Where to propose in Orlando, Fl

June 22, 2009 12:06 PM

Can anyone suggest a restaurant in the Orlando, Fl area that would make a good place to take a woman before proposing?

I have never expected to propose to anyone, so am largely ignorant on some of the particulars. Is it tacky to propose to a woman in a restaurant? If not, can anyone suggest any good ones in Florida (preferably around Orlando) that are on the higher end of the scale (without getting too ridiculous--probably without having to spend more than $200 for the entire meal).

Also, is it tacky to propose on her birthday? I'm probably not going to, but am just wondering.

posted by dervish to Food & Drink (14 answers total)

You know your girl better than us. I knew the girl I proposed to would have hated me to do it in public, so we went to a quiet place in the country.

It's not necessarily tacky to propose on her birthday, but, and I know this is the furthest thing from your mind, if you ever had a reason to ask for the ring back and you'd given it to her on her birthday, she could reasonably argue that it was a gift.
posted by IanMorr at 12:25 PM on June 22, 2009

The most romantic restaurant I have dined at in the Orlando area is Victoria and Albert's located inside the Grand Floridian resort at Disney. It is an intimate dining room with superb food and service. The lady is always given a rose, and treated like royalty. I have taken my wife there for our anniversary twice. If you tell them you are proposing, they will be more than happy to assist with the special moment. The price for the meal is going to be pretty close to your $200 limit, if not a little over, but it is well worth it in my opinion. Hopefully you only propose once, so make it count.
posted by Lokheed at 12:47 PM on June 22, 2009

As a woman who is not engaged, I would not want to be proposed to in a super-public, intimate place like a restaurant. Just because I expect to cry (possibly a lot, but all happy tears) and wouldn't want people staring at me. Semi-public, like a public garden or the beach or something, would be okay with me. Pick a place that is special to you already or one that you will be able to revisit occasionally; I bet she'd like that.

How particular is she about her birthday? My birthday is a very special day to me, and I want to keep it as much to myself as possible (partly because my brother was born five years later on the same day!). I would want another day to celebrate as the engagement day, but the day before or after would be ok.

Congratulations!
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 12:51 PM on June 22, 2009

Restaurants are fine, and millions of happy marriages have probably started with a proposal in a restaurant. However, given that you are in Orlando, it seems like you'd have a lot better options. FWIW, I proposed in a restaurant. We are still happily married 18 odd years later. I can't remember the name of the restaurant.
posted by COD at 12:53 PM on June 22, 2009

Seconding Victoria and Albert's. It truly is the best in Orlando for a romantic dinner and something she will always remember. Congratulations!
posted by white_devil at 1:00 PM on June 22, 2009

I don't have specific restaurant suggestions, but my husband proposed in a restaurant on my birthday. In Las Vegas. I hate being stared at and making big scenes in public places, but I honestly didn't notice anyone else around us at that moment, nor did I think it was tacky. Besides, in really nice restaurants most of the patrons will at least pretend that they're not staring at you.

Congratulations!
posted by bedhead at 1:11 PM on June 22, 2009

Though I'd third the recommendations for V&A's, if you don't want to do the Disney thing there's also Norman's at the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes.
posted by ThatSomething at 1:11 PM on June 22, 2009

I don't think it is tacky to propose in a restaurant. If your gf is not into any kind of public attention, then be aware that the other patrons in the restaurant will probably notice big, formal gestures like getting down on one knee and will almost certainly applaud.

My sister was proposed to in a romantic restaurant and felt that her husband did everything beautifully. An added bonus for them was that some strangers at a nearby table noticed that Something Was Happening at my sister's table and started quietly snapping pictures of the proposal. After she said yes and everyone cried and applauded, the photographers came over and introduced themselves and arranged to send copies of the pics to my sister.
If that scenario sounds good to you then I would think your chances of your engagement being photographed would shoot sky high at a Disney restaurant. If the idea of flashing cameras sounds bad, then maybe find somewhere a little less tourist-oriented.

Also, I've been in restaurants where the wait staff had been alerted to an imminent proposal, and my waiter told all his other tables that it was about to happen, so be aware that it might be a more public proposal than you were expecting.

Good luck and congratulations.
posted by Brody's chum at 1:30 PM on June 22, 2009

Actually my Disney recommendation would be the California Grill, which is on the top of the Contemporary Resort. Try to time your reservation for when the fireworks show is in the Magic Kingdom park - the restaurant has a deck you can step outside to watch the fireworks (and maybe pop the question at the same time?)

I would also bet that if you tipped off the staff before you arrived that you planned a proposal they might find a way to help out somehow. Disney places are good with stuff like that.
posted by dnash at 1:33 PM on June 22, 2009

I proposed at the Coral Reef at EPCOT. I was able to arrange for a SCUBA diver to swim down to our table and hold up a sign asking her to marry me. It may not be your cup of tea, but it was a memorable proposal.

Obviously it was public, and the whole restaurant broke out in applause, so it'll only work if you and your girlfriend wouldn't mind.

Even without the whole SCUBA diver thing, it would have been a great place for a proposal.
posted by bondcliff at 1:37 PM on June 22, 2009

Also, re: her birthday, it seems to me if you wanted the proposal to be a surprise, then "taking you out for your birthday" would make a nice cover story. Otherwise it might be pretty obvious? ("Gee, why would he be taking me to such a posh place out of nowhere?")
posted by dnash at 1:38 PM on June 22, 2009

You could also go for a pre-dinner walk somewhere (I don't know Orlando), and propose. Then take her out to the posh dinner *afterwards*, to celebrate. As a bonus, you don't have to worry about the cover story, a la dnash -- she wouldn't know you were going out for a posh meal. But then again, if you don't mention dinner at all, she might not be dressed appropriately.
posted by kestrel251 at 2:11 PM on June 22, 2009

I just proposed to my girlfriend in Orlando (We were on vacation from London, England).

I did it in front of the castle at the Magic Kingdom after the fireworks and she loved it :)
posted by chrispy108 at 3:42 PM on June 22, 2009

This is where my Dad told me to take girls to impress them... No offense to the hivemind, which is offering up some very disney-centric ideas. If you're staying in "Orlando" (The Disney Area) on vacation, and not in Orlando Proper, I'd second California Grill.

Le Coq Au Vin is the Mainstay of classy dining in Orlando.
posted by seansbrain at 5:55 AM on June 24, 2009