Indulge me: proposals!

There's a thread somewhere that contains loads as it was used for the Hitched awards.

Me: "Let's get married"*

*Repeat for two years.

Me: "We're getting married. Oh, and did you know that the major factor in the development of septal defects is a perturbation of lateral signalling pathways within the developing embryo".

My OH and I were on holiday in New York, watching a baseball game and he had it flashed up on the message board just below the score board

"Tracey D...will you marry me? M x"

And the whole crowd kinda ooooohed whilst he got down on one knee (he didn't have a ring yet as he wanted up to chose it together) and I burst into tears and nodded and we got a round of applause from the crowd and the team, and got a bottle of champagne and taken to meet the team after the game. One of the best days of my life

I'm still waiting for mine...

Oh fair enough cricket bride, I did wonder. thanks.

FTLOMB- hehe what a useful reply- many thanks!

Tracey- sweet!!

xx

?!

Wow your due date is close- good luck!!

pretty much that!! but at sunset in cuba instead of cornwall lol

I found out my OH was gnna propose when the place he bought the ring from left an answerphone message on our house phone!!! He realised I had listened to the message and wasnt happy to put it lightly!! We cancelled the ring and went and chose one together, he still proposed during our weekend in paris like he had planned though...I just knew he was gnna do it. It was right in front on the Eiffel Tower as it was all lit up during our river cruise so was still romantic

Been shared here before but for those that missed it...

I'd planned this for a few months, but didn't know quite how to do something special and make it memorable. Anyone who knows me will know that I'm about as far from spontaneous as you can get, and like to plan everything to the minutest detail months in advance to make sure everything goes right first time - an unfortunate trait from my work as it involves a lot of logistical planning.

(b2b)'s sister, B, got married on 21st August 2010, so in the run up to that, (b2b) was needed for a number of weekends for things like hair trials and makeup. I happened to find myself with a free Saturday morning (I was seeing (b2b) later that day) so I hopped on the "45" bus to Camberwell Green, to F Hinds. After standing outside and looking in the window for a few minutes, slightly boggle-eyed at the amount that some of these bits of jewelery were costing, I finally decided to go in and see if they could help me with something appropriate that wasn't going to require a small mortgage. I already knew the size needed, and that she liked sapphires and diamonds (well what girl doesn't) so after about an hour of looking at rings, I finally found what I thought was hopefully something she'd like. Great! Ok so it'll need to be sized, no problem, handed over the credit card (which was nice because I got Nectar points too!) and was told 3-4 weeks delivery.

Three to four weeks? That'll mean I miss our first anniversary as we'll be away on holiday that week. Help! "Well sometimes they're early" said the shop assistant, which didn't exactly fill me with confidence but, hey, it was that or Argos so I decided to bite my lip and go for it.

Our holiday was rapidly approaching, no news from the jewelers, so I resigned myself to having to come up with a "Plan B" for later in the year. Friday 23rd July came, I packed up my case for our holiday, loaded it into the car and drove to work to go down and get (b2b) in the evening, then down to the caravan. Just before noon, my mobile rang with a number I didn't recognise - my ring was in!

Ok, think... checked at work, it was fine to have a 'half day' at short notice, so that was easy, I could at least get the ring - but how to "do the deed"?

Then it came to me. On our 'first date' we took a river trip on a Thames Clipper, so what about the Chichester Canal? A few phone calls later and my scheme was in place. With a detour via Camberwell, I headed on down to (b2b) and off on our holiday we went.

We had previously agreed to have a trip on the Chichester Canal on the saturday; the sun was out, and we hadn't managed to get there on our trip earlier in the year, so off we went.

We parked up and walked over to where the Chichester Canal 'base' is, and there was one picnic table left unoccupied so I "suggested" to (b2b) that she go and grab the table whilst I go and buy our tickets. What she didn't know is that I'd chartered private use of the boat for a trip, the crew and office staff were all in on it - but she was completely oblivious. I got a couple of ice creams and we sat in the sun waiting for our 12 noon trip.

