While it’s true that many women prefer a summer wedding (especially those who opt for outdoor ceremonies and receptions) a proposal can come at any time of year. However, if you wait until the weather is balmy to drop to one knee, you might have a lot more options when it comes to your method of popping the big question. So if you want to use the feel-good summer sun as a prop in your marriage proposal, here are a few good ways to incorporate the great outdoors into the most important question you’ll ever ask.
1. Write it in the sand. If you’re shy about asking your question aloud, take your lady love to a secluded spot on the beach and write your question in the sand while she’s working on her tan. You don’t have to make the letters big enough to be read by a rescue plane, but it couldn’t hurt to put in the effort.
2. Do it underwater. If you and your girl like to snorkel or scuba dive, take her on an exotic island getaway and go looking for shells. Have one carved with the question, then drop it inconspicuously in her path so she can’t help but pick it up.
3. Give her an oyster. Looking for pearls in unopened oysters is always a fun summer pastime, especially in beachside cities. So make arrangements with a vendor ahead of time to open up an oyster and put the ring inside. Then buy her the oyster (have the vendor give her one from the “special” bucket) and enjoy her surprise when she opens it to find an engagement ring.
4. Find a nice sunset. Sometimes all you need for romance is a great backdrop. Pick your favorite beach spot and propose to her just as the sun sets over the water. If you’d like to add a little poetry to the occasion, tell her you never want the sun to set without her by your side.
5. Buy a bicycle built for two. Pedal the day away, stopping at a local park for a wine-and-cheese picnic. Tell her that you bought the bicycle rather than renting it because you knew you were ready to ride through life with only her. Then have her look in the basket on the handlebars to find her ring box.
