7 Creative Ways to Propose!

Photo courtesy of the author. Photo taken by William Orsua (https://www.soulmateproductions.ca). 

Sometime in April 2022, my significant other gave me a heads up: he will be proposing to me on May 25, 2022 and that he needs my help in arranging for a photographer and a videographer to capture the moment. And just like that, my significant other said it in a matter- of-fact manner! He stayed true to his character — straight to the point, no surprises, no theatrics, and no drama! At the same time, he didn’t want to divulge anything else about the proposal except the date, time and place so I can coordinate with our chosen photographer and videographer. He did keep my ring a secret  so in a way, there was still an element of surprise! My significant other’s way of proposing may not be your typical surprise proposal but on the day of the proposal, it was just as magical and romantic. 

Photo of Ron Zalko and wife, Matte Laurel-Zalko at Tiffany & Co. main store in Alberni St. Vancouver. Photo taken by William Orsua (https://www.soulmateproductions.ca). 

ABOUT THE PROPOSAL 

On May 25, 2022, my significant other asked me to have breakfast at exactly 11:10am (triple 1’s are my lucky numbers) at Tiffany and Co.’s main store in Alberni Street in Vancouver. He also told me that he already bought me a dress to wear (that part was a surprise)! It was a beautiful long black evening gown made of silk crepe by Givenchy. How can an intelligent girl say no to that? Again, I know that his proposal was no longer a surprise to me but nevertheless, I still had butterflies in my stomach and was excited to see how he’s going to propose! My husband chose Tiffany’s as the location of his proposal because of two things: my engagement ring was customised at Tiffany & Co. in New York and because my all time favourite movie is Breakfast at Tiffany’s — I totally relate to Holly Golightly — her character and her deep love for Tiffany’s! 

Once inside Tiffany’s, the general manager welcomed us and ushered us in a private room. Then, he left us on our own. Audrey Hepburn’s version of Moon River started playing in the background. My partner handed me a bouquet of 5 dozen red and pink roses. I looked at my significant other with a nervous smile and without skipping a beat, my partner sweetly proposed, “Baby, I know from the moment I met you that we are meant to be each other’s last. I want to have breakfasts with you for the rest of our lives. Will you marry me?” Then, he took out that distinguished and familiar Tiffany blue box, and he placed on my finger — the biggest, bluest and most unique engagement ring I’ve ever been proposed to!

Photo of Ron Zalko and wife, Matte Laurel-Zalko at Tiffany & Co. main store in Alberni St. Vancouver. Photo taken by William Orsua (https://www.soulmateproductions.ca).

My fiancé did not propose on a bent knee. My fiancé and I are in our twilight years so it’s not really practical for him to be on a bent knee! He proposed to me standing up but the way he delivered his proposal gave me goosebumps! It was real, sincere and heartfelt. Of course, I accepted his proposal with a resounding: “Yes! A gazillion times yes!” Afterwards, Tiffany’s general manager came in with a complimentary bottle of Ruinart champagne, and a box of croissants and pastries. The pastries had the words “Will you marry me?” That was a real sweet added touch!  Our photographer, William Orsua and our videographer, Paul Cameron came in and started taking photos and videos of us two. 

ABOUT THE BLING!

My fiancé asked me on my birthday last July 2021, if I could give him an idea on what type of ring I would wear.  I’ve always wanted a blue gem stone because I’ve always admired Princess Diana’s sapphire engagement ring and her aquamarine ring (I’m also a huge fan of Catherine, the Princess of Wales). I’m not into diamonds. I prefer something quirky and something that has my name and character stamped on it. 

Photo of the author’s 22.22-carat aquamarine butterfly engagement ring customised by Tiffany & Co. Photo taken by William Orsua (https://www.soulmateproductions.ca). 