The captain (or whatever he's on a canal boat) yelled out "tickets for the 12 noon trip" so up we got and walked towards the 12 seater narrowboat Egremont, but nobody else followed us. (b2b) guessed that something might be up, but I played it cool, shrugged and said "well it's lunchtime I guess" and off we went to enjoy our trip, complete with the standard commentary pointing out the various bits of the canal heritage and at around 12.30 we reached the far end of our trip (the current route limit, the bridge over the B2201 at Donnington) and we turned round for our trip back to Chichester.

Looking for a suitable landmark, just a few minutes back from the route end was the remains of the old railway bridge that carried the "Selsey Tramway" over the canal so that seemed as good a place for any. I said, "um, actually there is a reason that we have the boat to ourselves", got down on one knee (or at least as close as you can on a narrowboar) and popped the question. There were a few seconds of stunned silence, then an enthusiastic "YES!" and a hug... phew, I could breathe again!

I gave a 'thumbs up' to the boat crew, who invited us up to the "Bridge" to enjoy the sunshine with them, and we got their congratulations. Apparently we are the first couple that they are aware of that have ever got engaged on the Chichester Canal, so we made a point of writing our entry in the Ship's Log/Guest Book. As you may be aware, Ship Captains are permitted to marry people aboard their vessels but despite their kind offer we suggested it might be better to wait a little while!

We arrived back at the Canal Basin, to be greeted by Val (the volunteer who I'd arranged all this with previously) who normally didn't work weekends but came down especially to see what had happened. It was all still a little bit overwhelming but the main thing was it was a 'yes'!

We had lunch, and headed back to the caravan so we could begin to let people know. Naturally we phoned our parents first - and I think it's the first time I've ever heard my mother lost for words! Once we'd done that, we spent the rest of the day ploughing through our friends list, with calls, texts, emails and Facebook messages.

So that was it. Simple, but effective, and meticulously planned (at least as well as it could be in less than 24 hours) with the desired outcome. Then began the fun bit of the planning the wedding...

My OH booked us a romantic weekend in Berlin, just for the two of us. On the Saturday he had arranged for a private tour of Berlin zoo with an English speaking guide, and he’d arranged an ‘animal encounter’ where we got to feed the hippos and the polar bears. I love polar bears, I sponsor a bunch of polar bears in Svalbard, so it was great.

He then took me off to his favourite restaurant, Der Kartoffelkeller (The Potato Cellar!) for a candlelit dinner. After that we went for a walk along the river to the parliament buildings that were all lit up in the dark, and then on to the Brandenburg Gate.

Once we were there we took some photos, then he made me sit down on a bench and he held my hands. He said something like “I’m probably going to make an ass of myself here” and launched in a lovely little speech about how much he loved me and how fantastic the last 3 years had been. It ended with “I would like to ask if you’d do me the great honour of marrying me”. By then we were both crying and I just hugged him. He pulled away and reminded me that he needed an answer – so I said “yes yes yes!” and we both cried some more.

He then produced a little wooden box from his camera case – he’d been carrying it around since we got on the plane at 10am the previous morning - and gave me a beautiful sparkly diamond ring. He’d had it made for me based on one I’d shown him months before, and it looked spectacular in the floodlights!

Now the Germans are quite reserved and generally don’t stop and stare in the street, but we had drawn a little crowd of locals and tourists, and we heard a few sighs and gasps from the crowd.

There was only one thing to do after that – run up his phone bill phoning my mum and son to tell them what had just happened!

I haven't the heart to criticise him for not going down on one knee though, not when he put so much effort in!

I got engaged on Christmas Eve, it was a complete surprise! I'd met some friends for a xmas eve drink, then later that evening me and my OH went out for a lovely meal. When we got home, all my Xmas presents were under the tree - including a very small box!!! I'd been asking for some earrings (well dropping hints) for months so assumed thats what was in the box. To my delight my OH said I can open a present early but it had to be the small box..... the big kid in me wanted to open the really big box under the tree (as i thought i knew what was in the small one!!) but my OH still insisted it had to be the small one. So I opened it and it was a gorgeous ring and he proposed as we were sitting under the xmas tree!! and of course I said yes!

