1. Capture the Proposal
You’ve already spent a considerable amount of money on the engagement ring and the plans you’ve made to actually pop the question, so why not capture those special moments with photos that will be cherished forever? Search for a local wedding photographer (they’re usually great at capturing emotion) and tell them your plan. Oftentimes, they can help you scout out the perfect location and even suggest ways to make it more magical than you imagined.
Want to capture it more creatively? We all saw that sweet photo booth proposal and fell in love with the idea. Using a photo booth is a great way to catch the moment on camera and she’ll never see it coming.
Finally, if you’re looking to get a video of her reaction, you can always hire a videographer on top of a photographer, or you can turn to GoPro or Ring Cam. If you haven’t heard of Ring Cam, it’s a specially-made ring box with a tiny camera built inside. It’s one of those “why didn’t I think of that?” ideas and we’re huge fans of it.
2. Use a Unique Ring Box
We’ve seen everything from handmade wooden boxes to using a hollowed out book as a box. We’ve also seen a unique engagement ring case that actually fits into a wallet or back pocket. Using a “delightful flower blooming effect when opened,” the discreet design allows the case to be easily hidden before popping the question. 
Etsy also has a ton of artist-created boxes—just search “engagement ring boxes” and you’ll find themed boxes, customizable boxes, vintage boxes and more.
3. Include Friends and Family
Gone are the days when you take your partner out to a romantic dinner and propose in the presence of strangers and dessert plates. More and more couples are including their friends and families in the proposal, and any woman who is close to her family would love to see that happen. Our favorite idea is surprising her with a day-of engagement party minutes or hours after you get down on one knee. We see this often and the look on her face is always priceless.
You can also have them play a part in the proposal itself. In this example, the groom had all of their friends and family line a red carpet and hand her a love letter as she walked down it. He was standing at the end waiting for her and their tears were already streaming when she got there.
As long as you stress the importance of keeping it a secret, and telling the more loose-lipped relatives as close to the proposal date as possible, they’ll be thrilled to be a part of it and your bride will love it too.
4. Get Inspired on HowHeAsked.com (duh!)
Thanks to the incredible submissions from all of our brides and grooms-to-be, we’ve collected thousands of proposal stories to inspire you on your hunt to find the perfect proposal idea. From romantic settings on the beach to creative teepee proposals, we’ve seen a little bit of everything and can’t wait to see what else the world comes up with.
