time, but due to some strategy changes, it ended up happening much sooner than I thought. As a result, my girlfriend and I decided that we would get married and she would move abroad with me. Although I'm happy with the outcome of this situation, the fact that we were kind of "forced" to marry because of the circumstances left little room for romance. We had to get marry officially pretty quickly so we could apply to visas for both of us, not only me.

So the strange part of this situation is that we are already married, officially, but didn't exchange rings nor had a wedding party. We agreed that everything would be done as if we weren't married yet, so based in that decision, I should officially propose to her. Given the surrealistic nature of the whole thing, I need to find a fun/surreal/unexpected way to propose to her. I guess "Would you marry me like you did last week?" would be a good opener, but I need more.

We are a fun couple with a very sarcastic humor; we can tease each other for hours and make jokes with things that would be touchy for other (normal) couples. Therefore my proposal should be something fun we will laugh at and remember forever. My first idea was to give her a short version of David Fincher's The Game, but the part of burying her alive in Mexico may cause a bit of trouble, as she does not a visa for entering that country. I then quickly abandoned that thought and am hoping that mefites could give me fun ideas for proposing to her, and of course would not cause her to jump off a building in despair.

Yes, she does read Metafilter regularly and knows my nickname. She will find this message, of course, but the funny part is that she won't be able to know which idea(s) I will choose, and that will keep her guessing for a long time while I prepare everything.

Hit me!

posted by dcrocha to human relations (9 comments total)

I don't have any ideas myself, but I do remember an old thread you might find helpful.
posted by shaun uh at 4:31 PM on March 26

Oh... I don't know. She might not know which ideas you choose from here, but she knows it'll be one of them, and that kind of puts a damper on the whole deal, don't you think?

In reading your question, I feel completely comfortable assuming that there are things that make the two of you laugh hysterically that other people just don't get. Most couples have this, actually -- the few things that only the two of you share that the outside world would never understand. For instance, my fiance and I can look each other in the eye, grunt like cavemen, respond to said grunt, and then be doubled over in fits of laughter. Now... most people - if they saw this little ritual - might think us somewhat insane. They CERTAINLY wouldn't think it was funny. But we do. And we share it. And that's what matters.

I'm one of those sappy fools who thinks an engagement should mean something - regardless of when it occurs. So, my advice to you would be to focus on those little quirks of your relationship that are special to you, and which only you guys share, and which make you love one another. It'll mean a lot to you years later when you're recalling the day, and will probably conjure up a few chuckles as well - particularly if it's something YOU create and not a suggestion made by someone she didn't marry.
posted by Rewind at 4:54 PM on March 26 [3 favorites]

I wanted to get a Fortune Telling Parrot to pick out a proposal message for my fiancee, but the local market was closed that day.
posted by benzenedream at 5:31 PM on March 26

Can you get your hands on a Delorean and a red vest? Some sort of time-travel motif could be fun.
posted by backwards guitar at 6:56 PM on March 26

Whichever one of these you choose, whichever ones here your girlfriend sees, print them all and put one each in a plastic "acorn" and dump them all in a Claw Crane Machine. Have your girlfriend/wife play until she grabs one, then do that one. You'll be picking among the wishes of a thousand people on the Internet.
posted by Tufa at 8:56 PM on March 26

Here is one for only $300.00.
posted by Tufa at 9:12 PM on March 26

Hire/go to a velcro wall where you can jump together. Propose to her when you're both upside down.

Build a lego castle and have a hidden room for her to discover with a knight on his knees proposing to a princess.

I'll probably think of more later but I have to go to work.
posted by fearnothing at 2:44 AM on March 27

I like the crane idea, but they have smaller ones for candy and trinkets for much cheaper. I saw one at Target for around $20-40 and I think they have them at places like Toys-R-Us too. This is cute too if the ring is small enough.

If you like chinese food, This is cute too.
posted by CoralAmber at 8:28 AM on March 27

im going to run with the sarcastic humor....
write/pee in the snow
do you have a dog/cat? pretend it pooped on the carpet cover "it" (the ring) with a paper towel and insist she has to pick it up
buy all of her favorite things, including the quirky weird hard to get things and make the day all about her, with you and all of her favorites it will be her favorite day
prank her...like punkd... candid camera... make it a good one
get a convincing temporary tattoo of her name or marry me
posted by kgreerRN at 10:42 PM on March 27 [1 favorite]