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How did you propose to your wife?
- Thread starter TheDance511
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About a month before I purchased the ring I got a low interest credit card to cover whatever the jewelry store couldn't do on 0% financing. I used the card to build a new PC for myself as a distraction. (Nothing like buying yourself stuff to keep her convinced you have no money for a ring).
Of course the week before I was going to get the ring (she was going to be traveling for work) her brother needed to "borrow" our credit card to pick up an engagement ring for his girlfriend (he gave us the check, we charged it). Of course this irritated me because I didn't want to seem like a copycat.
On Monday of the week she was traveling (might have even been Sunday when she left) I went to the store and picked out the ring(s) and diamond. We had already been looking at rings so I had a good idea what she liked (if I'm going to spend that kind of money on a ring I want to be sure it's one that she would have picked out herself, none of the, 'well it's not what I would have picked, but I love it since it's from you' stuff. She has to wear it so why take chances?)
I think I picked up the ring on Thursday and went home to meet her for lunch on Friday when she got back from her trip. I got home before her and got the ring out of the safe and followed her into the bedroom, when her back was turned I got down on my knee and got the ring out. I asked her "Will you marry me?" and her response was "Are you kidding me?"
I'm pretty sure it had more to do with her realizing that I'm a smart-ass and wanted to make sure I wasn't pulling her chain. At least I keep telling myself that since she did marry me and it'll be 5 years in April and we're expecting our second child.
Of course the week before I was going to get the ring (she was going to be traveling for work) her brother needed to "borrow" our credit card to pick up an engagement ring for his girlfriend (he gave us the check, we charged it). Of course this irritated me because I didn't want to seem like a copycat.
On Monday of the week she was traveling (might have even been Sunday when she left) I went to the store and picked out the ring(s) and diamond. We had already been looking at rings so I had a good idea what she liked (if I'm going to spend that kind of money on a ring I want to be sure it's one that she would have picked out herself, none of the, 'well it's not what I would have picked, but I love it since it's from you' stuff. She has to wear it so why take chances?)
I think I picked up the ring on Thursday and went home to meet her for lunch on Friday when she got back from her trip. I got home before her and got the ring out of the safe and followed her into the bedroom, when her back was turned I got down on my knee and got the ring out. I asked her "Will you marry me?" and her response was "Are you kidding me?"
I'm pretty sure it had more to do with her realizing that I'm a smart-ass and wanted to make sure I wasn't pulling her chain. At least I keep telling myself that since she did marry me and it'll be 5 years in April and we're expecting our second child.
No, I left her with all of her body parts.
Actually, I did indeed take a knee when proposing to her - just seemed like the stereotypical thing to do, I suppose...
We went out to a restaurant for a meal to celebrate being together for 2 years. After the first course I went down on one knee and asked her to marry me. She burst into tears and said yes. She was so emotional that she couldn't eat her dinner, so I had 2 meals. That was an unexpected bonus of the occasion
"Well, don't expect this every Tuesday night!"
Maybe you had to be there, but we all had a good laugh.
I think Steve Jobs probably needs to tell a lot of MacRumors members that (but change the "night" to "morning").
Of course ask the parents first.
She had already graduated college and lived an hour from me. We had been together 6 or so years already, (through high school and college) it was expected that we would get married (we had talked about it) so any hint of a big showy thing would have blown it.
So I show up the day before her birthday and we ate and all that fun stuff, at midnight i say, well its technically your birthday now so do you want to open your presents? Opens the first two, happiness, hugs. Gets to the third one (a card), I love you, always have, always will want to spend the rest of my life with you...
I get down of the knee (a must in my opinion) and asked her to marry me, we cried, it was a beautiful thing.
It wasn't a huge production, being totally unexpected made it perfect.
She had already graduated college and lived an hour from me. We had been together 6 or so years already, (through high school and college) it was expected that we would get married (we had talked about it) so any hint of a big showy thing would have blown it.
So I show up the day before her birthday and we ate and all that fun stuff, at midnight i say, well its technically your birthday now so do you want to open your presents? Opens the first two, happiness, hugs. Gets to the third one (a card), I love you, always have, always will want to spend the rest of my life with you...
I get down of the knee (a must in my opinion) and asked her to marry me, we cried, it was a beautiful thing.
It wasn't a huge production, being totally unexpected made it perfect.
I wonder how many guys do this? I didn't. Perhaps I should have, but then her dad would have spilled the beans because he can't keep a secret to save his life.
Maybe if we were both younger, but she was 29 when we got engaged.
I was kind of thinking this myself. I'm shocked by how many people in this thread said they asked the parents first. I'm not married or engaged, but I think that if i had been, it wouldn't have even occurred to me to ask her parents first.
