The holiday season is upon us so Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!  The Heart Bandits romantic date ideas of the week is to take your sweetie on one of these 4 Holiday Dates!

Holiday Cruise

A lot of cities near water have a holiday cruise that will take you to see houses lit up with Christmas lights.  It is super romantic because you get to cuddle up with your honey, sip on hot chocolate, and take in the Christmas spirit together.  Keep an eye out for deals on these cruises on sites like Groupon or Living Social!  This is a great Christmas date idea.

Snow Sports

For active couples, the best part of winter is snow sports!  Arrange for a little friendly competition in the snow and then cuddle up near the fire at night.  Snowboarding, skiing, and snow sledding are all great date ideas for this time of year.

Watch a Christmas Play

What can be more holiday-ish than seeing a Christmas Play together?  Go see Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol, or The Grinch That Stole Christmas!  Create new memories together.

Do Charity Together

Nothing makes you feel better than helping someone else, so why not do it together?  Go to a shelter to pass out food, or gift wrap some toys for Toys for Tots.  This is an inexpensive date idea that gives you great rewards.

If you would like more ideas for romantic dates during the Holiday Season, then contact The Heart Bandits Date Coordinators. We will help you with romantic date ideas, romantic gifts, and the planning and execution of elaborate dates that will be sure to make her heart melt. We will help bring out your inner-stud!

The day before the most important day in my life, my wedding, Barrie Gillies called me to interview me about my experience as an Engagement Planner at The Heart Bandits for December’s Issue of Brides Magazine. We spent a lot of time talking about why proposals have turned in to such huge events whereas before they were known as private, intimate moments in a couples lives.  Grab December’s Issue of Brides Magazine to read the whole proposal guide.

Below is an excerpt from the article where I explain why I think proposal standards are changing.

Viral or bust As tempting as it may be to blame the rom-com-industrial complex for the proposal pressure cooker, many feel the real force behind this phe- nomenon is YouTube. “Before social media, women didn’t know how other women were being proposed to,” says Los Angeles marriage-proposal planner Michele Williamson, owner of The Heart Bandits Romantic Event Planners. “Now, an awesome proposal goes viral and before you know it, nine million people have seen it.” Make that 19 million—that’s how many hits “Movie-Trailer Proposal” had received at press time since first being posted in May.

There is a lot of pressure on men to create the perfect wedding proposal which can be very stressful for a guy. Hire an Engagement Expert to help you make sure it goes perfect.  Whether you need help with marriage proposal ideas or the coordination and planning of your perfect marriage proposal, we can help. Contact us Today to get started on making your dream proposal come true.

This week’s featured marriage proposal by The Heart Bandits took 9 months to make but once you watch the video, you’ll see that it was well worth the effort. The proposer, James Veluya wanted to do something unique for his girlfriend Julie. So he rented out a small theater in Brooklyn, New York where he took her to. At the theater he had her watch this video that he made and that’s where he showed her what she meant to him.

James enlisted the help of many friends and family members over that 9 month time span and he created a video from digital photographs of his friends. The photographs show the friends holding up LED light-up pens and moving them around. When put together and showed with digital photography effects, the magical and very sweet proposal is created. James used the backdrop of the bridges in New York as a backdrop to create the romantic feel to it. With the words displaying his feelings towards her, this proposal is unique and very romantic. Well done James!

Creating the perfect wedding proposal can be very stressful for a guy. You want to do something that she will love and always remember. Luckily we are here  exactly for that reason. Whether you need help with marriage proposal ideas or the coordination and planning of your perfect marriage proposal, we can help. Contact us Today to get started on making your dream proposal come true.

December is only one day away and for many people, this time of year is their favorite because of Christmas, the vacation time, and the atmosphere. December is one of the most popular times to propose marriage and it is also a great time to create romance. Below are some great ideas for creating romance during the Holiday season in December.

Christmas Tree Shopping

Even if your apartment or house is the size of a Mini Cooper or your place is overcrowded with stuff, it is still a great idea to go shopping for a Christmas tree together. If you’re lacking on free space, get yourself a mini-tree that you can put on a table. Going tree shopping is a fun thing to do with your sweetie and gets you in a festive spirit.

