When I was a little girl, I remember having a big doll dressed in a pink bridesmaid’s dress. I named her Rose and pretended I was the bride. I never really thought about what type of proposal I might receive someday. It was the wedding part that interested me the most. My husband kept his proposal simple and sweet. He proposed while we were attending Mass. He asked me during the part where the sign of peace is exchanged in church after he kissed me. He didn’t go the traditional route and ask my father’s permission to marry me. He likes to tease me and says that my father paid him to marry me. But that’s one of the reasons I love my guy – his sense of humor. We will celebrate our 36th wedding anniversary in August!
There are all kinds of ways to propose. Some people might go public with their proposals. The other day I heard that a policeman asked his girlfriend on the police radio to marry him. Because she was a dispatcher, he thought it’d be nice for everyone to hear something pleasant instead of the usual crimes. Fortunately, she said yes. If you aren’t in law enforcement, some other public places for proposals are: parks, beaches, restaurants and football stadiums.
Of course, private might be the perfect way to propose. If your guy makes everything romantic and does the flowers, candlelight dinner, and it’s only between the two of you, then the traditional proposal is always special.
In THE PROPOSAL, a sweet and contemporary romance, Jacqueline Andrews hopes that her boyfriend Brad will propose on her twenty-sixth birthday, and she’ll receive an engagement ring for her birthday gift. Other special times might be on an anniversary of a first date or the perfect time for a marriage proposal might be during the holidays. Christmas and Valentine’s Day seem to be the most popular holidays for proposals.
Some couples prefer to be more creative in proposing. Hiding the ring in a dessert or in a rose are good ways to be unique. If you’re lucky enough to live near the ocean or if you’re planning a beach vacation, arrange a swim with dolphins. Play together in the water with flipper and then propose afterwards. My nephew, Kyle, did something different by tying the ring to his dog’s collar and then he called his dog to come in. When his girlfriend saw the ring, Kyle got down on bended knee and asked her to marry him. I can see two skydivers enjoying a proposal in the air. Being creative is the best idea for the couples who don’t want to use a traditional way in proposing.
If you want to learn more about Jacqueline’s romantic proposal and what happens in my ebook, THE PROPOSAL, it’s available for 99 cents at Amazon and Smashwords. Links: http://www.amazon.com/The-Proposal-ebook/dp/B005895S4G/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1309113290&sr=1-1 and http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/69282
Here’s a short blurb:
Jacqueline Andrews hopes her boyfriend Brad’s surprise is an engagement ring for her twenty-sixth birthday. Her best friend, Tyler Jordan, wants Jacqueline to be happy, but not with Brad her current boyfriend.
Tyler regrets blowing off Jacqueline’s confession of love for him before he left for college. When he returns to their small town as a physician’s assistant, he falls in love with her. He needs to win her love back.
Will his hot kisses sway her? Or is she going to marry Brad?
What kind of proposal did you receive from your spouse? Tell your story! If you aren’t engaged or married, that’s fine. Tell what kind of proposal you’d like to receive. Do you expect a down on the knees type of proposal, something unique, or would you like a public proposal? If you leave a comment, you’ll be entered in my drawing for either a $5 GC to Amazon OR a signed print copy of A Christmas Gift. Drawing will be July 5th! If outside of the US, I’ll substitute an ebook copy of A Christmas Gift, if that’s the winner’s choice. By the way, A Christmas Gift is a book to be enjoyed year round!
Now you know I’m going to get this. I have read all of the other books and have not been dissapointed. Thanks for letting me read this bog. It was great!!
Hi Sharon,
Thanks for visiting! The Proposal is the story from A Christmas Collection:Anthology. I have the exclusive rights back so could sell it by itself. I forgot to mention that in my post here. You’re awesome – thanks for all your support and have a Happy 4th!
My then boyfriend and I had only been dating a short while, and I decided that it just was not working between us. I thought he was thinking the same thing. I’d made the decision to break up with him. When he arrived, I was going through this list I’d written up of the reasons why we shouldn’t be together. (Yes, I really do make lists for everything!) And, okay, it was kind of a long list. I wasn’t paying the slightest attention to anything but getting through the list. Finally, I finished (I don’t think he said a word through this recital) and he asked me to come out to his car with him. I found a yellow rose with an engagement ring around the stem on the center console, romantic music… He’d planned to ask me to marry him when we got to our favorite place–a serene little lake. And here I was, listing off the reasons why we should break up! Needless to say, I accepted. We were married a little after six months after we met, and we’ll celebrate our 22nd anniversary this year.
Karen
karenwiesner.com; subscribe to Karen’s Quill for a chance to win my books every month!
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Hi Diane! Welcome and thank you so much for kicking off the very first Blog String Fest! I love this post and “The Proposal” is just wonderful! You are a fabulous writer. Thank you for visiting.