I wonder how many guys do this? I didn't. Perhaps I should have, but then her dad would have spilled the beans because he can't keep a secret to save his life.
Maybe if we were both younger, but she was 29 when we got engaged.
Maybe its just me but I was lead to believe that was right under getting on one knee.
But then again age does play a factor as well in that.
I bought a ring just before my wife and I went to cancun and was planning on asking here there.. Then 9/11 happened and they were searching everything etc etc.. and she was packing, so i had no idea how to get the damn thing into mexico without her knowing... so i just kinda asked her in her apartment one night.
we have been together 6 years dating etc as of yesterday and will be married 5 years this october, so i guess i did something right
we have been together 6 years dating etc as of yesterday and will be married 5 years this october, so i guess i did something right
I did take a knee...easier said than done in ski boots on a slope.
And I didn't ask her parents. We'd been together for seven years, and I think they were just wanting me to go ahead and do it. I'm surprised they didn't ask me first.
And I didn't ask her parents. We'd been together for seven years, and I think they were just wanting me to go ahead and do it. I'm surprised they didn't ask me first.
This freaking thread. It's... depressing. I mean, in a romantic way. I mean. Argh.
And what is with these fancy meals?! Seriously, I think I'd be way too nervous and excited and just overwhelmed to actually sit still and attempt to be all proper in fancy setting. Guess I'm just not classy enough.
I had a pastor once who proposed on Christmas eve. His girlfriend was terribly sick, chicken pox and the flu... She'd been working through a rather lengthy period of craving Cracker Jacks. So he gave her a box and she completely dimissed the "toy!" Between her meds and her exhaustion, he ended up having to unwrap the ring and outright explain to her. Haha, he still seemed embarrassed it didn't work out as he had planned, but I think it was sweet (pun unintended).
It's... depressing. I mean, in a romantic way. I mean. Argh.
I think that that is such a wonderful thing to do... As much as I roll my eyes about/ at/ with family, I can only imagine that it would be wonderful to share something to special with them.
Hehe. I think it's sort of dorky, but then, I guess I might possibly feel gyped if the person proposing didn't.
That definitely sounds like something I'd do.
And what is with these fancy meals?! Seriously, I think I'd be way too nervous and excited and just overwhelmed to actually sit still and attempt to be all proper in fancy setting. Guess I'm just not classy enough.
Shrug. I always hoped that if I ever were to get to the point where marriage would be a plausible probability, that whomever I was involved with would do so. But maybe I'm just old and old-fashioned.
I had a pastor once who proposed on Christmas eve. His girlfriend was terribly sick, chicken pox and the flu... She'd been working through a rather lengthy period of craving Cracker Jacks. So he gave her a box and she completely dimissed the "toy!" Between her meds and her exhaustion, he ended up having to unwrap the ring and outright explain to her.
Haha, he still seemed embarrassed it didn't work out as he had planned, but I think it was sweet (pun unintended).
I don't think I would have but at the time she had mentioned something about it so I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to do. Of course I am PC maintenance for most of the family so I don't think they want me gone... yet.
Of course the first time I met her family I had the following exchange with her sister and nephew:
Nephew : What happened to that other guy?
Future Wife (to nephew) : Other guy?
Sister (to me) : Yeah, she brings a different guy home every time
Me (to sister) : Cool, I only have to do this once?
these are some great stories, guys.
i'm going to jump in here and tell my husband's story, since he won't be coming on to the macrumors forum any time soon to tell it himself.
we had been dating/living together for a little over a year, and we had talked about marriage a good bit, even planning the ceremony on paper with stick people (yes, we were very drunk at that time). he knew that i didn't want a public proposal, and i didn't want anything cheesy or predictable. he had gone out and purchased a ring and picked it up on last February 1st. he was going to wait until valentine's day, but he thought i'd find that too predictable. i also think the ring was literally burning a hole in his pocket.
one evening in our apartment, over lipton cup-o-soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, he casually asked me what he'd have to do to convince me that he really did love me. i rolled my eyes and laughed, and said something silly that i can't really remember...then he dropped to both knees (score!) and pulled the ring out of his pocket. he asked me to marry him, i cried and said yes, and then said something about tasting like cheap soup.
we were married last october, and life is fantastic. i still thank him every so often for the perfect proposal.
and devilot....someday you will have a story to tell, too.
i'm going to jump in here and tell my husband's story, since he won't be coming on to the macrumors forum any time soon to tell it himself.
we had been dating/living together for a little over a year, and we had talked about marriage a good bit, even planning the ceremony on paper with stick people (yes, we were very drunk at that time). he knew that i didn't want a public proposal, and i didn't want anything cheesy or predictable. he had gone out and purchased a ring and picked it up on last February 1st. he was going to wait until valentine's day, but he thought i'd find that too predictable. i also think the ring was literally burning a hole in his pocket.
one evening in our apartment, over lipton cup-o-soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, he casually asked me what he'd have to do to convince me that he really did love me. i rolled my eyes and laughed, and said something silly that i can't really remember...then he dropped to both knees (score!) and pulled the ring out of his pocket. he asked me to marry him, i cried and said yes, and then said something about tasting like cheap soup.
we were married last october, and life is fantastic. i still thank him every so often for the perfect proposal.
and devilot....someday you will have a story to tell, too.
