Different Styles of Marriage Proposals

The quintessential marriage proposal is the romantic one- rose petals, violin music, starlight, and champagne. There’s nothing wrong with that- after all, there’s a good reason that this is the most common theme for a proposal- but what if plain old romantic just isn’t your style? The truth is that your proposal can be anything you want it to be, so it’s worth taking some time to make sure that fits you, not tradition. Here are some proposal ideas to consider if you are looking for something different:

chicago-marriage-proposal-4

Adventurous

Would your sweetheart rather go rock climbing than attend a wine tasting? Then forget the rooftop dinner for two- opt instead for a daring proposal in a thrilling location. Choose an activity that will provide an adrenalin rush, such as ziplining or mountain biking, then bring the day to a climax with your proposal.

Showy

If your girl is a social butterfly who loves action and adoration, then maybe you should consider a splashy public proposal. This is your opportunity to pull out all the stops- hire musicians and dancers, or create a flash mob of friends and family. Think big and bold, and don’t be afraid to try and make a dream come true.

Funny

Do you love each other for your sense of humor? If you’re both jokers, why not plan a lighthearted proposal? Create silly scavenger hunt,  go for an an over-the-top melodramatic proposal, or even just choose a place that brings back memories of a day full of laughter. If the two of you have a long-running private joke, see if you can work it into your proposal for an extra touch.

As always, the key to creating the perfect proposal is personalization- it has to be a good match for you and for your sweetheart. Whatever style you choose, if it has a special significance for the two of you, it will be perfect.  If you need guidance in tailoring your proposal plans, contact The Heart Bandits. They have experience with every sort of proposal, from intimate and elegant to flashy and over-the-top. They’ll make sure that your proposal is the perfect fit for you and your beloved.  Contact The Heart Bandits today.

 

 

Michele

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Propose With Your Own Love Story

Why not propose with the love story of your life together so far?  We are so excited to introduce you to a product that will help you do just that!  Memeoirs is an online web application that allows you to turn your online conversations between you and your beloved into a beautiful book. It can be personalised with a photo, title and your very own messages to create the perfect romantic gift.

 If you met your love on line, this is just so perfect!! Printing your love story from your Facebook messages or emails using Memeoirs, will present several options to create a dream, unique proposal.  You want this to be a moment to remember, forever. Using specific memories in a physical format and a fun way will appeal to his/her heart. Make it your own. Romeo and Juliet have nothing on you.  Here are some of the ways you can use this book to propose.

What’s In A Name?

 Putting the proposal in the title will mean that this keepsake will be cherished forever as the icebreaker from a killer moment. Whether you use the standard “Will You Marry Me?” or are super unique when it comes to the title, make sure you keep it real to you guys.  Ideas of book titles include ‘Marry me…’,‘The love story continues’ or ‘Mr and Mrs…’.

Memeoirs - A Lifetime Together

Walk Through The Story

The book can highlight your journey together and you can propose at the end of it.  Either have the proposal written at the end, or you can give your proposal speech after she reads it.

Be Creative

Sometimes, bigger is better. Make the place a maze of books, a domino effect or a treasure hunt with multiple Memeoirs of different titles. Lead your way from A to B and finish with the most fundamental proposal book.

Think Of The Future

Remember that this love story will become one of the classics over the years! Cherish the books for decades to come with copies for your kids and family members. Keep it safe with your most precious keepsakes and photo albums. You could even have it on display at the wedding to show just how much you’ve shared together… be sure you pop a box of Kleenex next to it!

Take a look at www.memeoirs.com and we are sure you will agree that this could be the perfect thing to incorporate into your proposal.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/memeoirs

Twitter: https://twitter.com/memeoirs

Michele

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Different Ways to Say Will You Marry Me

When planning a marriage proposal, it’s easy to get distracted by all of the minutiae- the place, the clothes, the music, the party afterwards. All of this, however, is just window dressing. The heart of the proposal is the question- “Will you marry me?”  When considering how to propose, here are just a few of the many, many options that exist for the crucial question.

Elaborate sand proposal

Just Ask

Tried and true, you can always just get down on one knee and ask her.

Spell it Out

Create a sign, a banner or a mural, and let her read the writing on the wall.

Pass a Message

Employ a letter, telegram, postcard or carrier pigeon to get the question to her- just make sure you’re there when she opens it!

Sing Out

Slip the question into the words of a favorite song, or hire a choir to shout your question to the heavens.

