Tips for Men: How to Propose
March 17th, 2008 ·
I got “engaged” in Austin last week. I’ll call my “fiance” Sweet-Faced, Bearded Kid. We met while sipping free beers at SXSW. Small talk ensued, and Facebook came up. “Everyone puts their relationship status on there,” he said while stroking his full beard. “Hell,” I told Sweet-Faced, Bearded Kid, “you could go back to your hotel room and update your profile to say: ‘I just got married to funkybrownchick.’ It would be ‘true’ just because it was on Facebook. That’s how powerful that site has become.” He slid his glasses further up his face, flashed his sexy dimples with a smile and said, “I’m gonna do that.” Oh, how this fit cougar loves spry cubs. “Yes,” I winked at him. “You should do that.” And so he did. We made it Facebook official:
SWEET-FACED, BEARDED KID is listed as engaged to FUNKYBROWNCHICK.
People who know me well know that I’m childfree and pro-single. So, my friends were kinda unsettled about the quote quote engagement. “Whaa??” my friend Julie asked. My writing group pal Joe mentioned: “I saw on your Facebook page that you’re engaged. Is this true or are you simply engaging?” Apparently, Sweet-Faced Bearded Kid’s amigos were equally suspicious. “Dude, you’re killing me,” one of his buds scribbled on his Facebook wall. “It’s like the Eiger getting married. And the Eiger DOESN’T get married.” Needless to say, funkybrownchick doesn’t get betrothed either. We aren’t really saddling up — only on Facebook, for one hot moment. ;)
Since it wouldn’t be prudent to plaster Sweet-Faced, Bearded Kid’s photo on my blog sans permission, I can’t really make him today’s Manly Monday pick. Instead, we’ll tackle a testosterone-specific question. Given that hetero guys propose to women more often than vice versa, what’s the best way for a man to propose? Askmen.com’s peculiar article titled The Perfect Proposal includes suggestions like: post the proposal on a billboard, flee to Niagara Falls, ask a radio announcer to do a special dedication, and/or pop the question while you’re, um, you know, poppin’ her. “Imagine your woman climaxing physically and emotionally. She is not likely to forget that day anytime soon.” Their readers’ responses?
- Matt: Dude..I wouldn’t wish these ideas on my worst enemy…
- MK: I wouldn’t say that they’re “bad” ideas, but for the most part they’re not good either.
- Sergeant’s Little Princess: I seriously do not suggest doing the majority of these. Some of them are ok, but most are downright horrible.
- sara: wow def the wrong advice to give guys…all these ideas are terrible …
- ashley: ummm when I read this I thought it as a joke. No really…. these are horrible ideas. No offense but I mean are you serious? It reminds me kind of that episode of the fresh prince of Bel Air when that guy tries to propose to hillary when he sky dived and accidently died. But the whole thing was a joke? I think this is really silly. come on…
- skrooyu: you are all idiots. I’m emberassed to have looked at this website. Do you all realize how dumb you are, or is that also beyond all contemplation?
Anywho. Interestingly enough, About.com has pretty good suggestions. (For the record, no, I’m not being paid to mention their site.) Explain why you want to marry her, they suggest. “Don’t just utter those 4 little words, tell her why she’s the one for you, what marriage means to you, and what your hopes for the future are.” Sounds like solid advice for the marriage-minded. Other About.com tips? Don’t “hide the engagement ring in food” or “propose at a sports game” but do “make it intimate and personal thing … you’ve only got one engagement moment.” So, now it’s your turn dear readers. Feel free to share any tips, suggestions, advice or great proposal stories in the comments section.
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Photo credit: Ring pic is by Jenny Rollo. Sydney, NSW, Australia
Hi, I'm 
Thanks for sharing this. Now, if my boyfriend would propose I know what he’s gonna do.
Supposing one took the very bad advice and “pops the question while he’s poppin’ her.” What does the now engaged happy couple tell friends and relations about how it all happened? Can you even imagine telling your father, “Well, it was so romantic…” Give me a break.
I have recommended this article to my friends at LargeSingle.com. It is a dating site for wealthy people and plus size singles. They all like it too.
“Pop it while poppin’ her” - classic but not practical. What if she says no?
So I guess a facebook engagement request is really not the best way to propose ;) I can imagine it going like
“Honey, I love you very much. Now check your email… I think facebook has a very special request for you…”
Incidentally, it turns out that someone actually proposed as a question at the end of Frank Warren’s SxSW keynote. I hear there was about 30 seconds of dead silence… and then the guy’s bride-to-be finally made up over to the mic to accept.
If you are going to try skywriting, make sure they look up. LOL
I proposed “mid coitus”.
we were vacationing in Puerto Rico. It was fabulous. Anyone who is our friend , we would easily be able to tell the circumstances. otherwise we just say i proposed while on vacation
=)
Proposing while relaxing over a French Polynesian lagoon is the way to go. You can always get to the “poppin” part immediately afterwards.
the both of you on a roller-coaster….. and the question
comes out at the apex of the ride….. and one answers
while rushing gravity….
tip: dont do after eating… anything….
lamesabassman……. tums….. please
Forgive me for sounding cynical here, but all this hoopla over how to pop the question really doesn’t mean anything.
I’ve been proposed to twice.
I am not now nor have I ever been married.
My advice is this: who cares how you do it?
Just make sure you mean it.
@ free online dating tips: :)
@ pegs: Yeah, that would be a funny/odd engagement story to share with friends.
@ Coco: :)
@ AkA “Paul”: GOOD point!!
@ Sweet-Faced, Bearded Kid: Hey, babes! :) Yeah, that’s totally wild about that couple, huh? Here’s the video for the folks who missed it: http://youtube.com/watch?v=xePij4VHVhk
@ Raymond: Good suggestion; yeah, that’d suck to miss that one, no? :)
@ dkzone: ARE YOU LYING????
@ Baba Doodlius: French Polynesian lagoon. I wanna go!
@ lamesabassman: I used to love roller coasters, but now I can’t stomach them.
@ Desiree: Thanks for your honestly, and you’re right about the “Just make sure you mean it” stuff.
nope…
me were leisurely making love at about 11 am.
I think we were waiting for the hotel bar to open up.
I was thinking how i never wanted this moment to end, and about how much i loved her.
That’s pretty romantic. Ideal, in a way.
But how do you know if the “Oh yes” is for the marriage question or…
afterward, she asked if i was really serious.
I said “absolutely”
we then had some more sex, and staggered to the bar for lunch
I’m sorry my dear, but I’m afraid it’s over.
But I’ll re-propose any time - how about next time I’m in new york? Unless sxsw 09 comes first…
@ dkzone / @ AkA “Paul”: Love the story. Man, who doesn’t like AM sex? :)
@ Sweet-Faced, Bearded Kid: You’re on, kid! NYC or SXSW 09! :)
I had a friend who got engaged during sex. She asked if he was serious, which he was, and she accepted.
Guess she got carried away in the moment…they broke up less than a month later.
No way!! :)