It could be as simple as asking them out in an In-N-Out while grabbing burgers or as grand as planning a vacation in Hawaii to pop the question. The ideas are abundant, but what makes a proposal creative and good is how wonderfully the truth and love in your heart are reflected. That being said, we can only cover the ideas portion of the proposal for you and give you some interesting, offbeat, and creative ways to propose marriage. The rest, we leave up to you.
15 Best Outdoor Proposal ideas
Whatever your personality style or budget may be, with these 15 outdoor proposal ideas that we have listed for you, you will find something that resonates with your heart and agrees with your bank balance. Remember, just because your friend Ariana posted her wedding proposal with so much pomp and show in a 20 picture series of stories on Instagram doesn’t mean that your proposal has to be equally big. Your proposal can be exactly what you want it to be, it doesn’t matter too much when it’s with ‘the one‘. Big or small, short or long – it all comes down to how you want to remember that moment every time you look back on it. Moreover, you should think about how exactly you can make your potential husband/wife feel special during your proposal. So without wasting any more time, let’s hit it.
1. Choose a favorite spot
Whether it’s a snazzy hotel rooftop with a pool, a monument that you two often go to, or even a national park, try to pick a place that has a personal significance for the two of you. The time or day all comes down to the location. You could even propose to them at your favorite spot in the city where you like to watch the sunrise. Yes, a 6 am proposal. Who said you can only ask a woman to marry you by surprising her with a ring in her champagne glass? Once you’re there, ask someone nearby to take a picture of you two together. As they are getting ready to pose with you and smile, give them the biggest shock of their life. And instead of posing, drop down on one knee and propose.
2. Fun ways to propose marriage – A romantic getaway
Maybe there’s a town nearby he’s always wanted to visit because he’s heard of a very famous library there. Or the two of you have been planning to go someplace new for every spring break and this spring might just be the perfect time to head down to Miami. Even driving out to a cozy place somewhere with a nice B&B can do the trick. Spend some quality time together and find that perfect lull in the conversation or silence in between to ask them that question that’s been weighing on your mind for far too long now.
3. A scavenger hunt – Creative proposal ideas
Think of a few places that are meaningful to your relationship and send your girlfriend (and 2-3 friends or family members) to visit these places. Throw in a salon appointment (hair and nails), and perhaps even a stop at a cute boutique to pick out a new dress. Yes, these are all major hints too. Along the way, have notes or cards or even a voice recording of yourself describing what each place or stop signifies for your relationship. At the end of the scavenger hunt, propose to her with a romantic view in the background and have all the friends and family involved in planning the day there to celebrate afterward.
4. A winter marriage proposal
There’s something about the winter air that puts people under the spell of romance. The cool winds, the happy faces, the red noses and the hot chocolate all come together beautifully to make this season a time to feel happy and deeply in love. If your partner is a sucker for all things winter and Christmassy, then a winter marriage proposal might be a good idea. When there’s snow on the ground, pack the snow into letters or take a squeeze bottle filled with red-colored water and spell out “Will you marry me?” in the snow. Such outdoor proposal ideas are really fashionable these days. Who could say no to such creative proposal ideas!
5. A group proposal with all her loved ones – Creative ways to propose with family
If you’re SURE she’s going to say yes, then this might be one of the fun ways to propose marriage. But if there’s any chance that she could say no or want to hold off for a bit, then you might want to skip this one and read ahead. Gather a bunch of your friends and family for an outdoor, backyard party and have everyone put on a T-shirt or carry balloons filled with helium (otherwise they won’t float) bearing one of the letters in the phrase “Will you marry me?”. Then during the party, suggest a group picture to reveal the message.
6. A surprise proposal with a street caricaturist
Looking for some of the most creative ways to propose? We think you are going to absolutely love this one. Maybe you’re spending a regular day out together going to markets, checking out new stores, or just taking a long walk down your Main Street. Prepare this little surprise for her beforehand. Get in touch with a caricaturist and pretend to run into him on your day out. Have him sketch a picture of you two with these word bubbles. Yours will read, “Will you marry me?” and hers will say, “Yes!”