Propose Without Words

Sign language, charades, or interpretive dance- there are ways to ask without ever asking. For a proposal at its simplest, just get down on one knee and open the ring box. No words necessary.

Be Enigmatic

If your sweetheart is a puzzle fiend, why not hide your proposal in a crossword puzzle? Or send her a cryptic card and a decoder ring for a secret society feel.

As you can see, there are endless possibilities for popping the question. Now all that remains is to choose one! If you want to come up with the most personalized and unique way to propose, contact the Proposal Planners at The Heart Bandits. They’ll help you ask a question that will be remembered forever.

Michele

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Alice In Wonderland Theme Proposal

We absolutely loved creating the wedding proposal we are sharing with you today.  Thomas wanted to re-propose to Eleonor since he felt like the first time he proposed wasn’t what she really wanted or deserved (in his words.)  Eleonor is a huge fan of Alice In Wonderland so we came up with the perfect proposal idea.  When they arrived in New York City, Thomas started telling her about this amazing tea parlor they had to check out.  He mentioned that they had reservations there at 6pm and when she arrived, she got the surprise of her life.  The entire tea parlor was closed down just for her and when she walked in, she was escorted to a table.

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On the first table was a teapot that said “Drink Me”  next to a stack of teacups.  There was a gorgeous display of macaroons with a tag that said “Eat Me,” all part of the movie theme.  Gorgeous ornate gold frames lined the table with tags that said “Love Me.”

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Next, Thomas lead Eleonor over to another secret table and there it was…. an elephant he had given her long ago with a tag that said “Marry Me.”  Thomas read the poem to her that the elephant was holding and re-proposed to the love of his life.

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We at The Heart Bandits couldn’t be happier for this couple and we are so honored that Thomas chose us to plan his special day.  If you want to propose, re-propose, or plan a special moment for your love, contact The Heart Bandits today!  We will make sure your event goes perfect so that you can focus on the most important thing, your partner.

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Proposal Planning: The Heart Bandits

Venue: Bosie Tea Parlor

Photography: Petronella Photography

DOC: JLC Events Management

Michele

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How To Propose In 3 Simple Steps

Photo by Millicent Wong Photography

Proposal Planning: The Heart Bandits, Photo: Millicent Wong Photography

You’ve been planning to propose for months now, and the date you picked is nearing, but you’ve discovered a harsh reality: planning to propose is not the same as planning a proposal. It’s time to get to work, and to help you, we’ve broken it down for you.  Here is a guide on how to propose in 3 simple steps.

Plan

This is where you are now. It’s best to start with a general idea- do you want a big public proposal? A quiet and intimate one?- and slowly work down to the finer details such as location, style, music or decorations, and any other considerations you might want to take care of. This could be a good time to bring a Proposal Planner on board, since their experience will let them help you winnow out the best of your ideas, and they can lead you towards a good final concept in less time than it would take on your own.

Execute

Next, it’s time to take action. Make the reservations, hire the band, buy the food- whatever needs doing, do it now. This is the other point in the process where ought to seriously consider bringing a Proposal Planner on board. Their relationships with locations and vendors will smooth out a lot of the kinks in the setup, and they will be a big help in making sure that everything happens under budget and on time.

When all of your setup is done, there’s only one more piece of action that needs to be undertaken- it’s time to propose!

Celebrate

Once the planning is done and the proposal is over, it’s time to party! Keep this in mind as you’re planning everything else- there’s no reason for your proposal to fall flat right after you pop the question. You can do as much or as little as you like, from an all-out post-proposal vacation to a quiet drink at your favorite pub, but be sure to have at least one celebratory option open as soon as she has the ring on her finger. Your proposal is all about making the perfect memory, and an added dash of joy and excitement will only make the memory sweeter.

Ready to take the plunge into the planning process? Why not make it easier on yourself and contact the Heart Bandits? Whether you just need a little brainstorming help, or you want a serious ally to help you get the best location in town, we are here to see you through.  Contact us today.

Michele

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The History of Engagement Rings

You have the perfect woman for you and now you know you want to propose.  Well, you obviously are going to need an engagement ring.  But have you ever wondered about how the engagement ring made it’s way into the proposal tradition?  Check out this super cute iconographic that outlines the history of the engagement ring.

Infographic-Gemvara

A couple years ago, we had the pleasure of interviewing Ira Weissman from www.diamonds.pro about this very subject.  Here is a recap!

What is your view on “going in debt” for an engagement ring?

