15 Simple Proposal Ideas That Will Surprise Your Partner!

Simple proposal ideas can be challenging to come up with when you’ve finally found the one you want to spend the rest of your life with, and you are ready to pop the question. But no need to freak out here :)! We got you. Help is on the way. 

First, understand that your marriage proposal should be as unique as you, your intended spouse, and your relationship. Adding some personal touches will make it more special and sentimental.

So, without further ado, here are 15 proposal ideas to help you confidently close the deal:

1. Go Back to the Beginning, Where You First Met

Do you remember the feelings that came over you when you first met? The warm, bubbly feelings, the butterflies in your stomach, the tongue-tied, and all those other uncontrollable feelings of something special. 

What could be better than re-kindling those romantic feelings while you propose to your forever love? Whether your first encounter was at a restaurant, coffee shop, or bar, returning to that special place to ask for your partner’s hand in marriage will surely surprise your partner. 

So what if you met your love at a friend’s party at their home? No problem! Just ask your friend to host a romantic dinner party so that you can propose to your honey. You would be surprised to learn how eager your friends and family will be to help you get hitched. But before you ask a friend or family member to help you with your proposal, ensure they can be trusted to keep a secret. 

2. Destination Proposal Ideas

If you and your significant other are jet setters, a destination proposal might be the perfect way to propose. Whether your proposal idea is in Dubai, London, Jamaica, or locally away from home, consider planning the trip around a special event or holiday. For example, planning a trip to propose to your sweetheart around a birthday or Christmas holiday will help to ensure some surprises!

Also, a destination proposal can be somewhere other than some far-flung places abroad. South Florida, particularly Miami, provides many proposal opportunities for the romantically adventurous couple. However, consider the Keys for a more laid-back and simple destination proposal!

Ask the big question on the water via jet ski, boat, kayak, or paddle boarding. But if water is not your thing—no problem! How about a Champagne sunset skyline tour of the bay and downtown Miami? The possibilities are endless, from chick hotels and exquisite restaurants to miles of white sand beaches and swaying palm trees.

3. Simple Picnic Proposal Ideas

Simple picnic proposal ideas are perfect for the laid-back couple! You can’t go wrong here. You can make it as fancy or as simple as you wish. Here are a few tips to get you going:

1. First, do a little bit of research for picnic ideas. Google can be a big help here! 
2. Decide the picnic type and location where you want to pop the question. This could be the beach, a garden, a park, or maybe at home. Sure, you can have a picnic at home.
3. Identify what you will be serving at the picnic and ensure you have everything prepared before departing for the picnic.
4. If alcohol is to be served, make sure you know the alcohol policies for your chosen location. 
5. Pack all the necessary accessories, such as plates, cups, glasses, napkins, blankets, sunscreen, etc.
6. Consider hiring a professional photographer to capture the proposal secretly. 
7. Don’t forget the ring!
8. For a smooth and simple proposal, secretly practice proposing. Practice what you are going to say and how you will say it! For example, will you get down on one knee, or will you be just sitting up?

I propose to my wife on vacation in Jamaica, but I would do a simple picnic proposal if I had to do it over. A picnic proposal will allow you to focus more on the proposal rather than worrying about all the other little details! 

4. Do it at a Well-Known Landmark

Landmarks are great for simple proposal ideas! Whether well-known like the iconic Eiffel Tower, the Grand Canyon, the Empire State Building, or lesser known as Vizcaya Museum and Garden here in Miami. What could be more memorable than being asked for your hand in marriage at a famous location with an amazingly gorgeous backdrop? Nothing, I would think!

Nevertheless, there are a few things to consider if you decide to pop the question at an iconic location. 

1. First and foremost, you have got to nail the timing. Do your research and find out what date and time the location is less crowded. For example, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is super busy with weekend tourists and is closed on Tuesdays. 
2. Ensure you hire a professional photographer to capture the moment! You will need to let the photographer in on all the details so they can help you keep it a surprise while authentically and beautifully capturing it for your forever memory. 
3. Many popular locations and venues will require a permit fee. This includes cities and parks such as South Point Park in Miami Beach. Your photographer or event planner can help you secure your proposal photo shoot permits.

Whatever you do, the most important thing to remember is not to get caught off guard when proposing to your sweetheart. This could ruin the entire element of surprise and kill the vibe! So, be proactive and plan regardless of your proposal’s simplicity. 

5. Try the Game Night Marriage Proposal

Hosting a game night for a marriage proposal can be a lot of fun. Plus, the possibilities are endless. You don’t have to limit it to just board games. Consider hosting a UFC fight night or any other pro sport you both love. Make it just the 2 of you or a few close family and friends. 

