41+ Perfect Marriage Proposal Ideas

Plan an epic daytime date that includes a picnic in an open field with snacks and treats like chocolate-covered strawberries, followed by a proposal and romantic hot air balloon ride at sunset with champagne aboard to celebrate.

This experience will surely be one of the most memorable proposal ideas yet!

Brainstorm places that are meaningful to your relationship and send your partner on a scavenger hunt to revisit these special spots. You can even rope in a few friends to accompany them because scavenger hunting with a group of friends is always more fun!

Include handwritten notes or cards for them to find at each location that describes what each place represents to you. Choose the most memorable location as their last stop and then propose in person, with everyone involved in the planning cheering in the background.

You might even plan to have a professional photographer in attendance to capture the moment.

Choose a hike you both love or hit up a new trail your partner has been wanting to check out. If this is a new location, make sure to do a test run beforehand to scope out potential proposal spots.

As you map the course, make sure it ends with a scenic overlook or beautiful meadow for a breathtaking proposal and hopefully some photos afterward. You may want to consult a local photographer for suggestions and have them hiding and ready to capture the moment.

As far as outdoor proposal ideas go, this one is perfect for tying in the interests of the couple, romance, and memorable photos with beautiful scenery.

Canoe rides are one of the best proposal ideas because it provides:

• Intimacy
• The outdoor space you love so much
• The romance of being surrounded by water

Planning a canoe ride will take relatively little help, is inexpensive, and you can select a route that will ensure you have some beautiful scenery. Pack wine in waterproof containers, some appetizers, and a waterproof camera to document the moment!

If you find the perfect sunrise viewing spot, we would put this in the “genius proposal ideas” category. Convince your partner that it would be a good idea to get up to watch the sunrise and plan the morning so it goes off without a hitch. Tell your partner to dress warm and pack a picnic basket full of the essentials: a couple of blankets, coffee, and the ring.

Any number of vantage points will work, from the top of a parking garage, to the rooftop of your home or apartment building, to a sunrise hike or walk. The world is usually quiet at this time of day, so it will make for a lovely, intimate moment.

Whether you are wine aficionados or just love getting out of town for the occasional afternoon of wine tasting, there’s nothing more romantic than sipping champagne and taking in vineyard vistas.

You could have the tastings delivered with a custom wine glass that says “Will you marry me?” on it, giving you the perfect cue to get down on one knee.

Surprise your partner with a helicopter ride, saying that you thought it would be fun to take in the views of the city where you got to know each other (or explore a new city).

Once up in the air, you can pop the question and soak in this momentous occasion from up above. Surprise proposal stories like this are sure to be passed down for generations in your family!

Enlist a friend or family member to help set up a picnic in the park and then have your loved ones hide out nearby. Plan a leisurely daytime date with your partner that concludes at the picnic site.

Settle in on the blanket together and then raise a toast (that will be the cue for your loved ones to jump out for the surprise!) before you pop the question.

Nothing like staring up at the sky to get sparkles on your sweetheart’s mind! Bring blankets and tea and stretch out under the stars together. Did you know you can register a star in someone’s name? Pick one out and point it out to them, reminding them that you will love them for as long as there are stars in the sky. Then, bring out that sparkling ring and ask them to marry you!

No matter the time of year, the beach provides a striking backdrop for a wedding proposal. So, if the weather looks good, head to the ocean (or nearby lake!) for a picnic. Spread the blanket or towels out, share a couple of drinks and snacks, and reach into the picnic basket at the right time for the ring.

This will make for a sweet memory that you and your partner can share for the rest of your lives together. Bonus idea: enlist friends to help light lanterns in the shape of the heart in the sand by the water.

We know that loving “long walks on the beach” can be a bit of a cliché, but there really is nothing quite like it! Take your partner on a stroll down the sandy beach and write “Will you marry me?” in the sand before getting down on one knee!

Some beaches are especially great places to look for shells or sea glass. If you and your partner like to look for or collect these unique pieces, you could guide them down the beach and say that you found something really special, only to show them the ring and propose. They are sure to be surprised!

Choose a meaningful place—whether it is a favorite restaurant, local monument, or park—that is significant to your relationship. Maybe you can choose to do it on your anniversary as well!

Once you’re there, ask someone nearby to take a picture of you together. Instead of posing, drop down on one knee. Creative, unexpected proposal ideas like this one will completely catch them off guard.

Are you and your partners big travelers? Do you have a trip planned? Why not start it out with a bang? Pack the ring in your carry on and head to the airport or train station and propose before your trip kicks off. Use the trip as a mini engagement-moon!

Does your sweetie commute to work on the daily in their car? Sneak over to their car and decorate it with flowers! Write out “Will you marry me?” on the windshield and surprise them at their car after they get off work!