I had operatives! Operatives who consisted of my sister-in-law and her boyfriend.
I had the ring. And I planned to propose to her on the beach. So, I found* a cool little hollowed out quartz half-rock, and a giant seashell. I sent my operatives to put the ring in the half-rock, place the shell over it, and bury it the sand. All in front of a lighthouse.
(*By 'found,' I mean went to the store and bought.)
And then, of course, the operatives stood guard until we got there.
So, I mention to my wife that we should go for a walk. It was getting really nice and sunsetty out, so there was some romantic in the air.
We walk. We get in front of the lighthouse. And I mention that my knees are hurting, and we should sit down. Then the soon-to-be-wife noticed my operatives. We had a brief chat, and the operatives headed away.
There are many personality traits of my now wife that I've come to count on. One of which being her propensity to see something shiny and pick it up.
We sit down on some nice, cozy rocks with a great view of the lighthouse off in the distance. And sure enough, she sees the ginat shell in the sand. She gets a big old grin on her face and picks it up.
The grin vanishes when she sees the ring.
"Oh no! I think we've stumbled across someone's marraige proposal!"
sigh.
It took about 10 minutes for me to finally convince her that it was MY proposal to HER.
And the only way she knew I was serious was that I couldn't stop laughing.
I had the ring. And I planned to propose to her on the beach. So, I found* a cool little hollowed out quartz half-rock, and a giant seashell. I sent my operatives to put the ring in the half-rock, place the shell over it, and bury it the sand. All in front of a lighthouse.
(*By 'found,' I mean went to the store and bought.)
And then, of course, the operatives stood guard until we got there.
So, I mention to my wife that we should go for a walk. It was getting really nice and sunsetty out, so there was some romantic in the air.
We walk. We get in front of the lighthouse. And I mention that my knees are hurting, and we should sit down. Then the soon-to-be-wife noticed my operatives. We had a brief chat, and the operatives headed away.
There are many personality traits of my now wife that I've come to count on. One of which being her propensity to see something shiny and pick it up.
We sit down on some nice, cozy rocks with a great view of the lighthouse off in the distance. And sure enough, she sees the ginat shell in the sand. She gets a big old grin on her face and picks it up.
The grin vanishes when she sees the ring.
"Oh no! I think we've stumbled across someone's marraige proposal!"
sigh.
It took about 10 minutes for me to finally convince her that it was MY proposal to HER.
And the only way she knew I was serious was that I couldn't stop laughing.
and devilot....someday you will have a story to tell, too.
I have... actually been proposed to twice already. Both were, what I consider to be jokes. They didn't seem to think they were kidding though. What?! I was 14 and 17!Oooh! Me too, me too! I <3 shiny objects.
Teehee. I can't ever take a proper walk on a beach 'cause I stop constantly to check out what I see in the sand. And that is such a hilarious story, Hobgobble. Heh. Thanks for that smile.
<snip>
Ouch! That must have been awkward. Thank God I was 100% sure of the answer both times I asked.
White Text
I dont' have any stories to tell here, I don't even have someone I like.
I was going to pick her up on a friday, at the airport, from a business trip in Miami. She was coming out of the gate at Tampa, with coworkers, and lots of other random people. I gave her a hug a kiss, and bent down to "tie my shoe." While she was talking to her friends, I took out the ring, and just sat there, on one knee. here friends noticed, and started freaking out. She turned to me, and was like" Shut up...... you are not doing this here!!!!!!" Well, people started staring, and stopped to see what was gonna happen, and I was like, "Well????"
After about a minute, she said yes.
P.S. We're getting married on Friday.
After about a minute, she said yes.
P.S. We're getting married on Friday.
My Proposal
I didn't ask permission or discuss it with my girlfriend beforehand... I wanted it to be a surprise! Since we were both 30 I thought asking for permission would be a little silly, and knowing her family the 'secret' would be out in a matter of minutes!
At the same time I had made up my mind, my then-girlfriend/now-wife was making plans to go to Costa Rica. She had always wanted to go, but being a travel agent she never got the deal she wanted until then. Letting her make most of the arrangements for the trip I think help disguise what I planned to do.