He had put a bottle of champage in the fridge ready so we cracked that open and then he gave me my Christmas Card..... To my Fiancee at Christmas!!!!!!

I had always dreamed of a proposal on a beach or somewhere really romantic but we just couldnt afford a holiday last year, but it happened in our lovely house that we have bought toegether and thought he was thoughtful and so sweet.

Oh and on Xmas day when i opened the 'really big box' inside was a smaller box with my earrings yay!!!

xxxx

Mine was on valentine's day this year....

OH works nights and when he got in from work, I was getting our daughter ready for nursery and me ready for work. He said hello gave me a kiss and gave me a snuggy as my present! We didn't have time for cards so we agreed to wait until I got home.

So off I popped to work, at lunchtime we were discussing valentine's presents and I had a massive rant about how all I got was a snuggy (don't get me wrong its a very thoughtful gift from my OH or as thoughtful as i'm going to get he knows how much i love being huddled under a blanket on an evening!) and what i really wanted was a ring and a proposal! I'd given him a beautiful daughter and all i wanted was a ring in return not too much to ask blah blah blah until I was extremely grumpy for the rest of the day!

Got home from work, had to twist OH's arm to et me open my card before we picked our daughter up from nursery and inside it he had written " To my fiancee, Happy valentine's day, love J xx" ?

I then asked if this was a proposal, and all i got back was "aye, come on lets go and get Z". I then spent the next 2 hours with a massive grin on my face, bouncing round the house.

Now all everyone asks is when he's going to do it "properly", it might not have been very traditional but it was very J so i'm more than happy!

Mine was in January this year.

We were away with a group of friends in Krakow, Poland for our birthdays (they're only a day apart) We were out with everyone having a meal on the first night and I whispered to OH asking if he'd actually brought my birthday present away with us, mainly as I was feeling guilty for not bringing anything for him! He said no, he hadn't, but he wanted to get me a ring whilst we were there. And I was like, a ring? What sort of ring?! And he said an engagement ring. I spent the rest of the night with a massive grin on my face!

The next morning, I went into the living room and he asked if I still wanted to be his fiancee, and I said of course! We didn't tell anyone until the last night when he did a little speech in front of all our friends which was lovely. It was quite nice to have it as 'our little secret' for a couple of days too ?

Not the most romantic proposal ever but I wouldn't change it for the world.

OH and I had been together for almost six years (since 15 at school) when we finally moved into our own house. We had the first week off work together to get the house sorted and just enjoy having our own space.

After our first day back at work I came home to find roses scattered across the floor leading into our lounge. My OH came to meet me and take my bags from me, lead me into the lounge where there was petals laid out and candles in the shape of a heart with my ring box inside. i said "is that my ring?!" , he got down on one knee, gave me a lovely speech and i said yes. The he cooked me dinner...pefect.

Aw these are all lovely, thank you for improving my library sit-in!!

Tom and I have been together for 12 years, mortgage, two kids etc etc. The subject of marriage has come up in the past and been brushed off and we were happy living together as a family so it was no big deal.

Then last Christmas his gift to me was a trip to Venice for Valentine's weekend; he had booked an amazing 5* hotel, arranged my Mum to babysit, flights and transers etc all sorted, all I had to do was pack!

