Proposal idea validation
 

I would like to get your opinion on the idea I have.

Let's image I want to make a proposal to my beloved one in your city (I am thinking between Barcelona or London atm). Except a few issues like picking a place, planning on a daily roadmap I am really starting thinking that the main issue I do know anyone in the city to ask for an advice.

For instance, let's say I want someone to throw flowers or play our song on guitar when I ask her to marry me (which can be something simple but adds a value and it is better if I am not the one who does it, remember it is a surprise). To achieve that I need to take a friend of mine (better 2 of them and ask them to take a different flight to not ruin the surprise as accidents are suspicious.

What I am thinking about is what if I could find someone in the city to help me, of course not for free, just spent a few hours to make a memorable day for a couple, where would I go to find people like that?

Are you sure she will appreciate this idea of yours?

If I were to be lucky enough to be proposed to by my boyfriend in Europe... I wouldn't want a bunch of strangers around "helping out". Or to have him sneak along 2 friends from home to crash the occasion.

If you really want a guitar serenade, maybe check with local cafes that have live music and see about having them play at your table? That part wouldn't be difficult.

Top of the Eiffel Tower? In a gondola in Venice??

This a very good advice, Suze, have not thought about Venice.

A guitar was just an example, I am going to brainstorm it a bit and go far more creative like having a flashmob or strangers suddenly stop on the square. Maybe there are more interesting options I am not aware of, the idea is that I need a few people in a new place for me. Ahhh, it is probably will be better to go there before the date and find some locals.
Maybe there are communities or bored students who want to make some money? I do not know already :(

If it does not work out, just let me know when you want to go to Venice :D

After you figure out WHAT city:

1) go post this inquiry on the Destination Forum on Trip Advisor (Paris, Barcelona, Venice, wherever). There are DEs (Destination Experts) for each forum. They might be able to help you themselves, or suggest ways to make local connections. I live in Seattle, for example, and I often help people with something they post on TA's Seattle forum.

2) Also repost it here on Fodor's but with the city name in the heading, and flagged for the appropriate country. You might catch the eye of someone who will be willing to help you, right here on this forum.

I have to admit I do not see the appeal of strangers in a strange country or bored students taking part in a wedding proposal. A flashmob? I'd run for the hills!

Is there some reason you need to include strangers in this? Or pay to haul "extras" over to Europe from abroad? Just study romantic places in Europe, take her to one of them, and propose.

I agree 100% wirh st.cirq. I think it would be far more romantic to have some special event. A proposal on top of the Eiffel Tower, a boat ride in Venice, a dinner at a restaurant with a scenic view of a Swiss Valley etc. would hate having a flash mob to contend with or some stranger(s) tagging along.

To me a proposal is only about the 2 people. I would hate hate HATE making it a surprise and a huge public scene like a "flash mob". But hopefully this man knows his bride to be better than we do? Some people do like it announced at the baseball game or a plane writing the message in the sky. Not me, not St Cirq, not nanabee... but we are not who is getting proposed to here! :-)

Are you sure she/he will want to say Yes?

Venice would be idea as gondliers would provide the music and no doubt could arrange the rest.

Why is it still that the man always proposes and not the gal?

This looks like a business idea to me. Proposals R Us - helping people set up that majic moment.

Sounds like a hijack, not a marriage proposal.
Why do you need all these witnesses, afraid she will say no?

I think she will love it whatever you do. I can’t really imagine her having the same reaction as a bunch of people here on the internet who are saying they wouldn’t want it done in any particular way. I can say theoretically that I wouldn’t want a flash mob, but if I were to be proposed to in front of a flash mob I suspect I would be laughing and crying so much I would forget to criticize the delivery method.

I'd forget about a flash mob or bringing people along with you -- just you and your beloved. Forget the theatrics.

Some special places to think about: As mentioned above, a Gondola; You can hire a capsule on the London Eye all to yourselves with champagne; I wouldn't do the Eiffel Tower but maybe hire a boat on the Seine in Paris; A night in the hotel high up in the Shard in London and dinner in one of the restaurants there.

You might also check out the airbnb experiences. They have so kind of interesting "event like" things they do and you might even be able to get someone offering an experience to customize it for you.

Whoever you are, your-soon-to-be-engaged sounds very lucky to me-I can't ever imagine my husband of 41 years thinking one moment about trying to make his proposal anything that creative :) I think we were probably way too practical in our thinking!

I picture something traditionally romantic. In a dark corner of a beautiful candle lit restaurant in Paris. Just the two of you. Order a bottle of champagne, make the proposal over a toast, maybe have a guitar or violin to play table side after that. Classy, elegant, personal. This isn't a mardi gras parade :-)

PalQ, Plenty of "gals" are the ones to propose. But that's not what we're discussing here.

suze - yes and hopefully the gal knows what's up and he is sure she will say yes.

Romantic place in Venice - the cemetery island?

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/21/w...y-auction.html

Actually I brought up Venice. He was thinking Barcelona or London.

