Whether you are planning a proposal or just want the shock value of some unfortunate mishaps, this article will provide just what you need!
Gather ‘round, gentlemen—it’s story time.
At some point in your life, you may find a special someone who makes you think about planning a future together. You pick out a ring just for her. You plan a romantic proposal. After all, she’s probably been waiting for this moment for a lot of her life, and it’s a huge step for both of you. As the big day or night approaches, you probably feel a mix of anxiety and adrenaline. You’re sure she’ll say yes—unless she says no—but why wouldn’t she say yes? She loves you.
You can do this. You’re pumped. You’re counting down until the moment you finally get to ask, hoping you can keep the secret long enough not to spoil the surprise and ruin all of your plans.
A lot of men find that once they have the ring, it’s almost impossible to wait. Half-baked plans may be more susceptible to problems. Before you ask, think it through. What’s likely to go wrong? Photo Credit: Flickr.
Not so fast, buddy. Of course you’re excited—you’re in love and imaging a perfect life ahead. But before you book the sky-writing jet, choreograph a flash mob, or bake that engagement ring into a cake, think about the logistics of the proposal.
“Having a plan is the most commonly overlooked stage of a marriage proposal, but it is one of the most important,” advised marriage proposal planners The Heart Bandits. “When you announce your engagement, the first question people will ask your girlfriend is ‘How did he propose?’ If you didn’t have a plan and you just rolled out of bed and popped the question, your partner will be mortified to tell that story to anyone else. Have a proposal concept that will be a story worth telling your children and your grandchildren.”
It’s not all about making the special moment extra-special, either. There’s also a legitimate chance of that oh-so-romantic plan having disastrous consequences. Remember Murphy’s Law—anything that can go wrong will go wrong.
Keep That Rock Out of the Food
While you’re busy staring into each other’s eyes, she’s not examining the food for foreign objects. Hiding a ring in her dessert may catch her by surprise—but not in a good way. Photo Credit: Corbis Images.
You’ve got the mood set—a candlelit dinner for two at a fancy restaurant, a nice bottle of champagne. It’s easy to see the potential for romance. What doesn’t make quite as much sense, though, is the ever-popular idea of hiding the engagement ring inside the food.
She’ll probably want to show off that diamond, but the residue from food and drink can leave the ring dull and streaky. Photo Credit: Corbis Images.
Movies have made hiding a ring in a champagne glass—or worse, baking it into desserts—into something of a trend. To be honest, I don’t fully understand why. For one thing, unless your girlfriend is a chef or baker, the hide-the-ring-in-food idea isn’t personal, original, or terribly creative. “Most women won’t find a food proposal anything to brag about when telling your wedding proposal to friends and family,” said Yahoo! Voices.
Then there are sanitation issues. You’d better clean that ring very well before sticking it in food to avoid passing along any contaminants—I know you’re promising togetherness in sickness and health, but that doesn’t mean actively seeking out ways to transmit germs. You’re probably envisioning the moment when you slip that ring on your new fiancée’s finger, but it will be a lot less picturesque if the ring is covered in cake crumbs or dripping sauces. “Why would anyone want their hard-earned sparkler to get greased up inside a burger? Or sticky-fied inside a piece of chocolate cake?” wrote Yahoo! Lifestyle. “Not only does food taint the beauty and purity of an engagement ring, it’s also downright dangerous!”
The danger here is how your girlfriend discovers the hidden ring. You’re eating a nice meal, you order dessert, she takes a bite – then what?
Do you really want X-rays as engagement photos? Photo Credit: Corbis Images.
In your imagination, the moment your girlfriend goes to take a bite and notices the ring looks like this:
Photo Credit: Corbis Images.
The problem is that if she doesn’t see the ring, you could very well be facing this:
Photo Credit: Corbis Images.
Or even this:
Photo Credit: Corbis Images.
Believe it: proposals that involve rings hidden in food can, and have, gone disastrously wrong. “How bad would it be to choke the love of your life with an engagement ring and have to take her to the Emergency Room to have it surgically removed?” wrote Koldcast TV in the channel’s blog post 10 Creative (Yet Risky) Ways to Propose Marriage. “What if she digested it and had to, ahem, pass it?”
