Popping the Question in Style: Creating a Unique Marriage Proposal

All right, guys - you did it. You found the love of your life. You've got the ring and you're ready to pop the question, but just getting on one knee and asking her to marry you feels so plain. Your love deserves a marriage proposal you'll both be talking about for the rest of your lives.

Make you feel a little worried? Don't be. She's probably waiting for your proposal. Even if she doesn't seem to be hinting that she's ready to take that step, odds are, she's ready to say yes! Of course, finding one of these girls that don't drop hints is extremely rare, so odds are, your girl's been dropping hints for a while now, giving you the opportunity to find the perfect time to pop the question!

Does your girl have a sweet tooth? Consider buying a lovely container filled with her favorite candy with a message claiming there's a special surprise hidden inside. Make sure the ring - with your proposal written on a strip of paper in the ring box - is hidden inside. This proposal is perfect for a surprise at work. Imagine her surprise when you show up with not only her favorite sweet treat, but a treat she never saw coming! Don't be surprised if she takes the rest of the day off to spend it with you!

Speciality bakeries and online shops offer customized fortune cookies with a wide variety of messages. If your and your sweetie are Chinese food fans, consider taking her to a Chinese restaurant. Catch your waiter when you're out of earshot of your love and have them give her your rigged fortune cookie in place of the one they normally give. Consider making a second one for you, with the fortune 'you will ask a life-changing question in a very delicious way.' Depending on the acting skill of your waiter, he or she can claim that she has a good feeling about your cookie and ask you to open yours first, before your sweetheart. Just make sure you have your engagement ring ready to wear - she's going to want to see it immediately!

This proposal is a bit more versatile, as you can also do this with Chinese take-out in the privacy of your own home. If you're not into Chinese food, while the 'fortune' aspect is lost with the fortune cookie, you can change this up a bit with your favorite restaurant fare. Just don't be surprised if her answer echoes throughout the restaurant and you find yourself surrounded by applause.

Seduced by the sun and sand? Consider a beach party proposal for the love of your life. If you want to go simple, you can write your proposal in the sand or make a sand castle with the ring sitting on top of it. If you want to go a bit more extravagant, there are sand sculpture companies that will actually build the perfect sand castle or sculpture for you - many of which can also ask the very question you want to ask for you. Your love will be surprised to find a mermaid on a shell with ring in hand or a sand version of you on one knee asking her to spend the rest of your lives together.

It is typically better to make your proposal connect to something that the two of you share. Whether you propose in the place where you first met, or where the two of you shared your first kiss, first date, or something that had deep significance to the both of you, it makes the situation that much more intimate. You'll also find that you'll feel better about the proposal if you practice first. Tape yourself to hear how you sound and go over it in various different ways to see which one you like better. You can even test out your proposal on your pet. You might not get the response you'd get from your loved one, but at least you're testing it on a live being.

Just so you know, marriage proposals don't have to be expensive. In fact, in many cases, the individuals who have had their proposals rejected have spent a fortune. It's true what they say - it's not the cost of the gift - it's the thought put into it that counts.