Hey how about the roller coaster or ferris wheel at Tibidabo Amusement Park (Barcelona)

I am presuming what you are proposing is marriage. There is little sadder then the pure romance of a proposal contaminated by over the top production values. Popping the question during a gondola ride in Venice could work, even if not particularly original. Other orchestrated and choreographed scenes would not. Such things are typically in service of the narcissistic needs of the proposer than a desire to enchant the recipient. If someone proposed to me that way I'd respond - what kind of crazy are you to think this would be welcome?

Seamus makes a very good point. Think about how much this proposal is to make you look great and how much it is what your "beloved one" would really like. People throwing flowers? It is not a wedding. Strangers? It is not some kind of public event or show. People often give gifts or plan events like surprise parties, they themselves would like, thinking everybody would. Not saying the OP is doing that, just to be fully aware of the other person's sensibilities and taste.

I think people are being too harsh. I think I understand where the OP is coming from-he wants his proposal to be a unique, unforgettable, surprise. Strangers will not be “lurking” or hanging out with them. He just wants to make it special. OP here is a suggestion: what about enlisting your gondolier or someone in a passing boat to hold up a sign with your proposal? Most people will be willing to help on the fly. Google creative proposal ideas-no need to reinvent the wheel 😉

I few years ago I surprised my 16yo for her bday. I had the school police officer talk to her at lunch. He told her that she had been caught on camera running a red light at a certain intersection (she really had run the red as she was just learning to drive). He told her she was getting a ticket. When he handed her the “ticket” it was really to a concert she wanted to see. Surprise! Her friends were all in on it and took video. Her face was priceless!

Good luck OP & I hope she says YES!

You pulled a prank on your daughter. Obviously, you enjoyed it, and, of course, she was happy to get the concert tickets, but It would be interesting to know exactly how much your daughter enjoyed the method of delivery. She might have loved it and found it funny, or just been so happy to get the tickets, she didn't care. Also, the concert was a separate thing, you were not part of it, you were just part of the prank.
OTOH, a marriage proposal ties marriage to the person proposing. Completely different situation.

🙄 Oh Sass calm down. Pretty sure OP knows his relationship and what his potential spouse would or wouldn’t like more than we do! BTW I was part of the concert. 😉

i also think that was a very mean trick. thankfully my parents do not have your "sense of humor"

or2nh4me2: That was a pretty mean 'prank'. I'm surprised the school police officer went along with it -- one would think he has more important things on his plate.

I would sure hope the OP's 'sense of humor' doesn't make his girlfriend the butt of a joke like that . . .

You were part of the concert? You are an entertainer or musician? There was doubt as to whether she could see her own parent perform? Interesting.

Earlier in the thread, someone mentioned the needs of a narcissistic person for attention. Even giving a gift becomes about them.

Sometimes people actually do not know what the other person will like. They don't get that what they like might be a total embarrassment to someone else. This applies to spouses too.

Suze, I agree.

Google Failed Marriage Propsals. Lots of terrific ideas for public embarrassment.

I went to the concert with the girls. Stop being passive aggressive. You don’t know me. You don’t know my daughter, and you don’t know OP. You have your opinion, and I have mine. Doesn’t make me “narcissistic”.

And to tell OP to google “failed proposals”. Get over yourself.

A narcissist would choose a name that ends with 4me2.

You are totally entitled to your opinion but it is not relevant to me. I know my kids and again, I’m pretty sure OP knows whether or not his potential bride would appreciate a non-traditional proposal. May not be your cup of tea but that doesn’t make it wrong.

Ok. That’s clever.

Tough crowd.

I vote with the one on one crowd on the issue. The young lady may be under a lot of pressure just from the proposal, never mind if others are watching. My example is from when I was in college and one of our friends confided he was taking his girlfriend to a fancy restaurant to propose. We wanted to watch, so four of us got a table at the restaurant from which we could all see the action while partially screened from their view.

We could tell she was nervous, and obviously had figured out something momentous was going to happen. When he pulled the box from his pocket, opened it, and placed it in front of her, she promptly vomited on the table.

We hastily paid our bill and fled, hoping we had not been spotted.

P.S. They never did marry. :(

Wow, so many replies, people you are so awesome here! I did not expect to get so many insights!
Never will go for a "special way" in a restaurant :D, you have to take things big, that's what I will do.

@xcountry, good point, you have a right mindset, man!

@or2nh4me2, that's my man talking here! A story with your daughter is super cool, I bet she still remembers it, no need to wait for a marriage proposal in gondola to make good memories in someone's life, right? :)
Thank you very much for all the ideas, I share your attitude and sure your ladies are happy being with you. Keep it up!

Fodors, I still cannot believe I got so many replies here :D This is like a goldmine, going back here with a shovel.
Gents, ladies, thank you so much, you helped me a lot! I cannot express in words how much I appreciate everyone's feedback, you are the best!

Woo hoo!! I propose a toast - to us.

((D)) ((D)) =D>