HELP!!!! I need to propose but need ideas!!

Hey here is the situation i want to propose to my long distance relationship partner who is a USC. We have discussed marriage (even though i havent asked her) and we plan on getting married in february, the thing is i really want to propose to her and make it special the down side is i cannot afford a ring haha she said that doesnt matter, but i have two opportunities she comes to the uk in november but i am over in new york for christmas/new years eve, i was thinking of doing it in new york new years eve because this is where we met exactly one year ago on new years eve, i just want to make it really special for her but i need some suggestions, so can anyone help me?? Many thanks

J

Take her back to the exact place you met and propose there, no matter what the place was.  That would be super romantic, no matter the setting.

A good friend of mine just got engaged and the way her guy did it was so cute.  They went to Niagara Falls.  He asked her to hold onto to the camera to take the pictures.  He purposely made it have issues with a full memory card.  And when he asked her to go through to delete some pictures there were pictures of her engagement ring.

You could go to the same place you met, and do the same thing but instead these are ideas of rings I could get you some day (something along those lines).  I just thought the way he did it was so sweet.

Also, my engagement ring wasn't diamond- a beautiful opal ring (my birthstone) that he bought at H.Samuel.  And I love it.  You can get a gorgeous ring for 100 quid and still have something to give her that won't totally break the bank.

Best of luck!!!!

ye that is a really cute idea i was thinking about going to the place we first met in new york i was going to do that but i amnot sure how to actually go about it :/

ye i want to get her a ring, i am not being cheap by the way haha i am a full time student, i just dont want to touch my savings because i want to have them available for when we apply for her visa to come here, and i do earn enough to be a sponsor, but what with the travelling i am paying for her trip here mine at christmas and mine in february as well as all other costs haha i am a little bit stretched but i was going to get her a cheapish ring, i just dont want her to feel bad because i have promised her the big day and ring lol in a couple of years.

I highly doubt that she'll be upset if she doesn't have a humongous diamond ring.  I'm sure she'll just be so excited your asking her.  Plus I don't think you're being cheap.  And I didn't think my husband was being cheap either.  I didn't want a diamond engagement ring first of all (I did get a diamond wedding ring).  And we just bought a house, which is the reason why we didn't spend much on rings or the wedding.  I couldn't justify the expense of those when I would rather spend it on a house.

How about a little silver band for around 35-50 and something engraved that is special to the two of you?  Engraving doesn't cost much    

ye i am getting her a ring the engravment is a good idea, perhaps the date we first met?? Or somethhing we always say to each other i cant repeat it because its really cheesy ha

why not engrave "will you marry me?" inside the ring?

That's a good idea.  Also what ever the phrase is, I would have it engraved on the inside rather than the outside, just so people aren't always asking.  Plus, you can also say that the words are closer to her heart that way...

*SIGH*  To be young and in love again...

ok so ring is figured out haha what ideas do we all have for proposing, new years eve seems really busy but it is the night we met???

New Years Eve for sure.  Maybe keep it in your pocket with some gloves or something for her.  Tell her to reach in the pocket for the gloves then voila!

Or maybe depending on if there is fireworks, etc.  Maybe pop out a bottle of champagne at midnight and have the ring tied on it?

It's all up to you and your love for each other, but here's what I think.  If you are out on New Year's Eve (Hogmanay at my hoose- lol), you take her aside at say about 11:55 or maybe earlier depending on what you need to say.  At 11:59 before everyone starts singing and shouting, slip the ring on her finger after you've made your proposal.  First kiss as a newly wed engaged couple at 12:00 am on 01/01/10...very sweet.  

Also, in my opinion, as you visit, don't let your gaurd down about protecting the privacy of this engagement, even if she knows your planning on proposing.  Don't tell any of her friends because they will likely tell her and spoil it.  I would try to make this as much of a surprise as I possibly could

I agree that you should try to keep it as much a secret as possible.  If you haven't said anything to her about it already, I wouldn't.  Yeah, you've talked about getting married and started making plans, but if she has no idea whatsoever that you are going to propose, it will make the entire event that much more romantic.  Try to play it as cool as possible and not look nervous or anything so she won't be suspicious.

I saw this on a movie and I thought it was kinda cute.  The guy basically made the girl think he was getting ready to propose, then he just asked her something silly to throw her off.  For example, you could just be sitting at dinner one night and start off with "You know how much I love you, right?"  Then you could give her a mini-speech on how much you love her and enjoy spending time with her, etc.  Then you could say something like "I just wanted to ask you a question."  So by this point she is probably freaking out and thinking your about to propose.  Then you could just say something like "Can we get a dog?"  Depends on her personality if she will appreciate that later on or not...so use discretion.

I saw this on a movie and I thought it was kinda cute.  The guy basically made the girl think he was getting ready to propose, then he just asked her something silly to throw her off.  For example, you could just be sitting at dinner one night and start off with "You know how much I love you, right?"  Then you could give her a mini-speech on how much you love her and enjoy spending time with her, etc.  Then you could say something like "I just wanted to ask you a question."  So by this point she is probably freaking out and thinking your about to propose.  Then you could just say something like "Can we get a dog?"  Depends on her personality if she will appreciate that later on or not...so use discretion.

Oh my gosh, that's genius.  LOL! Now to try and figure a time to use it since we're already married....