Christmas Tree Decoration

Similarly, decorating your tree is also a great way to create romance. Buy an ornament together and make it a tradition to get a new tree ornament every year. This will allow you to look forward to this and towards going to new places to buy a new ornament. Additionally, if you want to be a Christmas Ricko Suave, you can add surprise decorations on the tree for your loved one to find. Take one of those Christmas ornaments and put a note on it that proclaims your love and see how long it takes her to find it.

Ice Skating

Even if you have two left feet, going ice skating is a very romantic holiday activity especially if you can find an outdoor ice rink. You get to hold hands with your loved one and afterwards, you can take her to enjoy some hot chocolate and reminisce on the hundreds of times you almost fell together.

Bake Holiday Cookies

You don’t have to be a Martha Stewart protégé in order to create romance in the kitchen. There is this little thing called the internet that could help. Get a recipe for a cookie that you know she likes and make it into the shape of something festive like a tree or Santa Claus. Get frosting, sprinkles, and/or nuts for decorations. Just the mere fact that you will suggest cooking cookies together will win you points and baking together will be enjoyable.

Build a Snowman Together

This is another fun outdoor activity. Take your sweetie to an outdoor spot to build the best snowman you can. You can bring props to make them look cooler and like your sweetie. Write sweet notes on the snowman (or snowwoman) to create even more romance. Afterwards, get playful by having a snowball fight, though make sure to not use icy snow ;).

If you would like more ideas for romantic dates by The Heart Bandits during the Holiday Season, then contact us today. We will help you with romantic date ideas, romantic gifts, and the planning and execution of elaborate dates that will be sure to make her heart melt. You don’t want to be seen as that guy that is never romantic and never thinks outside the box.

Proposing to your girlfriend is a stressful event.  That is why The Heart Bandits have put together a list of 3 Wedding Proposal Mistakes You Should Avoid.  As Proposal Experts at The Heart Bandits, we feel that avoiding these mistakes is just as important as the marriage proposal itself.

Asking When You Don’t Know If She Is Ready

You don’t have to come out and ask your girlfriend if she is ready for marriage yet.  Throughout the relationship there should be hints if you two are headed in that direction.  An example would be making plans in the distant future  like what you will do for next years anniversary or next Christmas.  A less subtle hint would be her talking about engagement rings or moving in together.  The bottom line is, you usually will know if she has marriage on her mind.  The last thing you want to do is propose and her say no.  It is embarrassing for her and your relationship may not be able to withstand the rejection you could feel.

Proposing Without A Ring

As Engagement Planners at The Heart Bandits, we get asked “Should I propose without a ring” a lot. The Heart Bandits definitely advise you to have an engagement ring before you propose (we can help you pick out one).  The reason is because it is a tangible symbol of your commitment and it is a timeless tradition.  There are always exceptions to every rule but in general, you should have something to symbolize your engagement.

Proposing Without A Plan

This is a rookie move right here.  Nowadays there is no excuse for having a lame proposal.  There are professional Proposal Planners out there to help you come up with a great proposal idea so proposing without a plan just isn’t acceptable.  Think of how you will propose, plan it out, and then execute it beautifully.  She will be happy you did.

If you want to make sure you have the perfect marriage proposal idea or the perfect engagement ring, contact The Heart Bandits today. We are marriage proposal experts and can tell you exactly all you need to know to propose.  We will walk you through things you need to consider to make this day as special as it really needs to be.

When guys are thinking about the best way to propose marriage, sometimes it’s hard to think of a way to make it perfect. You want to make your wedding proposal meaningful to your relationship and have it be as memorable as possible. That is exactly what happened in today’s featured proposal of the week. It is very sweet and it is one of our favorites.

The lovely couple, Dave and Tina, had been dating for 6 years and have been quite the travelers. They have traveled all around the world together and early on in their relationship, they knew they were meant for each other. That is why during their travels together, they took pictures holding up a letter. Their intention was to have the letters spell out ‘we always knew’. It’s very cute and it something that is very unique to their relationship. Here are the things that Dave did that made this marriage proposal amazing.

Meaningful Location

For the last letter of their phrase (the ‘w’), Dave decided to have it done in their hometown in Canada. What better way to bring your relationship full-circle than to have it back where it all started? Their travels took them to far places and now the next step in their relationship is going to take them farther.