Bonus points – add “Just engaged” on the rear windshield for the ride home!

Do you and your honey enjoy lazy mornings with breakfast in bed? Let them spend the morning in bed while you cook them breakfast. Put the ring on the tray next to a flower and bring it to them.

They are sure to say yes, and then you can enjoy a cozy meal together.

This is perfect for the book lover in your life. When your sweetie is not looking, get sneaky and slip the ring tied to a ribbon in between the book pages where they left off, along with a sweet note popping the question.

Sweet proposal ideas like this will remind them why they fell in love with you in the first place.

We love cute proposal ideas like this one! Locate a vintage photo booth in town and monopolize the booth for a bit to spell out your marriage proposal using oversize letters (just be sure to get the order of the letters correct since they will be displayed vertically).

Stick the strips on the refrigerator at home and wait for your partner to discover your proposal.

If you’re looking for proposal ideas at home, throw it back to your childhood with glow-in-the-dark stickers. Use them to spell out your proposal on the bedroom ceiling. Once you are both ready for bed, turn off the lights and wait for their reaction!

This moment is very intimate, so review our guide on DIY engagement shoots instead of hiring a photographer.

If the two of you love working on jigsaw puzzles together, create a custom puzzle (like these heart-shaped puzzles) to pop the question. Use a favorite photo of you both, a photo of the ring, or a photo of you holding a sign that asks, “Will you marry me?” Then plan your next puzzle night and play dumb, letting your partner do most of the puzzle legwork until they realize what’s happening.

This is one of those fun proposal ideas that will have you laughing, hugging, and calling your loved ones with joy.

If you and your partner love a good lazy Sunday (complete with bacon and eggs, of course), then you could incorporate your marriage proposal into this weekend ritual. Before you go to bed on Saturday night, hide the ring box in one of the egg-carton slots.

When your spouse-to-be goes to make breakfast the next morning, be ready to drop to one knee.

Your partner might think it is just a normal Sunday evening but this pizza night will be extra special. Order delivery from your favorite pizzeria and have the restaurant write “Will you marry me?” inside the pizza box lid (some pizzerias might be able to make a special heart-shaped pie!).

Have glasses of champagne ready and pop the question at dinnertime. This is one of the perfect proposal ideas for foodies.

Whether you are a songwriter or not, writing a song about your sweetie can be a funny and cute way to share your love for them. You can rewrite the lyrics to one of your favorite songs or you can really wow them by learning to play the guitar and performing it to them in front of their friends!

This one is an oldie but goodie! If you have a pet, attach the engagement ring to its collar (or have a special collar charm printed that reads “Will you marry me?”) and get the pup to deliver the news. If you are confident that your pet can immediately deliver the ring, wait out of sight until your partner finds the surprise.

You could also set up a trail of treats leading to the living room or bedroom.

Spend some time collecting photos from different points of your relationship. Print them out and punch holes in the corners to string them up like a banner. Add glowing candles for a stunning installation.

Lead your partner to the romantic backdrop where you will pop the question. This is a perfect idea if your partner is the sentimental type.

Make a date to visit a nearby Christmas tree farm to pick out the perfect tree together. Work with the farm owners beforehand, so they know to expect you. You could even choose and purchase a tree beforehand, and decorate it so that it has sentimental ornaments or pictures hanging from it when you arrive with your partner.

As you approach the clearing and the special tree, ask your sweetie to marry you. Fun proposal ideas like this one lend themselves to stories for years to come! A photo of the proposal might look great on a Christmas card too!

We love this idea if you also hope to get professional pics of the special occasion. Schedule a holiday photo session with a photographer and plan to pop the question mid-shoot. If photos are not something you typically do together, enlist the help of your parents or partner’s parents to suggest the idea of a family holiday photoshoot.

Let your photographer in on the secret and work out a cue so you can signal that you are about to pop the question. As you pose for the next shot, drop to one knee or turn to your partner to surprise them with your proposal. Use your favorite photograph from the photo session on your holiday card.

Review our guide to engagement photo poses, in advance, if you want to sneak in a few great poses

Plan a date to tour a local neighborhood that goes all out with their holiday light displays. Pack mugs of hot coffee or cocoa, and then take your partner on a walk or drive to gaze at the lights and soak in the holiday cheer.

When you arrive at the most spectacular, illuminated home, propose with it as your backdrop. Among winter proposal ideas, this one is cute and great for some candid photos.

Hang fresh mistletoe in the house (you can often find it at your local flower shop or Christmas tree farm). This one is perfect if your partner loves the holidays but might prefer a more low-key proposal. Lead your partner to the spot and pretend you are going in for a kiss beneath the mistletoe.