Without my knowledge, my fiancé secretly liaised with the top management of Tiffany and Co. at their flagship store in New York to help him design a ring. My fiancé had an engagement ring especially custom made to represent many special hidden meanings in our lives — the centre stone of the ring is an emerald cut 22.22-carat aquamarine, with an 18k yellow gold butterfly decked out with 11 solitaire small diamonds and set on an 18k yellow gold band. My fiancé chose an aquamarine gemstone because it is often associated with hope, fidelity, serenity, tranquillity, and universal harmony. It apparently helps sustain and blossom love in marriage and relationships. 

Per Tiffany’s advice, the most valuable colour for an aquamarine is a dark blue (almost similar to a blue topaz) to slightly greenish blue. A 1-carat aquamarine would cost around $675 per carat whereas a 2-3 carat aquamarine would be approximately $1,000 to $1,500 per carat. An aquamarine above 4-carat would cost anywhere between 40%-60% increase in price. Tiffany & Co. had to source the aquamarine all the way from Brazil because my fiancé specifically requested for a 22-carat in size due to his intention to propose to me in 2022. Further, Tiffany’s mentioned that Brazil is the most important and largest commercial producer of the top and finest gem-quality aquamarines. 

On a more personal note, my fiancé also incorporated an 18k yellow gold butterfly with 11 VS1 grade small solitaire diamonds because he knows that I’ve always had a close connection with butterflies. By adding this beautiful butterfly in our engagement ring, an “IRON BUTTERFLY” and the colour “YELLOW (gold)” will always be close to my heart wherever I may be — it takes a man like my fiancé to know, understand, accept, and respect that about me. The 11 small  VS1 grade solitaire diamonds represent my lucky number, 11 which is a TWIN number. 

Photo of the author’s customised 22.22-carat aquamarine engagement ring by Tiffany & Co. Photo courtesy of the author.

The design of the bling was actually inspired by Tiffany’s very own, “Return to Tiffany Love Bugs” collection. This particular collection had butterfly sterling silver rings with different gems such as blue topaz, amethyst and citrine set on sterling silver bands. My fiancé wanted a similar design but instead of a blue topaz and sterling silver butterfly, he wanted an aquamarine gemstone and an 18k yellow gold butterfly with 11 solitaire small diamonds on its wings and set on an 18k yellow gold band. Tiffany & Co. in New York made it happen by customising my ring — Holly Golightly was right — “nothing very bad could happen to you there.” It took a total of nine months to custom make my ring because excellent quality and top of the line craftsmanship takes time. The first time I saw my engagement ring was during the proposal and next to my son and husband — it’s the most precious gift I’ve ever received in my entire life. 

Photo of Tiffany & Co. Blue Topaz butterfly cocktail ring from the “Return to Tiffany Love Bugs collection.” This particular design inspired the author’s customised aquamarine butterfly engagement ring also by Tiffany & Co.

WHAT IS A COLLABORATIVE PROPOSAL AND WHY IT’S BECOMING POPULAR 

Suffice to say, my fiancé had executed the most romantic and well organised proposal with the help of Tiffany and Co. in New York and Vancouver, our photographer and videographer. True, his proposal was not a surprise and was more of a collaborative effort, but still, it didn’t take away the genuine feelings we both experienced on that day. I genuinely cried tears of happiness when he asked me to marry him. I was definitely excited to see the ring and had an attack of collywobbles when I said yes to him. My fiancé was definitely nervous in popping the question. 

Surprise proposals may be the norm through the decades but during the recent years, there’s been a surge in more collaborative proposals. Surprisingly, a collaborative proposal has many more advantages and benefits. For one, having a collaborative proposal meant it was both a conscious decision to get married. It is both a mutual agreement on wanting to be together for the rest of your lives. Tying the knot is a huge commitment so it’s important that you are both on the same page. 

Photo of Ron Zalko and wife, Matte Laurel-Zalko at Tiffany & Co. main store in Alberni St. Vancouver. Photo taken by William Orsua (https://www.soulmateproductions.ca). 

Effective communication is a key ingredient for a successful relationship. By having a collaborative proposal, you are including each other in the whole process of taking your relationship to the next chapter. Above all, a collaborative approach makes the planning process and execution of the proposal more seamless, more organised, and more coordinated. 