Your soon-to-be fiancée doesn’t know to look for a ring in her cake, so it could easily make it into her mouth without being noticed. Once she starts chewing, she could bite down on the ring and chip a tooth. If she starts to swallow the bite of food, the ring could get caught inside her throat and pose a distinct choking hazard. In 2009, a young woman actually swallowed her engagement ring completely after her boyfriend hid it inside a Frosty from Wendy’s, according to NBC News Today. They had to go to the hospital for the bride-to-be to get X-rays, and she did, in fact, have to “pass” it. Yes, it’s certainly a memorable proposal, but you may want to find more romantic ways to celebrate than X-rays. Even YourEngagement101.com calls a ring hidden in food “a proven choking hazard and a true romance killer.”
Leaving the ring on silverware instead of hidden in food still has the elegant appeal without the danger. Photo Credit: Flickr.
Engagement rings are powerful symbols, so it’s no surprise how many young men like the idea of having their intended find the ring. And that’s all fine. Stick it inside a box of chocolates. Tie it around the neck of a champagne bottle.
By keeping the ring outside the candy wrapper, you reduce the likelihood of your new fiancée accidentally choking on or swallowing the ring during the big moment. Photo Credit: Flickr.
Or do it the old-fashioned way—you can’t tell me that this isn’t picture-perfect:
Here’s a secret: If the time is right, even if she’s not surprised, she will still be thrilled about your engagement and your future together. Photo Credit: Corbis Images.
Taking Romance to New Heights
Whether it’s a banner in the sky, a quaint ride in a hot air balloon, or a secluded space atop a skyscraper, many men want to literally take their marriage proposal to new heights. Sure, there’s nothing as dramatic as writing her name in the sky, but these proposals can go just as catastrophically wrong as hiding her ring in the food.
The proposal doesn’t necessarily have to go exactly the way you imagined. Just make sure there are no dangerous flaws in the plan—and be yourself. Photo Credit: Corbis Images.
If you plan to pop the question during a romantic rooftop rendezvous, use caution. A secluded space under the starlight with glittering skyscrapers in the background can create the perfect backdrop for your big proposal. Go ahead, dine and dance until your heart’s content—just make sure you don’t get too close to the edge! In what radio station Banana 101.5 called “the world’s most dangerous marriage proposal,” a gentleman takes a tumble off the side of roof, leaving his girlfriend horrified. (Don’t worry, the video has a happy ending!) Still, for the guys out there who aren’t professional stuntmen, the danger is real.
A private location like this is very picturesque, but it can be a hazard, too. Keep away from the ledge! Photo Credit: Corbis Images.
Even if you think your bride-to-be will find the view breathtaking, you may want to think twice before going up, up, and away to pop the question. In June 2012, an Indiana couple’s dream proposal turned into a nightmare when the hot-air balloon collided with an electrical line, knocking the balloon pilot unconscious so that he required CPR, according to The Blaze. Once the balloon touched down, all three balloon passengers had to visit the hospital for minor injuries, such as burns.
Though even the designs on this balloon are heart-shaped, a hot-air balloon ride isn’t the right proposal for everyone. Make sure your pilot is a professional who knows the area, and don’t choose this as your big moment if either you or your beloved is afraid of heights. Photo Credit: Flickr.
You can’t wait for your girlfriend to see her name in the sky, but one Rhode Island man got more than he bargained for when the plane carrying the “Will you marry me?” sign went down in flames, according to TIME.
Photo Credit: Flickr.
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Some women prefer a personal, private proposal. Photo Credit: Corbis Images.
It’s true. We do some crazy things for love. However, you want your marriage proposal to be memorable for the right reasons—not because you or your bride-to-be had to go to the hospital.
“Ultimately, it’s important to use your mind and your heart. Be sure to opt for a wedding proposal that will not cause your girlfriend to choke or feel uncomfortable,” said Socybert. “If she loves you enough, it will be the thought of spending the rest of her life with you that matters the most.”
Photo Credit: Corbis Images.
A proposal doesn’t have to be big and public to be special. Just think about what scenario would be most special to her. If you do opt for a risky proposal, takes steps to minimize the dangers. Trust your gut—if you’re afraid something might go wrong, don’t try this at home.
This was previously published at the Console and Associates Blog.
Read more in Weddings on The Good Life.
Image credits: Corbis Images