Women's opinion needed - Marriage proposal

**lubosr** · 02-05-2011 12:49 PM

Hello,

This is my first ever post on this forum, and I would like to hear some opinions about my planned marriage proposal.

I have bee dating my girlfriend for 1 1/2 years and I am sure she is the one. We're moving in together in May and so long as that goes well, I plan to propose to her in August, before she goes back to work (She's a teacher).

Here's my plan. I am going to have one of her girlfriends take her out for lunch. While she is gone I'm going to pack her bags for her, bring her dog to the kennel, and leave her an "Instruction Book" with some directions to follow.

I will have a car arranged to take her to the airport, where she will have tickets to Las Vegas waiting for her. She'll fly to vegas, where I will have another car arranged to take her to the hotel where I will have a nice suite overlooking the strip reserved. I will have flown out before hand and will be waiting for her with candles pictures of us and a ring.

I plan on telling the front dest about our plan and will have them send her to my floor, where a trail of flower pedals will lead to my room. When she shows up I'll be waiting and propose right there on the spot.

That's the gist of the plan and I will ahve all the details worked out before hand as well as a way to verify that everything is going smoothly. Some questions I have for you girls

1. Knowing that surprise is very important for a proposal, Is that too much trouble for her to go through, and will she be so tired from traveling that she won't fully enjoy the moment? I could schedule a trip for both of us and ask her in a different way, but then I lose the element of surprise. Which is more important, location or surprise?

2. Is Las Vegas a good place to do it, considering I've rented a beautiful room and we will be alone, or should I try another location? Pacific coast highway maybe? This is the best plan I've come up with to add the element of surprise.

Just give me your honest opinions, does this sound like a good plan?

Thanks very much!!!!!

**CHANDLERS WISH** · 02-05-2011 01:22 PM

To me "suprise" is everything when being proposed to..

Leaving her an instruction book, or even a note with a few instructions, I'd skip..

You've already arranged for a car to pick her up. I'd have the car pick her up from the restaurant after she's had lunch and the driver to advise her that you've sent him to collect her, it's a suprise.. And he can hand her the tickets and her bag, at the airport..Same at the other end.

She'll think it's a holiday you've booked, to me instructions is romantic but she'd be wondering what's all the secrecy for.

When she gets to the Hotel, just greet her...And say suprise, thought you could do with a break...When you get to the hotel room as the door is opened, let her see the rose petals leading to a table with candles lit, a bottle of champagne, no photo and have the ring in her glass....

That would be how I would see it...

CW

**Little** · 02-05-2011 01:48 PM

Personally, I don't know if I'd be comfortable flying out to Las Vegas all by myself just from an instruction booklet ... is she very adventurous? And is it very far from where you live? And do you know exactly what she would want to pack? Some people are very picky about that. I think that proposing and then whisking her away on a romantic "proposal honeymoon" would be better. If you decide to propose before the trip, you might still kennel her dog and pack her bags anyways.
This sounds like a wonderful surprise, very well-thought-out and romantic, for a more adventurous person. I would just feel wary if it happened to me because it's so unusual!

**jns** · 02-05-2011 06:16 PM

You better know for sure that she is comfortable about her dog being in a kennel. If she is not, she may just not go along with the program from the beginning. It is very romantic, but what is usually better is to spring it during a normal occasion that all of a sudden takes on historic proportions.

**BabyGirl** · 02-06-2011 07:50 AM

While your thinking this out and wanting it to be special, the Proposal that is, there are many issues here that could backfire.

If I went to lunch with a friend , went home, found my dog missing and instructions to follow. A couple of things come to mind.

1) I would probably know what you were up to when I saw the plane ticket. As why would you fly me to Vegas unexpectedly instead of plan a vacation together?

2) I could feel you were Controlling and telling me what to do and like another said, choosing my clothes ?

3) Do you expect to get married while in Vegas , as this sounds more like a Honeymoon.

Another way to do this is, since she will be moving in in May, see how things go, then if all is well, tell her that you and she need a getaway or short Vacation, before she goes back to teaching. Tell her you found a good deal to Vegas, or that a Friend had / won a package and couldn't go so offered it to you.
Ask her if she wants to go, ( a week or two ahead of time) so she can be exited and plan what to wear. Book your trip so you fly together (of course ahead of time without her knowing as this is part of your plan ).

