The Surprise Proposal
A surprise proposal can happen just about anywhere, so long as it's a time and place that she least suspects you to get down on bended knee. This doesn’t mean you should do it while she’s loading the dishwasher – it means not letting on in advance that anything is afoot. Tying the ring to a ribbon around her dog's neck one random morning, popping the question during a hike, or putting up a billboard on her route to work are all perfect examples of the surprise proposal.
The Holiday Proposal
Since the holidays are already a joyous time for most, this time of year can be the perfect time to pop the question -- in fact, the months of November through February are the most popular ones for engagements. Family and friends tend to be near during the holidays, and can bear witness to the monumental occasion, a detail that is especially attractive if faraway relatives are in town. You can do it while opening gifts – making yours the last gift opened -- or while eating dinner with the family. If it suits you, you can even dress up as Santa and “deliver” her special something.
The Restaurant Proposal
Alas, the restaurant proposal is extremely overused -- therefore it's important to add original elements if you take this route. Choose a restaurant with extreme sentimental value, such as the place you went on your first date, or reserve an entire location so you're the lone couple dining. Live music, a slideshow of special memories, and/or masses and masses of her favorite flowers will elevate the tried and true proposal to something meaningful and original.
The Home Proposal
This sweet and low-key proposal can be a hit with a little forethought and planning. Since the two of you are most comfortable at home, there are many ways to make this type of proposal very endearing. Whether it’s movie night with your proposal spliced into the DVD you're watching, or a ring presentation over a home-cooked breakfast in bed, your big moment should be representative of something you both love to do at home -- together.
See More: Etiquette , Engagements