Enjoyed reading about when you were a little girl. I had a long-distance proposal.
DIANE-The new book sounds great.Thanks for visting REGINAS blog excellent blog.REGARDS BEN SMITH
Diane-Have a nice 4th of July and please keep appearing on Desert Breeze writers blogs,so we can follow you.As always your new book sounds interesting and excellent reading.REGARDS BEN SMITH
Hi Karen,
I didn’t know that about you and your husband – that is a priceless memory. I’m glad he still proposed. LOL And so cute you made out a list of why you should call it quits. Very romantic that he chose a lake for the big moment. Obviously, you two were meant to be together after all. Congrats on 22 years of marriage!
Thanks for having me, and I love being the first one to kick off your wonderful lineup of writers for your Blog String Fest! It’s fun being here! 🙂
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for visiting here and for commenting! That’s interesting you had a long-distance proposal! Have a Happy 4th! 🙂
Karen and Regina,
I forgot to tell you both that I hope you have a great weekend and have a Happy 4th of July with your families!
Hi Ben,
I’m glad you stopped by and thank you for your nice comments! I hope you have a safe and fun 4th of July. Take care.
I had just turned 18 and my soon to be husband was 20. We were high school sweethearts. We both picked out the ring so it wasn’t a surprise but he did get down on his knee and ask anyway lol. We just celebrated our 42nd anniversary last month. I’d love a chance to win your book – thanks.
Oh, my proposel has to be for the book. Really sounds great. Love your writing. Have a wonderful 4th. Thank you the wonderful blog.
Wow, we sure do love romance! Diane, thank you so much for bringing this happy topic to the forefront in “The Proposal”.
And thanks to everyone for sharing stories and stopping in! Great day and more to come.
Hugs,
Regina
That’s awesome – I love to hear about how people meet and proposed. The book is a keeper.
Hi Catslady,
Congratulations on 42 years of marriage – that is so awesome. So sweet he got down on his knee to propose even though it wasn’t a surprise. Glad you stopped by! Hope your weekend is wonderful and Happy 4th!
Hello Georgia girl,
Thank you so much for the lovely comment! I’m glad you love my writing – so nice of you! I appreciate you visiting here! I hope you have a great 4th too!
Hi Linda,
Thanks for stopping by here. I love your picture! Hope you also have a great weekend and a terrific 4th of July!
I had a different type of proposal. I was planning to become an old maid math teacher, had graduated from college and had earned a High School Teacher’s Certificate. A certain male whom I had known for years had other plans for me. He informed me that, “You might as well make up your mind you are going to marry me because I am not going to leave you alone until you do.” Fortunately he won out and I never used the teachers certificate. We are a very happy couple.
Diane,
What a heartwarming story “The Proposal” was. I enjoyed it a lot. My proposal came on Christmas Eve. It was a very private proposal, but perfect for us.
Smiles
Steph
Hi Gladys,
I love determined guys – your hubby reminds me of my hero, Luke Brunsman, in my inspirational romance, NO GREATER LOSS. That’s wonderful you and your husband have had a happy marriage! Thanks so much for sharing.
Hope you are having a great holiday weekend!
Hi Steph,
I’m glad you enjoyed THE PROPOSAL! That’s neat you received a private proposal and it was the best for you two! Thanks for commenting and visiting. You are such a supportive friend!
I hope you and your family have a great 4th of July!
I loved reading all the proposals. Dianne, yours was interesting. I have a friend who met her future husband at the sign of peace. Their eyes met and the rest was history.
I wonder if there is any proposal that hasn’t been dine already
Hi Barbara,
That’s interesting your friend met her future husband during the sign of peace! I’m glad you visited here and thanks for commenting! Hope you have a happy and safe 4th of July!
I was proposed to in the car while we were parked outside my high school. Nothing much unusual in that, BUT…we were married in a barber shop! 🙂
Awesome post, Diane! 🙂
Hi Miss Mae,
Sounds like you had a sweet proposal, and love hearing how you were married in a barber shop! My uncle had a barber shop and on other side was a bowling alley. 🙂
Thanks for sharing and stopping by Regina’s wonderful blog! Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend! You’re a great friend.
Dear Friends — Miss Mae, Barbara, Steph, GladysMP, georgia Girl, catslady and Linda — and everyone who stopped in — you’re all awesome.
Thank you for visiting and for making this first posting of the Blog-String Fest a big hit. Next Blog-String visit is the great Anne Patrick on July 6th [preceeded on July 5th by with a special Steampunk appearance by the unstoppable Stephanie Burkhart ;-)].
Diane, you are incredible, and you have a real knack for touching people in their hearts and for talking with them about things that really mean something special to us all. Love you for that and for so many other great qualities you have.
Blessing and hugs,
Regina
Regina,
You’re making my head swell with all your compliments. I’m so glad we met thru our publisher, Desert Breeze! We have such a great group of authors there.