We got there on Saturday 12th Feb and everything was perfect, we fell in love with the place instantly, upgraded hotel room etc, all wonderful! Then on our first night we went out for a nice meal, walked around St Mark's Square and had a lovely romantic evening. It had been a really long day and by 9pm I was getting really tired so I suggested heading back to our hotel but he said he really wanted to see the Rialto bridge at night, all lit up so reluctantly I agreed (moaning about my feet) When we got to the Rialto it was so lovely all lit up with fairy lights but I was less impressed with the crowds of people just hanging around and there was loads of grafitti too, poor Tom said lets look over at the quiet side then where there are fewer crowds and grafitti and he knelt down to take a photo of the Grand Canal, then I said oh this is muuuch nicer, quiter and tranquil with the lovely reflections of the lights in the water and as I said that Tom was still on one knee and he produced a beauful ring from out of his coat. I would love to say he gave a lovely proposal speech but I clasped my hands to my face in shock saying "oh my god!!!!" and he was all nervous and said "so what do you think?" I obviously said yes!!! :-) He asked me if I liked the ring and I adored it and then we just started getting all excited and chattered away asking loads of questions!! We started walking, I forgot all about my sore feet and like all the tour books say to do we got lost in Venice!!! We wandered around in a bit of a daze, having a lovely time until we eventually found our bearings and headed back to our hotel. It was the perfect night. He did want to wait until Valentine's night to do it (two days later, the Monday) but he said he was far too nervous and couldn't have possibly waited any longer. TBH though I'm so glad he did it the night we got thee because it was so romantic that he couldn't wait and we then had the rest of our long weekend to celebrate being engaged instead of going home the day after!!! :-)

If you do go back - try Top of The Rock rather than the ESB as you get beautiful views over the park

I'd been asking him when we were getting married for a year and then we went to Holland where he proposed while we were sat on a bench in a park. He didn't get down on his knees or anything, but asked almost casually - which suited me fine as I would have been mortified if he had made it into something big (I really don't like being centre of attention or put under the spotlight - hence no first dance for us!)

My oh birthday is on halloween so as sad as it sounds every year we carve pumpkins but last october he was really obbsessed with getting a "good looking" pumpkin and i was getting a bit annoyed if im honest! so we get the pumpkins n go home to carve them he said i wasntallowed to c it till he was done so i left him to it in the kitchen! half an hour later he shouted me to look at it and he had carved marry me? into it and hidden my ring inside! i started giggleing and of course said yes! i was very suprised to find he had got my dream ring from the shop i worked in without me even knowing!

Oh and go to a Mets baseball game - we need all the fans we can get right now! You get an queens bound 7 train from either 42nd or Grand Central to Citi Field - you can get game tickets from $10

We got engaged spetember 2009 - on my 21st Birthday =)
I had a party on the saturday night and we stayed at my mums, my birthday was on the sunday. I woke up and he gave me my presents in bed and the last one was a beaautifull ring. I was thinking in my head - as you do lol 'is this a proposal or just a special birthday ring' Then he says 'well whats your answer' me acting like i haven't got a clue 'answer for what' and he then he says 'will you be my wife' haha and before i even replied i ran into my mums room bouncing around shouting 'im engaged' lol then i run and jump on him back in bed, a few mins later he says 'take that as a yes then' lmao!
We had our engagement party July 2010 and on the day of our engagement party i found out i was pregnant with our baby girl Ruby xx

After 10 years together, and having discussed the fact that we wouldn't be able to get married until after I qualified, there wasn't a proposal in the traditional sense. OH suggested we go up to London and choose a ring together. My OH is a wise man! Had a lovely day choosing the setting and stone. Then went out for dinner and cocktails to celebrate.

Mine's a bit of a long one! It was May last year, on more or less our third anniversary.

H2b and I met through the classic mini (cars!) scene and first met at a mini run/show called the Riviera Run, which is a run from Reading to Newquay and a long weekend in Newquay. We've gone every year since we met in 2007.

So, we did the usual, got to Newquay, unpacked, went to have some drinks and bbq with friends and other people we know. H2b headed back to the caravan to get us some more drinks.

Half an hour passed, still no sign, I start to wonder where he is, an hour passes, still no sign, I'm now cold, damp from the drizzle, completely out of drink and now slightly cross with h2b. I thought about going to find him, but then thought he must be on his way back by now, another half an hour goes by without him coming back, probably another 15 mins goes by before he does get back, all showered, clean, smarter clothes, freshly shaved. That made me more angry as I thought he'd gotten ready to go to the club without me!

