Novel Proposal Ideas

Asking someone to marry you -- to spend the rest of her life with you -- is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make. It's a moment steeped in emotion, romance, hope, uncertainty, and anticipation. You want it to be perfect -- something that the both of you will remember fondly forever. So why just settle for the traditional proposal on bended knee? Be creative! Here are some alternative ways to "pop the question" that experts say are sure to make your proposal unique and special.

· The fortune cookie proposal. Place a piece of paper asking your intended "Will you marry me?" inside a fortune cookie. Take her out to dinner at your favorite Chinese restaurant. Arrange for the waiter to present the special cookie to your sweetheart after the meal. Imagine her surprise when she cracks open the cookie and reads her "fortune!"

· The treasure hunt proposal. Create a map that will lead your girlfriend to the ultimate prize -- an engagement ring from you! Give the map to her with instructions to follow the clues and meet you at the final destination. Lead her on a scavenger hunt through favorite places that have been special in your relationship together -- the restaurant where you had your first date, a park where you had your first kiss, etc. At each point, plant clues that will lead her to the next destination. (You may want to inform others who work there to ensure none of your clues are lost or tampered with -- you can even involve a restaurant hostess, movie theater worker, etc., by having them personally deliver the next clue to your intended). Make sure the final spot is one that is very special to her. When she arrives, present her with the "treasure" -- your ring in the box -- and ask her to marry you.

· The "hide the ring" proposal. The options for this strategy are endless; in fact, they are only limited by the extent of your own ingenuity. Some classic examples would include: hollowing out a special book of love poems and securing the ring inside for your girlfriend to find; attaching the ring around the neck of her favorite teddy bear; placing the ring inside a champagne glass and having the waiter present it to her; burying the ring inside a bouquet of roses to be delivered to your loved one, and so on.