If you are planning to pop the question to your beloved, think carefully on whether you would like it to be a typical surprise proposal or go with the more modern and realistic approach which is the collaborative proposal. If you decide on a collaborative approach, just like the way my husband did, you can still keep some key elements a surprise such as not showing your partner the ring beforehand or keeping the venue a secret until the last minute. Use your imagination and good judgement. 

7 OTHER CREATIVE WAYS TO PROPOSE:

1. Arrange for an intimate wine tasting at your place. In between your wine tasting, put on your favourite slow music and dance together. When presenting the last bottle of wine for tasting, show your partner the label of the wine that says: “Will you marry me?” Of course, you’ll have to be creative by putting on the customised label yourself on the wine bottle. Then, on a bent knee, present the ring!

Photo courtesy of the author.

2. Pop the question at 35,000 ft!  If you’re going to do this, do it with class and style. Book yourselves first class seats. Make sure you coordinate well and accordingly with the airline support team and introduce yourself to the crew once on board because you have to be mindful of safety concerns. Have the pilot announce that you have an important question to ask your partner. Then, propose on a bent knee and have the crew play your favourite song in the background! 

Photo courtesy of Pexels.

3. Arrange for an adventurous and romantic scavenger hunt along a hiking trail. Set a date with your partner to meet you at a hiking trail. Give your partner instructions via text messages. Place some clues along the trail that represent your love story and these clues will lead your partner to where you’re waiting with a photographer and videographer ready to capture the special occasion when you propose with the ring.

Photo courtesy of Pexels.

4. Take your partner to a special cooking class meant for just the two of you! Have a unique date by arranging a cooking class for just the two of you. Create a menu that reminds you of your partner and explain why you chose each specific course. At the end of the cooking class, arrange to have a table for two so you can both enjoy your fruits of labour. Oh, don’t forget to add champagne and flowers with perhaps a violinist playing romantic songs in the background. When you pop your question with the bling, have a photographer and videographer capture the moment.

Photo courtesy of Pexels.

5. Pop the question with a fortune cookie! Why not keep it simple and tasty by ordering for a Chinese takeout? While you’re both enjoying your meal, play a romantic movie and at the end of the movie, give your partner a custom fortune cookie with these words typed on the paper: “Will you marry me?” Make the lucky numbers the date of your proposal and the day you met! For a plus factor, have the ring placed inside the fortune cookie! Btw, how do you put a ring inside a fortune cookie? Easy peasy. You have to microwave the cookie so it becomes malleable and then you have to zap it and pry it open — plop the bling and the message inside, shape it back up, let it cool and re-harden. Voila!

Photo courtesy of Pexels.

6. Throw a birthday party for your partner and propose at the end! Organise your partner’s birthday party, invite all your nearest and dearest, and after your partner blows the candles on the cake, slice it and surprise the love of your life with a ring inside the cake! Don’t forget to propose! With this kind of proposal, it’s also easier to coordinate with a photographer and videographer to capture the moment.

Photo courtesy of Pexels.

7. Send your partner on a weekend trip with friends for pampering. And then while your partner is sightseeing, arrange or hire a couple to ask your partner to take a video of them. When your partner starts recording, the couple starts to sing your partner’s favourite love song. Surprise your beloved by turning up behind your partner, with the ring on your hand. Ask your partner’s friends to join the proposal by singing, thus turning the whole proposal into a smaller flash mob!

Photo courtesy of Pexels.

Orchestrating your proposal may come with a lot of pressure because let’s face it, you want your proposal to be epic and memorable. Getting engaged is one of the most pivotal aspects of your relationship so you want to make it a unique story that you can share with your family and friends year after year. But do remember that at the end of the day, whether you choose to make your proposal a surprise or collaborative, what truly matters is that it’s all heartfelt and meaningful and that you both get to experience the special moment together. It’s being in the moment — together — as it should be the rest of your lives!