Most of the work will go into planning the game night! However, remember your ultimate objective, the marriage proposal. Just as you have come up with a theme, the food, the drinks, and the game or games for your game night, you must also give the proposal process equal attention. 

How will you ask for their hands? Will you do it with a playing card, use Scrabble letter blocks to spell it out, or get down on one knee? Whatever you decide, take some time to practice it so that it will go off without a hitch.  

6. A Staged Photoshoot

Planning a staged or style photoshoot proposal can be fun if you are both into photos. Nevertheless, pulling off this type of proposal can be tricky, but there are a couple of ways to do this without letting the cat out of the bag :)! 

First, the easiest way to pull this off is if you have a professional photographer friend. You could ask them to work with you to make this happen. Or you could hire a professional photographer. Either way, the most challenging thing you must do is come up with a convincing why. A couple of excuses you could give your partner for the shoot are:

1. Your friend asks you to be a model for a personal project.
2. Your friend is testing some new equipment and needs a couple of models.

The second way you could pull this off is to have a fake shoot for a local magazine, newspaper, or blog. This proposal idea will require more coordination, so you will need to recruit the help of some trusted friends. 

The plan would be to have one of your friends who is not well known by your significant other contact your partner with a proposal for an editorial interview or story for a magazine or any other local editorial. 

The editorial piece would include a write-up with photos. And, of course, if you really want to impress your partner, add a video too. On the day of the photoshoot, convince your love that you will be elsewhere and wish them the best for the shoot. 

During the photoshoot, you showed up, got down on your knee, and proposed! If it is pulled off correctly, your partner will be blown away. I did a similar photoshoot for 2 of the stars of the Rich Kids of Beverly Hills reality TV show. You can see the teaser on E!

7. Propose at a Music Concert

So, you would like to pop the question at your favorite music event, but think that would be impossible! You don’t have any famous musician friends, plus why would they give you their time? Not so fast there, Grasshopper! Proposals at music concerts are more popular than you may think.

Artists love to accommodate their fans whenever possible. It is good PR for the artist and makes them more relatable and loved by their fans. 

Now, here is the thing! Depending on how you choose to proceed with your proposal, the process of getting to it could be challenging or simple. For example, suppose you want your favorite singer to pause their music or sing your favorite song so you can ask your honey to marry you. In that case, you will need to contact the event promoter, the artist manager, or the artist and pitch your request to them. 

On the other hand, if money is not an issue, you could always book a private concert with the artist of your choice. One thing to keep in mind if this is how you wish to propose is that your odds of getting an artist to pause their show and announce your proposal increase significantly for less-known artists and smaller and less popular events. 

8. Simple Breakfast Proposal in Bed

What could be simpler than a breakfast proposal in bed? When I proposed to my wife, it was not a breakfast proposal, but she was still in bed. And I can still see her face lit up as she springs from her bed and dashes to the kitchen to share the news with her aunt. 

If you love to cook like me, fix your honey a delicious breakfast with her favorite cup of coffee and decorate the tray with flowers before serving them breakfast in bed. Now, if you don’t know your way around the kitchen, this is not the time to experiment :)! Instead, seek help or order in! You don’t want to screw this one up. 

A quick word of advice here: Remember your objective. Make sure you know where to hide the ring and when you will get down and pop the question. Just because it is such a simple proposal idea doesn’t mean you should wing it—practice, practice, practice until you feel confident!

9. Simple Rooftop Proposal Ideas 

Rooftop venues are one of Miami’s best-kept secrets. Furthermore, there is no better way to see the sunset here in Miami than from a rooftop. So, when it’s time to get down on one knee, consider making a simple rooftop proposal. 

Whether in South Florida, New York, or the Caribbean, a rooftop proposal can be a romantic and memorable experience. Go for a cocktail and pop the question or make it more formal with a private dinner with your closest family and friends or just the 2 of you! 

My favorite rooftops for cocktails and dinner are Juvia in South Beach and Astra in Wynwood. These locations have incredible sunsets, breathtaking city views, exotic drinks, and delicious food. 

Whichever rooftop you choose for your proposal, ensure you do your research. Then, make it romantic and unforgettable!

10. Scavenger Hunt Simple Proposal Ideas

Scavenger hunts are a fantastic way to add excitement and fun to a marriage proposal. The best part is that you have complete control over the complexity and cost of your scavenger hunt. Your scavenger hunt proposal could be at your home, neighborhood, park, or just about anywhere you can imagine. You could include families and friends or just you and your partner.

Regardless of the scale of your scavenger hunt proposal, the ultimate goal is to send your partner on a course with clues that lead them to a written question or an engagement ring. So, be creative and make it fun, with the excitement building the closer they get to the end.