So I proposed to her at one of our chosen stops, in Monteverde during a walk on the suspension bridges in and over the canopy of the cloud rainforest. When I got to a bridge with just the two of us (third one I think), I started talking about how much I enjoyed being with her and how we were such a great match (I honestly can't remember the exact words...I was more nervous at that moment than I realized). As I'm doing this, I reach into my pocket and take out the ring from the micro-cassette case I used to disguise it's true contents... and since I'm about 150 feet up I get a death-grip on it before it comes out of my pocket! Then I say "So I have something to ask you." and I get down on one knee and said "Will you marry me?" The response I remember quite clearly it was "Oh my god! ..Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes" Which was really nice because there was no pause between my asking and her response! We got the ring on without incident (it didn't drop out of our grasp) and we've now been married for 8 months.
BTW if you are proposing on a trip, diamonds show up as a really bright spot in X-ray machines! I knew this and prepared by having my girlfriend go through first and to distract her if the security inspector went fumbling after it. However, all I got was this knowing look from the security person who scanned my bag.
I didn't ask permission or discuss it with my girlfriend beforehand... I wanted it to be a surprise! Since we were both 30 I thought asking for permission would be a little silly, and knowing her family the 'secret' would be out in a matter of minutes!
At the same time I had made up my mind, my then-girlfriend/now-wife was making plans to go to Costa Rica. She had always wanted to go, but being a travel agent she never got the deal she wanted until then. Letting her make most of the arrangements for the trip I think help disguise what I planned to do.
So I proposed to her at one of our chosen stops, in Monteverde during a walk on the suspension bridges in and over the canopy of the cloud rainforest. When I got to a bridge with just the two of us (third one I think), I started talking about how much I enjoyed being with her and how we were such a great match (I honestly can't remember the exact words...I was more nervous at that moment than I realized). As I'm doing this, I reach into my pocket and take out the ring from the micro-cassette case I used to disguise it's true contents... and since I'm about 150 feet up I get a death-grip on it before it comes out of my pocket! Then I say "So I have something to ask you." and I get down on one knee and said "Will you marry me?" The response I remember quite clearly it was "Oh my god! ..Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes"
Which was really nice because there was no pause between my asking and her response! We got the ring on without incident (it didn't drop out of our grasp) and we've now been married for 8 months. BTW if you are proposing on a trip, diamonds show up as a really bright spot in X-ray machines! I knew this and prepared by having my girlfriend go through first and to distract her if the security inspector went fumbling after it. However, all I got was this knowing look from the security person who scanned my bag.
She had no knowledge and we were traveling to Australia and New Zealand for a vacation. I felt this was the right time, but how to keep it all a secret. I did go to her parents and notify them of my intentions (although it was not expected - must be the old fashion value in me ) - Bought the ring (excruciating process - especially when hoping that you are choosing wisely) - We had never looked so I based it on things I knew about her.
Ok - so had the ring and notified the parents - now how to 'smuggle' it. I did get a personal insurance policy for it just in case too. I decided to wrap the ring in tissue paper and stuff it in the emptied out container of dental floss with the top portion still looking like dental floss. Traveled through Australia and did nothing (some folks had guessed would do it there, but no) Went to New Zealand and at the base of Mount Cook, in front of Lake Teakapo (sp?) I dropped to one knee and began what has to have been a blathering attempt to express my affection and feeling and then I come with the question.
She replies, like some have mentioned before, "Are you serious?" - what is with these women? Don't they know how hard this stuff is? In the end she was extremely happy when she know it was serious and have been married 13.5 years.
Just a side note on the parent thing - it is just a traditional thing that used to have meaning and it just felt to me like the right thing to do. The knee - that would almost have to be a must - I know in today's world it seems strange, but how often is one going to do this stuff?
) - Bought the ring (excruciating process - especially when hoping that you are choosing wisely) - We had never looked so I based it on things I knew about her. Ok - so had the ring and notified the parents - now how to 'smuggle' it. I did get a personal insurance policy for it just in case too. I decided to wrap the ring in tissue paper and stuff it in the emptied out container of dental floss with the top portion still looking like dental floss. Traveled through Australia and did nothing (some folks had guessed would do it there, but no) Went to New Zealand and at the base of Mount Cook, in front of Lake Teakapo (sp?) I dropped to one knee and began what has to have been a blathering attempt to express my affection and feeling and then I come with the question.
She replies, like some have mentioned before, "Are you serious?" - what is with these women?
Don't they know how hard this stuff is? In the end she was extremely happy when she know it was serious and have been married 13.5 years.Just a side note on the parent thing - it is just a traditional thing that used to have meaning and it just felt to me like the right thing to do. The knee - that would almost have to be a must - I know in today's world it seems strange, but how often is one going to do this stuff?