Four of the Worst Proposal Ideas: A How Not To Guide

Everybody has the right to pop the question to his (or her) beloved in his (or her) own unique way. Proposal ideas should convey a personal style and generally one should not be influenced by traditions or, for that matter, trends. However, there are certain proposal ideas that simply make 99.9% of all brides-to-be out there feel embarrassed and, most probably, very unhappy as well. A ‘How Not To’ Guide on proposing.

Bad Proposal Idea 1: Not Getting Her a Ring

I know that some men out there think it is fine to just pop the question spontaneously, at a random happy moment when they feel very in love with their other half. The fact that they did not get a ring… well, that’s just a minor thing, isn’t it?

Most of these men, however, will find themselves with an upset girlfriend, and one certainly not blown away by the romance of the moment. Getting your girlfriend a nice (preferably custom-made) engagement ring shows her that you have thought this through and that you are serious about the future of your relationship. Also, your other half will want to show her friends and family that she is about to get married to the love of her life. The moral of this story is that without a ring there is no proposal.

Bad Proposal Idea 2: Popping the… Statement

It’s just a general rule that wedding proposal ideas should ultimately come down to something along the lines of, "will you marry me?" Statements such as "I want to spend the rest of my life with you" or "you are the one for me" are all very nice, but cannot be answered by anything other than "oh"… Therefore make sure you actually ask your bride if she wants to marry you.

Bad Proposal Idea 3: Hiding the Ring in Messy Food

So you took the first advice and got your girl a ring. Then you decide that it would be a very romantic idea to hide the ring in a delicious, homemade cherry pie and wait until she finds it in her mouth, and then almost chokes on it and breaks her tooth. Is there any need to say more? Also, even the most sparkling ring won’t look that good when covered in sticky sauce or pudding. Remember this when thinking of more ingenious proposal ideas.

Bad Proposal Idea 4: Popping the Question Too Early in the Morning

It is a fact that most people aren’t at their best in the early morning. Smelly breath, messed-up hair, a hoarse voice, and not to mention the irritation caused by having to wake up from sweet dreams can put even the most happy go lucky in an off-beat mood. Consequently, you might want to do your beloved the favour of popping the question when she feels somewhat more fresh and awake.

These are just some of the proposal ideas you really need to avoid. The overall advice is to put yourself in your lover’s shoes and think of how she would feel at that moment that is supposed to be one of the most romantic moments in her life. It is up to you to make it special.

Laura L Bolick is the founder of the F&L Designer Guides, compiled and written to help consumers choose the best and the most unique engagement ring designers in the UK. Join the F&L journey that covers topics related to proposal ideas, choosing the right stone, affording your engagement ring and how to work with talented designers.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.