Before you smooch, pop the question!

If you are attending a New Year’s Eve party, work your proposal into the countdown to the New Year. Let the party host and other guests in on your plan and make sure everyone’s on board with the idea. Once the group’s countdown reaches “Three, two, one…,” have the room go quiet and turn toward your partner and propose.

If you ask us, this is the best way to start the New Year. And when the holidays are over and you are ready to start planning your upcoming wedding, we have the perfect wedding planning checklist for you!

Give a rock, on a rock! Even if the two of you have never rock climbed before, it can be a fun adventure and story to tell for the rest of your life as a completely unique proposal idea. Enlist a photographer and a few friends to assist, and then make a date with your partner to hit the climbing gym.

Have them scale a route; once they have reached the top, belay them securely while the gym staff dims the lights. Have your friends quickly string up twinkle lights on the wall, hooking them on the various handholds.

Once everything is set, slowly lower them down as a meaningful song plays over the sound system, then pop the question once they are back on solid ground.

Get tickets to your partner’s favorite band and pop the question during their favorite song. If it is a cover band you are seeing, reach out to them in advance and let them know your proposal plans, and ask if they will cover a song that means a lot to you as a couple.

You could also talk to the venue about possibly proposing onstage during or after the show. This is hands-down one of the boldest marriage proposal ideas, and sure to make your partner swoon!

Hire a local dance troupe, choir, drumline, or band to surprise your partner with a performance at a park or other public location. To make it even more personal, work it out with the group beforehand to perform with them (perhaps to a favorite song!), and then propose at the very end of the song.

Does your future spouse commute to work regularly? Hire a local street musician to sing “Will you marry me?” as they walk by on their way to the office, with you hiding nearby. Surprise your partner and pop the question among all the passersby.

This could also work well on a weekend at a public spot you regularly frequent together, like your local farmers market or favorite cafe. Your sweetie will love telling her coworkers about this one when they finally get to the office!

Do the two of you subscribe to a local newspaper? Surprise your sweetie by paying for an advertisement in the paper. It does not have to be a big advertisement, only a few lines – just make sure to include the big question and your names!

Point out your message to your partner while they drink their morning coffee and read through the paper, and pop the question when they see the message! Bonus points: these clippings will be a sweet memory to have for years to come!

Use your smartphone to shoot a sweet homemade video documenting your relationship. You could record yourself revisiting places that are meaningful to your relationship (the bar where you had your first date, the park where you first kissed, etc.). Include narration explaining why those moments were so special.

While you could certainly screen your proposal film and propose at home, check with your local movie theater to see if you can show the video before the film in front of a packed crowd of friends and family. Your partner will be shocked when they realize it is not just another advertisement before the movie starts!

If your sweetie has a serious sweet tooth, then plan a date that involves a stop at their favorite bakery. Coordinate with the bakery beforehand to have cupcakes on display, iced with a very important question.

Make your proposal more personal by popping the question in a way that incorporates some of their favorite things. This is sure to be among the top cute proposal ideas ever.

If Tuesday Night Trivia at your local bar has been a big part of your relationship, hatch a plan with the trivia folks to have the last question of the night be your marriage proposal. This rather simple proposal idea will surely bring a smile to everyone’s face in the bar!

Who knows, you may even score some free rounds of drinks!

Plan a date with your partner that concludes at a nearby park, where you will “stumble upon” friends and family members hidden behind handmade “Will you marry me?” signs.

If you’ve got a family trip in the works, plan to pop the question at the destination. Let the family in on your plans, of course, and have them all swear to act normal and not spill the beans. Before dinner at a nice restaurant (that you have scoped out beforehand), suggest a group photo at sunset.

Once everyone gathers for the photo, get down on one knee.

Gather your friends and family members for a party and have everyone in attendance wear a T-shirt screen-printed with one of the letters in the question “Will you marry me?” When you walk into the party space with your partner, suggest a group photo and let the shirts speak for themselves.

Is your partner a frequent flier? Are you long-distance? Get friends and family to join you at the airport once they touch down; have each person hold a sign spelling out “Will you marry me?” as your sweetheart emerges from baggage claim.

Make sure you are the one holding the “me” sign. Once you have had time to savor your engagement, it is fun to start thinking about engagement party ideas!

Enlist your pals and take your partner on a fun-filled outing at the amusement park. Make signs that spell out “Will you marry me?” and secretly pass them to your friends. When you’re on your boo’s favorite ride, sit with them in the front, while your pals sit in the back. As you approach the on-ride camera, have your friends hold up the signs. Once you exit the ride, plan a stop at the booth or shop where your proposal photo will be on display.

Love the park but prefer the Ferris wheel? Take your sweetie up to the top and pop the question up there!