Meaningful Props

As Dave and Tina are holding up the ‘w’ for the camera, Dave got some helpers to hold up a sign behind them that read ‘ill you Marry Me?’. The sign from the helpers used the ‘w’ that Dave and Tina were holding. The use of this prop is something that is completely them. They have been holding up signs throughout their six years together so it seems perfect to have a sign asking for her hand in marriage.

He Surprised Her Completely

Dave had the sign up behind her and the helpers moved out of the way once the picture was taken. To Tina, she had no idea what was going on because she only thought they were there to take the last picture of their journey. It was a great surprise and made the proposal absolutely amazing.

Creating a proposal that is as memorable as this one is very hard to pull off. That is why it is best to get help so that you can give your girlfriend and your love story everything that it deserves. The Heart Bandits are Wedding Proposal Planners that create marriage proposals that are perfect and unique to the couple. If you want to create a proposal that you would want to be shared over and over again, contact The Heart Bandits today!

With Thanksgiving this week, many people are gearing up for the much anticipated 4-day weekend and to spend time with their loved ones and family. With Black Friday and the hustle and bustle of the busy weekend, it could be a very good opportunity for you to pop the question to your loved one because she may not expect it at all. That’s why today, we are giving you some ways that you can propose to her during the Thanksgiving Break.

At an Outdoor Ice Skating Rink

Many of these places pop out around this time of year, that’s why it’s a wonderful place to propose. If you’re not an expert skater like myself, it doesn’t matter too much. Your skill level (or lack thereof) only just gives you more of an excuse to hold on tightly to your sweetie. Outdoor rinks are scenic and romantic and they make for a great story to tell others.

At a Picturesque Park

It’s fall, and in many parts of the country the color of the leaves make for a very scenic atmosphere. That’s why, if you find the right park, you can have a very romantic proposal, especially if you have it pre-decorated with personal memories. Imagine asking your girlfriend to take a seemingly normal walk with you. You take her to a park that has hundreds of pleasantly colored leaves on the ground and then you stumble upon one tree in particular that has flowers surrounding it, tea lights all around, and framed pictures of you two. Something like this will absolutely melt her heart.

With Family Around to Surprise You

Though we do not necessarily recommend proposing in front of family in all situations, the fact that family will be around makes announcing your proposal that much better because you can do it in person. In many situations, having family around to aid you in your proposal will make surprising your girlfriend much easier and memorable.

At a Winery

Last year, Michele and I were in Carmel Valley during Thanksgiving Break and we stumbled upon a winery on the Friday after Thanksgiving. It was a really fun time and because we knew we were on vacation, it gave us a more relaxed feel. Proposing during Thanksgiving break is a great time because it will not be a very busy time so it could give you two more privacy.

Proposing during Thanksgiving Break is a great idea. You need to make sure though that your idea is what your girlfriend would be happy about and that it is a story that will be fondly remembered forever. If you would like to have the perfect marriage proposal, then contact The Heart Bandits TODAY. We will help you create unique and personalized wedding proposal ideas and help you pull off the wedding proposal of her dreams!

In November, Isaac contacted The Heart Bandits for some help proposing.  He found out it was going to rain on the day he planned to propose so he needed some help coming up with an indoors proposal quickly.  We immediately got to work and presented Isaac with many different proposal concepts.  He decided that he wanted to incorporate a restaurant that had significance to them as a couple, as well as their favorite song “Better Together” by Jack Johnson.  Here is how it went down:

On November 12, 2011 Isaac took his girlfriend Christine shopping at Victoria Gardens.  They would stop at Paisano’s restaurant for some appetizers and drinks.  Unbeknown to Christine, The Heart Bandits had hired an “in-house musician” for the day.  When Isaac and Christine sat at their private table on the patio, the musician Evan Wecksell asked them if they would like to hear a song.  Isaac requested for him to play their song, “Better Together” which The Heart Bandits had previously arranged for him to play.  Evan performed the song for the couple and when he was done Evan handed Christine a card that said “Kes Kes”, Christine’s nickname.  When she opened the card it said, “Isaac would like to know if you would marry him”.  Isaac got on one knee and made Christine the happiest woman on earth.  We were so happy to be a part of this special moment and wish Isaac and Christine all the luck in the world.  Thanks to Andrea Patricia Photography, we have the photos to share with you below.

