Think about this:  if you could set up a small home-based business offering shy and busy people ten romantic ways to propose, wouldn’t that be a great entrepreneurial idea?  Wouldn’t it be fun to actually tell people how, when and where to propose?  How many of us want to propose but lack the wherewithal to do it romantically or creatively so that it ignites fond memories each time a wedding anniversary comes around?

People who want to settle down are either too shy or too busy to propose romantically.  They spend hours agonizing  over their proposal.  They feel awkward about popping the question, scared that they’ll be the town’s jilted lover.  We’ll offer ten romantic ways to propose and if you have some unique ideas of your own, feel free to post a comment!

1) Use a magician

Invite your significant other to a small but elegant restaurant and contact a magician to play magic tricks as you’re having dessert.  Have the magician pick out rabbits (or birds) out of his hat or out of her ears, perform card tricks and scarf tricks.  The final act of the magician should be to pick the ring out of her ear or nose or mouth.  He can say, “hmmm, what’s this shiny thing I see coming out of your ears?”  He then shows her the diamond ring and that’s when you come in and say “will you be my wife?”

2) Hire a plane (if you can afford it)

Lease a small plane and a pilot and prepare a large banner.  You can write these words on the banner:

• Come fly with me, Amy.  But first, will you marry me?
• Let’s bring heaven down.  Why not get married?
• I can’t fly you to the moon on this plane, so let’s get married and live here on earth for the rest of our lives, shall we?

You’ll need to choose an area where the plane you lease will be allowed to fly at a low altitude (in case she forgets to bring her reading glasses and won’t be able to read the words).

3) Go Down Under

There’s no need to go to Australia to propose to your favorite person.  Any ocean or river will do.  If you both enjoy snorkeling, propose to her under the deep blue sea.  Ask one of your buddies to take a picture.  You probably won’t be able to see her full reaction because her face will be covered by the oxygen mask, but her eyes will sparkle with happiness.

4) Leave your credit card at home

Go shopping.  Buy what you want.  As you’re about to pay, act as if you forgot your credit card at home.  Ask her to pay for it.  The only risk here is she’ll refuse.  But if you assure her you’ll pay her back, she might agree.  When you’re both at the car, say you want to check the glove compartment to make sure your credit card isn’t there.  Then get the ring out, say your piece, and pay her the cash equivalent of the amount she signed for.  That should sweeten your proposal!

5) How does Venice sound?

It’s the classic spot to propose.  After all, those gondolas were built for lovers.  Book two tickets to Italy, drag her to Venice, hop into a gondola, and then when you’re far out, pop the question!  If your budget is tight, go to an amusement park and hire a paddle boat.  Propose to her as you’re paddling your way to shore.

6) Give the jeweler her phone number

Arrange for the manager of the jewelry store to call her.  He should say:  “Is this Jane Smith?  Yes, hello, this is Henry from X Jewelers.  I hope I’m not calling at a bad time?  Could you come over to the store right away so we could measure your finger and decide the type of setting you want for your engagement ring?  I’m calling on the instructions of John Smith.”  Be there when she arrives and if she seems excited about choosing and designing her ring, then you know it’ll be a YES!

7) How about some Powerpoint slides?

On a weekend night, tell her that you’ve been invited to a friend’s house for dinner with two or three other couples.  Go to dinner, then one of your friends should say over coffee that he wants to show slides of his  recent trip.  Your proposal should be on the last slide and must be accompanied by music or a loud bang.  What can you write on the slide?  Here are some romantic ways to propose:

• This last slide is the most important:  Jane, will you marry me?
• Did you enjoy looking at those places?  How would you like to go there for our honeymoon?  I love you Jane, please be my wife.
• Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage.  I think we should be joined at the hip starting tonite.  Will you marry me?
• If you love me, Jane, marriage is the next logical step.  Why don’t we tie the knot this year?
• It’s about time we got married, Jane.  I can’t think of anyone else I want to spend the rest of my life with!

8) Dance the night away

If your lady friend likes to dance, take her to a nice disco and dance the night away.  When the evening comes to a close, request for soft, romantic music.  As you hold her close to you, pop the question and slip the ring into her finger.

9) In the office, of all places!

Arrange for a singer with a guitar to sing to your girlfriend at work.  This will attract the attention of her colleagues but you can make advance plans so that your friend is only with a few of her closest colleagues in her work station.  After the singer finishes singing, he hands her a letter and requests her to open the letter right away.  Have someone take a picture of her when she opens the letter and reads your marriage proposal. 

10) Say it with flowers and chocolates

This is one of the more traditional and romantic ways to propose.  It does not have to be a special occasion like Thanksgiving or her birthday.  Buy a lovely bouquet of flowers and a box of expensive Belgian chocolates.  The card should simply say “For being who you are.”  Have them delivered to her and when she phones to say thank you, ask her if she’ll marry you.

No doubt you’ve got your own 10 romantic ways to propose.  Why not share them with others?  If they like your idea, you could end up being the go-to person for romantic proposals.  Remember that home-based business we referred to earlier?

One final thing.  Men no longer enjoy the monopoly of popping the question.  Women have as much right to propose as men.  In fact, we think that if women proposed more frequently, they could easily come up with not only 10 romantic ways to propose but 101 ways!