Thank you again for having me here. I’ve enjoyed it and it’s been a lot of fun reading all the great comments!
Hey, everyone, I’m going to draw a winner for my giveaway on Monday evening instead of making you all wait until the 5th! I’ll post it here in the comment section! I’ll try to do it before I go to see fireworks! My daughters want me to go with them. My hubby said he’ll watch the fireworks on TV. 🙂
My x proposed while we were eating at our local hangout. I was 20 and he was 24. I told him when I married it would be forever..No divorce. He was divorced and had 3 yr old son. After almost 23 yrs he traded me in for a younger model..lol That was in 1986. I did not realize until after we divorced that he had married me because I was the bosses daughter.. That really hurt..
What fun to read the proposal stories! Diane, what a story!
My proposal was very different, in that my husband sent his brother to ask me to marry him. Yeah. I married into another whole culture when I married my husband and his very Russian family….sort of like My big Fat Greek Wedding in real life and not quite as funny. Anyhow, my answer was….”What happens if I say yes?” We have been married for 14 years now. martha(at)lclink(dot)com
Oh Brenda, I’m so sorry. Even though your ex married you because you were the boss’s daughter, it sounds like he loved you. You two were married for a lot of years. I’m sorry he hurt you and treated you so badly when he divorced you and married someone else.
Take care.
Martha,
I enjoyed reading about your unique proposal. That must have been hard to marry into a whole different culture, but sounds like you and your husband have been successful in making it work after being married for 14 years.
Hope you have a happy 4th today!
I’ve been dating the same guy for 12 years. Any ol proposal will do…i.e. “Will you marry me?”
P. T. Bradley
ptrainum(at)comcast(dot)net
http://www.lovefaithandmurder(dot)com
Diane, what a great idea to draw tonight, that’s so fantastic. Perfectly in line with today’s celebratory tone! Can’t wait 🙂
Hugs,
Regina
My now hubby did the whole down on his knee thing but I wasnt ready I told him we could still be together but I was not wanting to take the step into the big M . 8 yrs later ( yeah I was slow) while on vacation I told him out of the blue if he wanted to get married I was free that afternoon so he hopped up and to the courthouse we went lol
meandi09@yahoo.com
Hi Pat,
That seems to happen sometimes – I know several couples who’ve dated for years. I hope your guy pops the question soon!
Thanks for sharing and visiting here!
Have a great evening!!!!
Hi Jennifer,
I love how you waited for the right moment and when you realized it was time to get married, you two went straight to the courthouse and did it.
Thanks for visiting and sharing your story! Hope you enjoy the rest of your evening!
A big thanks to Regina for having me here. I’ve enjoyed all the wonderful comments. Thanks for sharing your proposal stories! And the response was wonderful – I had a lot of names to put in my hat. I drew Georgia girl’s name. My email address is DianeCraverATcinci.rr.com so let me know if you’d like the $5 Amazon gift certificate or my signed copy of A Christmas Gift!
I wish I could give each one of you a prize! I will be doing a giveaway on the 15th and will get the details posted soon on my blog – http://www.dianecraver.com/blog
Hugs,
Diane
Regina, thanks for hosting Diane. She’ s one of my favorite. I don’t even remember the proposal from my hubby. I think we both just knew after our first kiss. LOL.
I’m posting sooooo late and apologize. Been so busy that I haven’t visited the Yahoo groups.
Hi Laurie,
It’s so precious that you and your husband knew after your first kiss you were meant to be together! Thanks for sharing and stopping by here. I always enjoy reading your comments and you’re one of my favorite people too! 🙂
Just have to share that I posted a recipe called ENGAGEMENT CHICKEN! It’s guaranteed to get a proposal out of your special guy. I’m going to try it for my hubby – it sounds great! If you’d like the recipe, go to http://www.dianecraver.com/blog
Oh yes, “Engagement Chicken”! What a hoot!
Laurie, Jennifer, Pat — I read your comments and now I can’t get the old song “Love Will Find a Way” out of my head!
Thanks for visiting.
And Diane, what can I say? You’re amazing. Thank you for sharing and inspiring us all. Please come back again soon 🙂
Hugs,
Regina
I haven’t heard back from Georgia girl, so if I don’t by tomorrow morning (Monday), I’ll draw another name. I’m thinking maybe she went away over the holiday. Hope everyone has a great Sunday!
I drew again – since I never heard back from Georgia girl. I drew Brenda’s name. Congrats, Brenda. 🙂
Regina,
Such a sweet, beautiful proposal. I loved reading about it. Thanks for sharing. Blessings, BJ
Regina,
Such a sweet, beautiful proposal. I loved reading about it. Thanks for sharing. Blessings, Oh, and congratulations, too 🙂 Blessings, BJ