Skiergirl

Hell no to Times Square. I live here in NYC (not in TS) and I'd rather have a hole in my head than go there if not to see a Bway show. I'm not good with this kind of thing but what about during a walk through the West Village or something? And I don't think it's weird or creepy that you are asking!

jroth

All of this is a matter of personal taste and I would not post on a public board for suggestins about such a private matter. But - I would eliminate all those grandiose spots like top of rock or esb or brooklyn bridge, et al. Just a quiet spot - like the garden of Mermaid Inn in the East Village over a lobster roll.

starrs

I don't think it is either.

The classic would be the Empire State Building, but I think I'd sub the Top of the Rock instead.

And, I know that locals don't get why visitors like Times Square so much...but we do. If they don't get to NYC often, for the rest of their life they'll remember the proposal when they see Times Square in movies or TV.

I like the carriage ride idea too.

The last time I was in the city, we were lucky enough to see a great proposal. Skaters were on the rink at Rockefeller Center. There was an announcement to clear the ice. All left except a young man who pulled his girlfriend back on the ice when she tried to leave. He got down on one knee and proposed. Everyone watching the skaters got a chance to see it - and applaud. I don't know if he - or mom - came up with the original idea or arranged the details, but it was wonderful! The music started up again and the two of them skated together on the ice, laughing and leaning into one another and catching some quick kisses. It was delightful.

nytraveler

Well the classic used to be Windows on the World at the top of the World Trade Center. A friend of mine was proposed to there - the traditional ring in the glass of champagne. But she had told him that was her dream proposal - that's why he did it that way. And they had already picked the ring out in advance.

That's another tricky issue - unless they've discussed it so much that he knows exactly what she wants. (Trends can change a lot - and the beau and I had to be VERY firm in one store - until we realized that they just didn't get it. Ended up at Harry Winston, where they stopped trying to sell us a platinum ring with a colored diamond. When I told them I wanted yellow gold, a white diamond and an antique type setting they actually had a bunch of samples ready for us when we went in.)

volcanogirl

paisano, does the girlfriend know you post here? What if she peeks?!

luluk

on the brooklyn bridge!!!!! the view is spectacular.

luluk

you can also rent a rowboat in central park, thats very nice.

Skiergirl

Do it at baggage claim at the airport and let me know what she says. Just kidding. I feel like bringing her her in general is a cliche. Just take her to a really nice dinner and go back to an AWESOME hotel and do it there. I love when I go to hotels that are so great compared to my apt. I have a lovely apt. with great bath, etc but when I went to the London LA (for example) I was dying-the room was HUGE and the bathroom was all marble (as opposed to mine that is tile but new). I would have loved to have hung out there for a while and celebrated. Just my suggestion. Good luck!

Aduchamp1

How about just asking her?

Do people think a full theatrical production will actually make for a longer marriage?

NYtravel writes:
If only we could get married without having a wedding!

That is either called eloping or living together.

JRoth writes:
Just a quiet spot - like the garden of Mermaid Inn in the East Village over a lobster roll.

What's with you fish this week? First its telling a rude tourist the difference between between a bagel and lox and now it is a marriage propsosal while eating lobster and mayo under someone's drying underwear.

nytraveler

Well we have been living together for years. And we're not eloping, since too many feelings of beloved close family would be hurt. (And I really would like at least my parents, his mother, step-daughters and a few close friends share with us.)

But making time to plan any sort of wedding is extremely difficult - and I won't hand it over to a professional - way too likely to end up in a bridezilla situation. My closest friend is giving up her job shortly (or rather it's giving her up - the company is closing). So I may work with her to plan something around the holidays this year - since she did a really nice, smallish adult wedding for herself about 7 years ago.

Aduchamp1

We have been married 37 years. We had little money then so we invited are closest family members and friends and had a party in one my wife's sister's apartment. We had Nathan's (we are both from Brooklyn) and Baskin Robbins (it was high class at the time). Then we took our money and had a six month trip in Europe for $3,000.

Here's to your small wedding and the people who truly want to be there.

meath1

I vote for anywhere in Central Park...but the Carousel would be my first choice

Cranachin

If it's the carousel, they could ride it and then he could make a corny/lame joke about not getting the brass ring, but having another ring for her (and bringing out the box and proposing). Or if he (or she) DID get the brass ring, then he could make a lame/corny joke about having a nicer ring than that for her (and bring out the box and propose).

K_brklyn

River Cafe, Brooklyn Bridge, One If By Land, Two If By Sea, park view table at Per Se, Tiffany's, Blue Hill, BK heights Promenade, Tudor City Park, Yankee Stadium, Daniel.

PamSF

Bethesda Fountain. If they go on the weekend there are likely to be groups taking wedding photos. They can have some privacy if need be but also the joy of onlookers It's also a wonderful place..my favorite in Central Park.

I also like the Brooklyn Bridge idea. My BIL proposed to my sister in the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge. He actually dropped to one knee and she initially thought he'd hurt himself somehow. The proposal has made for all sorts of GG Bridge memorbilia over the years especially since they have moved out of the area.

cindymal

A boatride at the boathouse would be special.
The Brooklyn bridge will be noisy,hot and crowded.
Per Se-has a bar menu.There is a couch that overlooks the park where they can order champagne and have a small bite to eat.I bet they would reserve that spot for such a special occasion.
Have to say there is nothing bad about tickets to a show,hotel and a trip to NYC.It sounds like she is a lucky girl.

johngerard

A TV programme last night said a lot of proposals (wedding) are made in Grand Central station near the Oyster bar where you whisper in one corner & it is heard in the opposite one.

TC

At first I thought the OP's son was asking for help finding a romantic place, but upon further reading it seems he's not the romantic type at all -- "His idea is to give her tix to NYC and the ring and then be done with it and have a nice wknd in the City." By guilting him into a proposal that goes against his nature, I believe you will contribute to a very uncomfortable situation. Either the bride-to-be already knows he's not the romantic type and has accepted that (and maybe she's not as into romance as you are) or she will be getting a very false impression of her husband-to-be, setting her up for some disappointment in the future when she finds he's not going to continue the theatrics. If the dramatic proposal isn't his style, he won't do it very well -- no matter the location -- and everyone will feel ill at ease. Just let them be who they are. That should be enough.

40 years later I look back and think, "isn't it time we got married?" was good enough to get the job done for us. Its not about how you ask, its about how you live the life together.

Aduchamp1

A TV programme last night said a lot of proposals (wedding) are made in Grand Central station near the Oyster bar where you whisper in one corner & it is heard in the opposite one.

And you can get excellent clam chowder as well.

lcuy

I think a lot of guys don't think they need to make the dramatic proposal, and do just fine. However, I don't know any woman who wasn't thrilled when the guy went to the effort to make it memorable (unless they weren't planning to marry him anyway).

I think it is lovely that the new in-laws are trying to help him impress her. From all these options, I think one of them will "fit his style" too. Lots of events in life can done "good enough", but a little thought put into the important events never hurts.

Please let us know how it goes, Paisano!