Things to Keep in Mind While Proposing

perfect proposal ideasDeciding to marry the love of your life is often much easier than deciding how to propose -- sometimes it seems like all the perfect proposal ideas have already been thought of and used up. But while many articles can help you figure out the best, most romantic way to pop the question, this article is intended to point out some of the pitfalls of choosing the perfect proposal, and some situations to tweak, strongly reconsider, or avoid altogether.
  • The Jumbotron. It's the classic proposal cliche -- halftime of the big game, the teams file off the field, but the announcer directs our attention to the giant screen for an important question to a very special someone: "Tina: Will U Marry Me?" The idea itself has merit: you want to express your love for all the world to see. But the public approach deserves very careful consideration. If you think there's even the smallest chance that your soon-to-be-betrothed will be embarrassed -- or worse, say no -- tread very carefully around 20-foot television screens.
  • Pastries With a Crunchy, 1.5-Carat Center. A night out, a romantic dinner, the candlelight... imagine their look of surprise when they find an engagement ring poking out of their dessert. Unfortunately, this is a recipe for disaster. Any number of things could go wrong, from a mix-up with the serving staff (prompting a proposal at the table next to you, which will be a surprise to both parties) to a night spent in the emergency room because your beloved took a bite when you weren't looking. Diamond engagement rings don't play well with either teeth or the human digestive tract.
  • The Last One to the Party. It may seem perfectly logical to secretly enlist the help of your spouse-to-be's friends and family when searching for perfect proposal ideas, but be sure to think it through. Once you pop the question, your beloved will want to shout it from the rooftops and to every passerby on the street. If it seems like every passerby already knew the proposal was happening, that could diminish the joy of sharing the news. If you do ask for help, try to keep the inner circle small, just in case.
All that being said, the truth is that perfect proposal ideas happen all the time, every day, anytime someone asks and someone else says yes. Make it memorable, yes, make it romantic, by all means, but always keep in mind: it's the love you feel that truly makes it perfect.