7. Hire a skywriter
One of the more creative proposal ideas, this is one that your partner will never forget. Elaborate and totally Instagram-worthy, if your partner is big on uncommon romantic gestures, then look no further. This way you can spell out your proposal for everyone around to see as well.
8. Take them on a cruise
Back on the train of fancy and creative ways to propose marriage, if you are keen on going all out, then go for this one. Order a cake and her favorite wine. Make her laugh, ask her to dance with you, and in short, make her feel special in every way that you know. Later, ask her to come to a corner under a canopy of stars and from where you can hear and see the water, and slowly whisper this into her ears, “If you let me, I promise to make your life as special as this evening. Will you marry me?” This is one of the cooler outdoor proposal ideas but with a lot of luxury. Sign me up!
9. Have a friend take photos of you with posters
Take pictures of yourself with posters that say, “will,” “you,” “marry” and “me?” separately. Then make plans to meet up at a special spot. Say a garden, or a monument, or somewhere even really far away in nature. And before you arrive, text the photos to your partner in order. When the last message goes through, show up and get down on one knee. They will not have seen it coming!
10. An outdoor proposal set up
If you’ve been thinking about backyard proposal ideas that are simplistic yet heartfelt, then we have one for you right here. If she or he’s not one for unique, grand gestures, here’s a way to propose to a boy or a girl in a simple yet romantic way. Bring some decorations, anything that you know he’ll like, and decorate the backyard with it. You can get balloons, streamers, fairy lights, and all kinds of other things to make the moment special. In fact, a night backyard proposal would be far cuter than one in broad daylight.
11. A garden gazebo – Outdoor proposal ideas
If there’s a park or a garden gazebo that you two frequent, why not surprise your girlfriend at the place you two love so much? Following the inspiration from the above outdoor proposal setup, consider going a step ahead and trying out this garden gazebo proposal. With some nice lights, a big placard and the chilly night air, this will be a proposal she will never forget. If a garden is not your thing, a proposal in the woods also doesn’t sound like such a bad idea.
12. A hiking proposal idea
Remember that phase when our Instagram feeds were just full of hiking proposal ideas? No, that idea is still very much in trend and there’s no reason you should not try it. If you and your girlfriend are the type of couple who love a good hike, don’t make any funny workout excuses, and genuinely enjoy chilling on hikes, consider proposing to your partner on one of your sojourns in the woods. The thing about this mountain proposal is that she will not have seen it coming. That’s what is going to make it all the more special and cute!
13. Proposing on an airplane
Grand gesture mid-air? Sign me right up! Making your proposal quite the spectacle, this idea isn’t too common but it sounds like something right out of a rom-com. If you really want to cheer up your girlfriend and know that she’s a sucker for these lovey-dovey things, this can be the perfect idea for you to try. Get the flight crew in on it, ask them if you can play a song and wow the whole room with your fabulous proposal. Everyone on the flight is going to be talking about it when they get home. You might even go viral with such a public proposal.
14. A camping or lake proposal idea
When it comes to more outdoor proposal ideas, it doesn’t get cozier than this one. If you two are a couple who likes the outdoors and are a little adventurous that way, then this can be a great proposal idea for you. Think of something cool such as fishing or a camping trip to take her on. When you’re fishing on the lake, you can pop the question to her amidst the water and the mountains. Or perhaps at night, when you two are stargazing, you can hit her with the question in the thick of the intimate moments you’re sharing. The thing about such proposal ideas is that it’s just the two of you reveling in that special moment all by yourselves. If that sounds like something you would enjoy as a couple, then what else are you waiting for?
15. Take her to a fair for a country proposal
When it comes to proposal ideas that feel truly outdoorsy, it’s time you take her to the countryside and give her a taste of something different. Head off to a small town or farm nearby where the two of you can go to a fair or a farmer’s market for a whole new experience. Step out of the city and bring some excitement into your day. Then, either with the help of strangers or when you two are riding the Ferris wheel at the fair, pop the question when you think the time is right. Remember, a hint of creativity is the key to creating lasting memories. But what matters the most is your heart. So no matter what you pick out of these fun ways to propose marriage, do make sure that your heart is fully in it. Once that is set, do not be afraid to be as wild and imaginative as you can. Happy proposing!