You can have the suite all arranged and any other special things. It depends what time you arrive, but if in afternoon, just go to your room, change and go see a Show or gamble a bit. Tell her there is a Complimentary In Suite Dinner that came with the Package. Say at 8 pm, or whenever you think is a good time.

This is where the Advanced Planning comes in. While you two are out of the room, have the Staff get your Suite ready, Flowers, Champagne, and of course candles.

Go back to the room with her as if all is Normal and it's just a vacation. Have a glass of Champagne, go look at the View and wait for Room Service to bring Dinner.

Having Planned ahead, when room service comes, have them bring the dinner in, When they Uncover the "Dinner", have nothing but Rose petals surrounding the Ring in an open box. And then when she recognizes what it is, Do your Bended knee Proposal.
I'm sure you will get Dinner Later .. But it'll be Desert First .. Lol

**Hopeless Dork** · 02-06-2011 08:33 AM

The element of surprise will come from the proposal itself... the trip isn't much of a surprise or won't be .. the second she finishes lunch and is told she is going to the airport -- so why not just include her in on the travel plans and then surprise her in vegas with the propsal? I agree with the others on the dog in the kennel thing, she may have other thoughts for who should take care of her dog, she may not be pleased with the items packed for her... and why start things off on a stressful foot for her? She may have little items, medicines, contact solution... things like that , that won't be packed for her that she will need.

I know i would NOT want someone else packing for me, making plans for my dog, etc... I'd want to be involved in all that. Saying surprise I got us tickets to vegas for the weekend... would be surprise enough... then a romantic night and proposal would be even more surprising ... but I don't think I'd care for not having any control in the situation as far as preparing to go, etc.

I think ur idea is great, and she'll love it... I just think if it were me I'd want to pack my own things for a trip, I'd want to have a word in whats happening with my dog... or else it might be a lil stressful.

**BasketCase** · 02-06-2011 10:37 AM

I think it's extreamly romantic.

**lubosr** · 02-06-2011 11:49 AM

Hi, thank you to everyone who has given input so far. For those of you who seem concered about the packing and the dog issue, here is my response. Let me know if this would been enough to alleviate some of your concerns.

The kennel where she takes her dog is by her house, and she has used it many times before, so I know she is okay with that place taking care of her dog.

In terms of packing, I've traveled with her many times before and have a pretty good handle on what she packs for a trip. I did plan on leaving a list of everything I put in her bag, or I could even just leave the packed bag at her place, which would allow her to add anything else she might need before she leaves.

She obviously can call me at any time. I just thought it would be nice for her to show up with me waiting for her, that's why I've wanted to do it this way where I get there ahead of time and she comes to me.

I also plan on being in contact with the driver in Chicago, the airline, the driver in Las Vegas, and the front desk of the hotel.

But again, if you guys think this plan is too elaborate and has too many holes, I may have to modify.

I sincerely appreciate your continued objective opinions.

Thanks!

**Hopeless Dork** · 02-06-2011 11:56 AM

If she's used the kennel before, than thats perfect and the dog placement is no longer an issue

I like the idea of you packing her, but leaving the case that way if she wanted to, she could add something you may have missed that she feels she needs-- that would make me feel much more comfortable if it were me. The biggest thing is you probably don't you want to start off your engagement with her feeling like she has no control in the situation.. so if you had picked a kennel and she never wanted her dog in one, had never had one before it may have got things off on the wrong foot. But if she's used them before and was happy with them, i think that its totally fine for you to handle that aspect.

I think its an awesome surprise and she will be so excited... if it were me I'd want the opportunity to add to my suitcase like you said you might be able to do but other than that it all sounds perfect!!!

**jns** · 02-06-2011 12:47 PM

I think she will find it exciting. By going ahead, you can get all of the check in stuff done, so when you go back to the hotel, it is like they already know you. Good on the dog issue. What will she do on the flight out?

Las Vegas is hot in August. Will most of your time be spent in hotels and casinos? Places to go and possibilities for a marriage proposal: A tour of Boulder Dam? A trip to the mountains such as Mt. Charleston? A trip to the Colorado River where water sports meet casinos in Laughlin? A trip to the old time mining town of Oatman, AZ? A helicopter tour of part of the Grand Canyon? A longer trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon? A trip to Bryce and Zion national parks?