H2b manages to placate me and we head back to our caravan, by now it's completely dark out. H2b passes the time with some inane chatter. As we get closer to our caravan, I notice that someone's strung fairy lights up outside their caravan and comment on it being pretty. H2b then points out a chinese lantern that's been let off, but I'm more intrgued by the pretty lights!

We get closer and closer to the fairy lights, which start to confuse me as I thought it was our caravan, but it couldn't be because someone had strung fairy lights up to make a canopy of twinkling lights under a gazebo, over a mini. We're now right in front of the mini, I turn to h2b, he takes my hand and says a little speech about how he's known for some time that I'm the person that he wants to spend the rest of his life with.

He then gets down on one knee, pops the question and as he does, writing appears on the bonnet of the mini (which is mine, but it doesn't quite click!) saying "Will you marry me?).

I was gobsmacked, I'm not generally a mushy person, but tears were streaming down my face and I couldn't find the words to say yes for a good couple of minutes, during which h2b is still on one knee (in the mud). Bless him, he said "now would be a good time for an answer please..." after the first minute of stunned silence or so! Eventually I answered "of course" and lights came on, people started cheering and clapping and a friend with a video camera comes out!

It turns out h2b had been planning it for about 6 months, designed the ring and had one of his friends make it, asked another friend to play videographer, ordered a custom ring case and uv lights and paint.

Turns out it had taken him so long that evening because the rain had ruined the uv paint he'd used to paint on the bonnet the night before we left for Newquay, so he had to redo that, but as it was wet he didn't want to electrocute me with the fairy lights out in the open, which led him to ask for help from other friends down there to get a gazebo, string up the lights and switch on the uv light at the appropriate time.

Well I proposed first, it wasnt exactly romantic but I needed to show him how much I loved him and how much he meant to me (that week I had had my first miscarriage).

I put a little note inside a fortune cookie asking him to marry me, we had a chinese first and then gave him his cookie.

He wanted to still ask me properly and ask my Dad's permission, so two weeks later we went down to my families home and he asked my Dad - who thank fully said yes!

So the next morning I woke as OH was going out the room, he told me he was going to the toilet (it was about 7am on a saturday morning! Very early, normally on a weekend without OH's son we have a lay in!) . So I lay there and tried to get back to sleep but couldnt. He was ages! So after about 20 mins decided to give up trying to sleep and put the tele on. Then I got a text from him telling me to look out the window and he had made a heart on the ground from white paper (being held down by tent pegs lol) and he was in the middle on one knee with the ring. I ran downstairs as fast as possible and cried and hugged him and obviously said yes ?

Bx

Hannioli - I think yours is my favourite because I love Mini's lol

This thread has made me realise how annoyed we all get at our OHs when they're acting a bit strange, we're a stroppy bunch aren't we? ?

My proposal wasn't romantic, didn't have a ring and was nothing like I'd ever imagined it would be, but I wouldn't change it for the world (except I'd make sure he felt better!!)

Oh had asked me to take the day off work for my birthday last year and we were going to have a day in Whitby. However, the weekend before he had eaten raw chicken at a barbecue when he was drunk and as a result had some kind of toxic food poisoning, it was horrendous. So, the Wednesday came and I'd slept in our spare room as he was up and down all night to the toilet. He came into the spare room, completely starkers and looking dreadfully ill, and handed me my birthday card. Inside he had written 'blah blah birthday blah. Oh and by the way we need to go ring shopping. Will you marry me?

I looked at it in disbelief as he was previously almost allergic to marriage! I went to give him a big hug and kiss and he had to dash off to the loo lolol. I spent the next half hour ringing people excitedly while he shouted encouragment from the toilet. We then spent most of the morning at the doctor's surgery getting him registered and then seen. I managed to squeeze in a quick trip to choose a ring but then had to dash straight back home for the loo again!

On a positive note, I have it in writing that he wants to marry me so he can't ever take it back! ?