 This is a disastrous thing to do.  If someone writes me on my website and tells me that they’re going into debt in order to buy a ring, I will try my utmost to convince them of the folly of their ways.    I’m married with five children and I can tell you with absolute certainty that the last thing in life for which you should be going into debt is an over-priced finger decoration!

Everyone has heard of the 4 C’s.  What do you think is the most important thing to look for when buying an engagement ring?

 Here’s my one sentence guide to diamond buying: After you limit yourself to only “Excellent Cut” diamonds, then search for the lowest color grade that still looks white, and the lowest clarity grade that is still clean to the naked eye.  You’ll save bucket loads this way, and your stone won’t look any worse.  (as a refresher, diamond color goes from D, the whitest, to Z, most yellow and clarity goes from Flawless, to VVS, to VS, to SI, to I1) So for example, an H SI2 (that’s been confirmed to be eye clean) with an excellent cut will look identical to the naked eye to an F color flawless diamond.  But the F Flawless will literally cost more than double the price of the H SI2.
A lot of our clients ask us how to estimate their girlfriend’s ring size.  Do you have any tricks?

I’ve heard different tricks, like grabbing one of her rings she doesn’t wear often and going to get it measured at a jewelry store.  Just make sure you buy the ring from a place that will offer you a free re-sizing.  All of the stores I refer people to from my site offer this service.

Such great advice!  After you find your engagement ring, you will need the perfect proposal idea.  Contact The Heart Bandits, professional Proposal Planners, to get started today.

Michele

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NYC Proposal In Penthouse With View of Empire State Building

This proposal was months in the making and I am so excited to share it with you.  Not only because I enjoyed working with my client Mike so much, but also because his proposal is just simply beautiful.  This proposal shows that an adorable couple + personalized proposal idea+ perfect venue can make for one amazing proposal.  Check out the amazing photos by Petronella Photography as I explain this gorgeous proposal concept.

Mike told Kristine that they were meeting some friends for a drink.  A limo brought them to the Penthouse and when she walked in, she got the surprise of her life.

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On the rooftop patio, with a view of the Empire State Building, was a gorgeous memory timeline.  The timeline was lined with candles and beautiful florals. Mike and Kristine walked down the aisle, stopping to read about the milestone moments and private memories the two had shared together over the years.  A guitarist played “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton and Mike proposed to his beautiful girlfriend as the sun set.

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She said yes and we are so happy for them.  Thank you for allowing The Heart Bandits to plan your special day!  If you want to plan your perfect proposal contact us today.  We can assist you in coming up with the best proposal idea and then bring it to life for you!  Contact us today.

P.S. I just love the shot below!!

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Michele

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Three Awesome Same-Sex Proposals

Today we bring you three amazing proposal videos. Every one of them is amazing, but each one is perfect in a different way.

Our Story in Letters- Mike and Dave

This is a fabulous proposal because it’s so personal, and so well planned. Dave wrote signs for himself and for many of their friends and family to hold, which spelled out their story together. Incorporating friends and relatives is a great way to bring your community into the proposal, which adds joy and celebration. The signs themselves show very clearly how much Dave loves Mike, because every word was written for him. The little jokes and endearments that are scattered through the story really bring it home that these two are meant to be together.

 Follow the Roses- Jeni and Hayley

When proposing to her girlfriend Jeni, Hayley went all-out with a trail of clues throughout their apartment. She called on friends to help set up the scavenger hunt, but created an amazing amount of suspense by leaving the apartment empty so that Jeni could discover the proposal at her own pace. The suspense, uniqueness and playfulness of this proposal really make it special. (Though we did learn one thing from this video: if you’re going to involve the cat in your proposal, make sure it can’t hide anywhere!)

 Home Depot Dance- Spenser and Dustin

This proposal is an amazing display of forethought and creativity. It took a lot of planning and work to get the location to agree to the event, to choreograph a dance and teach it to so many people, and to get Dustin there at just the right moment. The song and dance are wonderful, but it’s the little details that really make it- for instance, when the kids come in ‘carrying’ distant relatives on iPads, so that the whole family can take part. Spenser really went the extra mile to make sure that every detail was taken care of.

Do you want a perfect, personalized proposal? Hiring a proposal planner is a great first step. To get started with your creative and memorable proposal, contact the Heart Bandits. They have the experience and expertise to make sure your proposal is exactly what your sweetheart is dreaming of.

Michele

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New York City Proposal Ideas

While creating a personalized proposal  is always best, not everyone has the creativity to come up with something super unique or has the budget to hire a Proposal Planner. If you fall into one of these categories, you should know that The Heart Bandits offer All Inclusive Proposal Packages in New York City that may be perfect for you.  Here are some highlights of what we offer with actual pictures from people who have purchased them before.