Here is what Isaac had to say on Yelp about our services!  “A week before I wanted to propose I looked at the weather forecast and saw that it was going to rain. This was going to ruin my proposal and I had no other ideas. I came across the heart bandits online. I called them up and told them my situation. They were able to coordinate and indoor proposal for me and not let the rain put a dapper on this day. I’m not exactly the best planner so they helped me get a photographer and a guitarist to capture this special moment. Michele and Marvin even sat in the restaurant and pretended to be patrons while they video taped us the whole time. They took the time to drive all the way out from LA to the Inland Empire to help set this all up. They aren’t your typical coordinators that just give you a few ideas and take your money. They really spend the time to get to know your thoughts and ideas and what best suites our personalities. If anyone needs any help with their proposals I would highly recommend the Heart Bandits! ”

If you need a great marriage proposal idea or a romantic setup created for your proposal but you don’t have the time, live too far, or don’t want to make your girlfriend suspicious, hire The Heart Bandits as your Wedding Proposal Consultants! We are Proposal Experts and we will make sure that your proposal is personalized, romantic, and an absolute success.  Contact us today to find out how we can help you.

Thanksgiving is coming up next week and The Heart Bandits think it is an excellent day to propose.  I mean, what better way to show your lover that you are thankful for them than by proposing an engagement?  If you want to come up with the perfect, sentimental proposal idea for Thanksgiving, you should hire the Wedding Proposal Planners from The Heart Bandits.  But if you decide you want to go at it alone, please……….pretty please……….don’t propose using these ideas.  I actually found these ideas on the Internet and people are recommending that people propose this way.  Now you know why we started our business.

During Thanksgiving Dinner

Although there are exceptions to every rule, generally a proposal should be something intimate and not a family affair.  Proposing while your Auntie asks you to pass the mashed potatoes just isn’t a good idea.  Propose well before the family arrives and then announce your engagement at dinner!

Slip the Ring in the Turkey

Can you believe this is actually listed somewhere as a good proposal idea?  Slip your expensive diamond engagement ring into a carcass as your proposal idea!  WOW!  I don’t think so and I am not even going to offer up an explanation as to why this is a terrible idea.

At A Thanksgiving Parade

Unless your loved one is a parade fanatic, proposing at a Thanksgiving parade is kind of cheesy.  There are ways you could make a parade proposal work for you but it would take a lot of brainstorming to try to make it sentimental.

If you would like help with proposal ideas and planning from Engagement Experts, contact The Heart Bandits today. We are marriage proposal experts and can tell you exactly all you need to know to propose.  We will walk you through things you need to consider to make this day as special as it really needs to be.

People always say that it’s the small things that count in a relationship. Things like writing small notes for her, opening doors, saying loving things, complementing, etc. So it’s no surprise that if you show good manners with a woman, you’ll likely earn points with her. But what does it mean to have good manners? Different guys can take this as vastly different things. If your idea of manners is not burping or scratching yourself in front of her is good, then hopefully today’s romance tip of the week will help in a small but very easy area. When walking a girl, always make sure that you walk on the curb side (side closest to the cars).

Historical Reasons for Walking on the Outside

Walking on the outside of the sidewalk draws from centuries of tradition. Back when the horsepower of cars came from real horses and the exhaust of these carriages came from…. well you know, it became tradition that men walk a woman on the outside. The reasoning being that as horse-drawn carriages and cars would drive by, the guy could protect the woman from the splashing of any water or mud on the street. The saying also goes that the guy would also be there to protect the woman from kidnappers coming from the street (times were tough in those days before YouTube).

Romantic & Sweet Gesture Today

Though these traditions may seem outdated today or you may live in a dessert area that get .0025 inches of rain a year, we believe it’s still a good and romantic idea to walk on the outside. If your girlfriend/wife doesn’t know why you’re doing that, then you can share the story of it. It would give you points and be seen as a sweet gesture. When you walk across the street in a different direction, the fact that you would position yourself to be on the outside could grow into something she seems as cute and reliable from you. Don’t you want to be cute and reliable? Sure you do, and it’s easy!

If you would like more romantic gestures or ideas for romantic dates from The Heart Bandits , then contact us today. We will help you with romantic date ideas, romantic gifts, and the planning and execution of elaborate dates.