you are so smart to seek all this advice. if she is not thrilled just blame it on us. i do like the fake ring idea. the cold ride does not sound that fabulous to me and i live in maine. my first thought was to propose at tavern on the green. some of the sections are very romantic and they decorate Beautifully for xmas!! see their web site. but i have to say a breakfast proposal would probably fill the surprise part and what newly engaged woman could say no to a trip to the diamond district of nyc. you should get great deals there too.
or just when it feels like "the moment". that place and time will become your special memory.
do you know about the place that serves the $10,000 martini - they put the ring in her glass????

Thanks a mill for all the suggestions. I guess the one that keeps popping up is the Central Park/carriage ride idea. The thing that appeals to me about central park is that it's somewhere we can return to in 5/10/30 years (fingers crossed) and have a bit of a giggle aboout the night I proposed and dropped the funny ring in the horse droppings as my hands were shaking so much from the cold!!!

Anyway, thanks again. Plenty to think about. I'll let ye know how it goes. Of course for those of you from NYC, if you hear a blood curdling scream coming from Central Park around 23rd Dec you'll know things didn't go too well!!!!!

I REALLY like the Tiffany's idea. That is very very appealing to me. Much more so than being behind a horse's rear end, but that is just me. You can always go back and walk by the Tiffanys in years to come...

The St Patirck's idea appeals to me also, being married to a man of Irish descent.

I've been married 19 years this week, and mr. emd proposed immediately at the end of the game in Jan. 1986 when the Patriots beat the Dolphins in the playoffs. It was very memorable. I sometimes wonder if I'd be married to him if they had lost.

My advice is to do something you think she will find memorable. It might be something quirky and not so "perfectly memorable". And yeah, on our wedding night the ball rolled through Bill Buckner's legs. We remember that every year.

Ice skating at Rockefeller Center - pretend that you fell and when she tries to help you up, show her the ring.

bermyguy

You might need to have 2 plans - what is you walk past the carriage rides and she wrinkles her nose and say's "No Way!!!!"

Please let us know Plan A and Plan B, I take it you liked the 'goofy ring' idea? :-)

There are several bars with extraordinary views of the city

http://affinia.com/NYC-Hotel/Beekman..._the_tower.cfm

This is just one (we were up there and it was gorgeous). You might see if you could head over there for a nightcap after a wonderful dinner (I don't know about their restaurant food, so I think the impact is mainly from the view and atmosphere at this particular venue) and pop the question (and present the big honking plastic ring) in a setting like this one.

GoTravel's suggestion of the Rainbow Grille is also wonderful (reserve well ahead and tell them you need a special table with view, etc to make your proposal).

There's something quite amazing with the city sparkling away at you far below (and it will sparkle even if it is rainy or snowy).

Very best would be Rainbow Grill, which I could not more highly recommend. Phone today and request (beg, if you have to) for a window table.

Those carriage rides are a bit (and I'm being kind...) of a rip-off... Tacky, truly, carriages, lack-luster commentary (lately) and 15 minutes for the 30 minute "fee". When I questioned this, the driver pointed to the sign and that it was printed "UP TO (not in caps on the sign) 30 minutes". Well, no tip for him...

Ok. I’m posting because I'm an insomniac but also because I hoped bermyguy would discount the horse/carriage idea.

I have watched television program ‘Animal Precinct’ where on the warmest days in NY the officers have had to tell the drivers that it’s too warm for their horses to be pulling tourists round the park.

Jeez, couldn't they tell? The horses were panting and were so lethargic – it’s about making money.

From a realistic point of view – would I like to be proposed too while looking at a horses butt – Not me! But then I suggested the ‘goofy’ ring idea.

It just sounds so naff and boring! Why don’t you take her on a carriage ride (she’s going to expect you to propose!) and then go to the Rockefeller Centre?

Just remember - you owe us! Please let us know what you decide to do and how it goes :-)

Ok...here's the plan:
Going to go with the carriage idea and the goofy ring, horse butt or no horse butt. Have also booked a limo for 2 hour tour of city finishing at either Rainbow Grill or 21 Club for dinner.

How's that?

My husband and I worked in NYC when he proposed, and he took me to Flute (http://www.flutebar.com/midtown.htm) which has some very intimate little nooks with curtains to give you privacy. That's where he proposed. Then we went to dinner at One if by Land, Two if by Sea, which is a really pricey, hard to get in restaurant. I understand a lot of people get engaged there. They took amazing care of us. It was a great experience.

bermyguy, that sounds like a truly wonderful proposal. Trust me- every time you see a carriage ride in the movies from now on, you two will get sentimental over it. We wish you the best of luck!

What a lovely proposal idea! The carriage ride does give the requisite privacy amidst the Christmas crowds & if the weather cooperates, it could be gorgeous as well, though surely her attention will be focussed on you, right?!

If you need a plan B, ie it is a rainy warmish miserable day & a carriage ride is NOT appealing, remember there's a huge, gorgeous Christmas tree annually INSIDE the Metropolitan Museum in the "medieval" section. Beautiful, atmospheric and hopefully will be there in 50 years!

(Another large outdoor Christmas tree with fewer crowds than Rock Center is located in Lincoln Center plaza.)

Bermyguy,

Go for it!

Now where to buy the ring from????

Just please come back and let us know how it went - After all you'll be back here on Fodors looking for honeymoon recommendations :-)

Pop over to the Caribbean Forum - we're a friendly crowd.

Thanks Alya!!
See thread "Diamonds in NYC"!!!

It is clear from how much time and thought you are putting into getting engaged, that you are going to be a great husband. She's a lucky lady. Your proposal plans are wonderfully romantic. Looking forward to the trip report and the honeymoon plans...

bermyguy

Pleeeease! I don't mean the 'rock', I mean the goofy ring :-D

As you are finding out diamonds are 10 a penny (if only they were that cheap), now a huge, pink plastic ring - that's a different matter :-)

I proposed to my wife at the tree at Rockefeller Center on Christmas Eve 11 years ago. I got down on one knee and just asked her to marry me. At the tree there was either a security guy or someone working there. He knew what I was up too and even asked me if I had a camera so he could take our picture. Very nice. Now, 11 years later when they light the tree I say to my wife, "I hate that *&^! tree!" LOL...Do it early because there is so much to do Christmas time in NYC......GOOD LUCK!

Oh, I'll think of this thread each time I pass by the gum ball machines at the grocery store! :D

Your girlfriend sounds like a very lucky woman!

Also to do in NYC at Xmastime:

The Metropolitan Museum has their annual tree witht he "Neapolitan Creche": hundreds of angels, shepherds, townspeople, etc, all at aBarbie doll scale - but these were handmade from terra cotta a hundred years ago or more. Tree is about 25 feet tall, in a beautiful Renaissance cloister room, with music playing, etc. Really a beautiful thing.

Store windows on Fith Ave. It's a mob scene - best time to see them is as late as you can go, say 11:00 pm or later.

If you think you'd like to see a Broadway show, try The Light in The Piazza, the most beautiful and romantic musical in 20 years. Takes place in Florence and Rome. Great music, wonderful story - and ends in an atypical wedding. At Lincoln Center.

By the way, it looks like a skating rink is being built in Bryant Park (that's the one behind the library, 40th-42nd Sts, between %th and 6th Aves. ) They are really overusing that beautiful park - but if it's a new rink for the winter, could be another fun stop.

The Rainbow Room would definitely be a great spot for a dinner - or even brunch on Sunday.

We were married in Central Park, and go back to our "spot" on nearly every trip to NY. Certainly every trip that that takes us near the Park. It is really romantic and makes us happy, but in December, you should have an indoor alternative.