Photo Walking Tour

Photography by Rebecca Yale Portraits

Photography by Rebecca Yale Portraits

You meet our tour guide/photographer and they tell you that they will be taking you to some of the most photographed locations throughout Central Park. You get some cute, fun, photos and you propose at the third location.  This client chose to propose at Belvedere Castle.  This is a great way to have your proposal photographed, totally surprise your partner, and see some parts of NYC you may not have known about.  Learn more here.

Ice Skating Proposal

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Have some fun and propose while ice skating.  This is a true “New York” style proposal and may be the perfect proposal idea for your active girlfriend.

Times Square Billboard

Propose to your girlfriend in a grand way by proposing on a billboard in Times Square!  She won’t believe you managed to pull off something so epic….until you do.  Learn more here.

Central Park Picnic

By Petronella Photography

By Petronella Photography

What could be more romantic than strolling around Central Park, hand in hand, and then stumbling upon a romantic picnic set up?  The picnic contains pictures of you and your girlfriend so there is no mistake that it is for her.  Learn more here.

If you want to buy these great proposals, click here for the New York Proposal Ideas.  Or, if you want something designed just for your girlfriend, contact The Heart Bandits today for a custom quote.  Either way, we will make sure your proposal is amazing.  Also, our clients are always asking us how to hide their bulky engagement ring box on the day they propose.  The answer is, buy a slim engagement ring box!! Ring Stash, www.ringstash.com offers a .5 inch ring box that will help you keep your proposal a secret until you are ready to reveal it.

Michele

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Surprise Birthday Party Turns Into Surprise Proposal

Every time I share this proposal story, I get similar reactions.  People can’t believe how over-the-top this proposal was because a surprise birthday turned into a surprise proposal.  But after spending months with AB planning his proposal and getting to know him, I can!

The Beginning

AB and Honey met by chance when the NYC Marathon was cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy.  AB was in town from Saudi Arabia to run the marathon but since it was cancelled, he and his twin decided to hit the town instead.  AB’s twin went out another day and met Honey and when he got home he told his brother that he met the one for him.  AB couldn’t get Honey off of his mind and after getting her number from his brother, he began texting her.  The rest, as they say, is history.  Check out this NYC proposal!elaborate marriage proposal

The Proposal

AB flew back to New York to celebrate Honey’s birthday with her.  What she didn’t know is that for months we had been planning the ultimate proposal idea.  The whole family would be invited to a surprise birthday party.  But even they didn’t know that AB would actually be proposing.  While interviewing AB, we learned that Honey loves Cherry Blossom trees and New York so that was the basis of our proposal concept.  Here is how it all went down.

harp player for marriage proposal

photo marriage proposal decor

penguin ice sculpture

We rented out the 21st floor of The Glass Houses which has stunning views of New York City.  The proposal took place on the 21st floor and the family waited on the 14th floor for the big “surprise” birthday reveal.  AB told Honey that he was just taking her out for her birthday, but when she stepped off the elevator she could not believe her eyes.  A harpist serenaded them with their song of “At last”.  Concurrently, Honey’s name was spelled out in rose petals.  She walked down an aisle of Cherry Blossom trees and at the end of the aisle was a haft-seen table, a Persian tradition, and an ice sculpture.  AB told us that penguins are mates forever and so we had an ice sculpture made with a “Will You Marry Me?” pebble in between the penguins.  AB proposed and Honey said yes.

happy couple

marriage proposal in front of ice sculpture

The Surprise Party

Next, AB took Honey to the 14th floor and she couldn’t believe that all of their friends and family were there.  They couldn’t believe that he had just proposed!!  The group went back up to enjoy a seated dinner, birthday cake, cocktails and dancing.  We were honored to be a part of this special day.  Congratulations AB and Honey!

surprise engagement party

marriage proposal surprise

marriage proposal couple

The Proposal Help

If you want to plan your perfect proposal, contact us today.  We are known for our diverse proposal planning style and we will make sure your proposal is everything you hoped for and more.  If you would like more tips on how to plan a surprise proposal, read here.

Proposal Planning: The Heart Bandits

Photography: Rebecca Yale Portraits

Videography: Moho Creative

Floral Design: Martin Jobes Design

Rentals:  Something Different Party Rental

Venue: The Glass Houses

Caterer: Thomas Preti

 

 

Michele

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