The Big Four of Wedding Proposals
One thing weird about myself is, occasionally, I get flashes of insight about.. wedding proposals. Yup, about popping that question.These things come as a eureka moment before I sleep or as a full-blown idea cropping out of my head as I am on the (never mind). But the thing is yesterday I finally formulated a workable idea to create a perfect proposal just as I was DMing my friend on Twitter (that for obvious reasons I won’t mention here) and as I was browsing youtube wedding proposals. Here goes.
A wedding proposal is supposed to be a special moment that is by default something to be remembered. Therefore, this memory should “stick” in the mind of the would-be fiancee as a The Perfect Moment (well at least before the actual wedding day). The way I see it, the “stickiness factor” of the memory is governed by these 4 elements: 1.Grandeur; 2.Unexpectedness; 3.Context; and 4.Mush Factor. Let me tackle them in turn.
Grandeur is how “grand” the proposal is, how elaborate the preparation was or maybe the degree of complexity needed to make it work. In simple terms, it should be huge, something outside the girl’s experience, something that would blow her mind away. You don’t give her a flower, you get her to see a whole field of daisies spelling the proposal. You don’t ask her to accompany you to a jewelry shop, you reserve the whole mall. You don’t ask one tricycle with one “Marry Me” banner to drive in front of her house, you get a whole fleet to.. well you get the drift.
Unexpectedness is about the element of surprise, the timing of the proposal. That is why people have proposed in concerts, in weddings, in basketball games or even at an Apple Store. The crowd could lull someone into a false sense of proposal-free security, therefore being an opportune time to pop the question. Of course, these things should really be planned out because that unexpectedness add a certain amount of risk (if you’ve seen the videos, you’ll know what I mean). And please make sure that both of you are not at risk for heart attacks.
Context* describes how the actual proposal is in line with the couple’s relationship history. People propose at the restaurant where they first dated, at the corner where they first met, a hobby place where they frequent. It should be something that was done in the context of the relationship. Therefore, proposing in a Darth Vader costume when she actually hates anything Star Wars is not wise, while proposing at telemetry while having SVT is good if that is where you first met. (Sorry I had to get that in.)
Mush Factor is just that, the spark of the hopeless romantic. A string quartet inside her apartment, filled with roses as you bend your knee is a good image of this. Popping the question with the sunset in the background while a barbershop quartet (what’s this with me in quartets?) sings your theme song is another. Sweet and mushy stuff.
Keep these four in mind and you’ll have a blast proposing to the woman of your dreams. But don’t take my word for it, scoot on over here to see a perfect example of what I’m saying.
*Changed memory-ishness to context for obvious reasons.9.9.08*