11. The Vespa Scooter Proposal

If you love jetting around town on a Vespa scooter, consider incorporating one in your proposal. Scooters are generally inexpensive to rent and are popular among tourists, but you don’t have to be a tourist to have a Vespa proposal.  

You can find scooter rentals all over South Florida and most metro cities across the US. For your scooter proposal, consider avoiding high-traffic areas. Also, think about how you will pop the question and present the ring. For example, you could hide the ring in their helmet and then get down on one knee as you hand them the helmet. 

Note that helmets are optional here in Florida, so this may not be an option for you. Nevertheless, regardless of how you plan to ask for their hand in marriage, be safe and make it a romantic and memorable experience.

12. A Bookmark Proposal Idea

It is impossible to get any simpler than a bookmark proposal! Furthermore, it is very romantic but low-key. It doesn’t require much planning, and the cost is minimal. What’s not to like about this marriage proposal? 

Here is how to go about a bookmark proposal. First, find the next book on your lover’s reading list and get it as a gift for them. However, before you present the book to your sweetheart, place a “Will You Marry Me” bookmark in the book. It doesn’t matter where in the book you place the bookmark. Just make sure that it stands out with a tassel or something else. When you present the book, it should be gift-wrapped so the bookmark is not immediately noticeable. 

A more subtle way to do a bookmark proposal is to replace the bookmark in your partner’s book with your proposal bookmark. Then, make sure you are close when they reach for their book and discover their bookmark has been replaced. So, you can share in the joy and excitement as they respond to your bookmark proposal. 

13. End-of-Day Simple Marriage Proposal 

Plan a date day, like a date night, but this will be during the day instead of the night. Make the day just about the two of you—go on an all-day beach trip or attend multiple events. 

It doesn’t matter what you do for the day. Just do your best to avoid any conversation about marriage or proposal. You want your significant other to be completely surprised when you propose.

End the day with a casual dinner at your favorite restaurant, or grab a few tacos from a food truck and find a romantic place to sit and enjoy your meal. River Walk downtown Miami is one of my favorite places to sit and watch the boats go by.

At some point during your meal, propose to your love! Don’t worry about the timing or anything else. Instead, go with your gut feelings and let your affection flow freely. I promise your girlfriend or boyfriend will be entirely caught off guard but filled with excitement and joy. 

14. Create a Proposal Inscription in the Sand or Snow

Writing “Will You Marry Me” in the sand at the beach or the snow is one of the easiest ways to propose to your love. Furthermore, Florida has miles of beautiful coastlines with infinite sand free of cost to the romantically inclined couple. 

Proposal inscription in the snow can be trickier. First, you must wait for snowfall, which may not happen, or you could travel to where there is plenty of snow. However, whether you decide to do an inscription proposal in the snow or sand, here are a few tips to help you make it intimate and memorable:

1. Find a beautiful location with minimal foot traffic. It will be difficult for you to write in the snow or sand if there is a lot of foot traffic.  
2. Avoid an inscription close to the water if you are at the beach. 
3. Consider inscribing your proposal on a car, table, or other subjects in the snow.
4. If you include the ring in your inscription, keep it in the box so you don’t lose it. Losing a ring in sand or snow is easy, so be extra careful.  

Overall, be creative! Make it intimate and romantic, and most of all, enjoy the process.

15. William Shakespeare’s Proposal Ideas

Do you love romantic writing, Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, etc.? If you do, then a written proposal in the form of a poem may be just what you need. “Did my heart love til now? Forswear it sight! Fo ne’er saw true beauty til this night.” William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet 

So how do you do this? Start by being yourself. Use the masters for inspiration, but craft your own words and make them uniquely you. Consider dressing the part, too! This will give your proposal some authenticity. 

Note that some people will get tongue-tied when proposing, and no amount of practicing can prevent this. It is just the way the nerves work. You will ask someone you deeply love and care about to commit the rest of their life to love you and be your soul mate. This is a big deal! So, make sure you create a beautiful card with your poem and have it ready to give to your partner. 

On the other hand, if you love romantic written words but are a total goof when writing your own. Then have someone write it for you or purchase a card. Still, having someone write the words for you and then using those words to create a card will be more unique. 

Conclusion

There are infinite simple proposal ideas that will surprise your partner. I barely scratch the surface with these 15! But, in the end, make it unique to you and your partner. It doesn’t matter if you pop the question at home or the top of the Eiffel Tower so long as it is meaningful and personal to both of you. After all, the two of you should be the center of attention during a proposal, so there’s no need for all the fanfare. 

Are you planning a proposal and need an excellent photographer? Let’s connect and start a conversation about beautifully capturing your proposal for your forever joy! Contact me!

 

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