Photographing Your Engagement Proposal

When a professional photographer was distraught over the lack of photographic memories of his own engagement moment, he turned the idea into a business. Although capturing the moment of your engagement requires advance planning and a willing photographer, pictures like these will last a lifetime.


Professional photographers in most major cities will charge between $100 to $300 per hour for shooting time with additional charges for post-shoot processing and image development. Full professional photography of a well-timed engagement proposal under ideal conditions (open space, natural lighting, lack of crowds) should cost less than $500 for all but the most expensive cities. Difficult situations--such as a beach proposal, crowded restaurant, after sunset--will double costs.

For a cheaper alternative, consider enlisting a trustworthy friend as your personal photographer for the day. With a decent camera and a few hours spent studying engagement photography, most amateur photographers will be able to capture at least one good shot of the engagement moment. Remember to use a signal to ensure your photographer does not miss the moment of a lifetime.

When you choose a location for your engagement proposal, consider both the event itself and how the proposal will appear in photographs. Dark or dimly lit settings provide romantic ambiance, but create poor pictures without fill flash and artificial lighting (which you do not want to use for your engagement proposal moment). Regardless of your choice, your photos of your engagement proposal will be treasured memories your fiancee will share for the rest of your marriage.

Romantic Ideas - Weekly Date Night

A weekly date night is the perfect romantic idea to set the mood for a future engagement proposal. Without a consistent schedule of dates, a wedding proposal will seem out of the ordinary and you will lose the benefit of suspense. A woman who looks forward to a weekly date night will be surprised when one of those weekly dates turns into a romantic engagement proposal complete with a beautiful engagement ring.



Establishing a weekly date night provides additional benefits for a nervous fiancee in the dates leading up to the proposal. Use the information gleaned from each week to gradually improve upon your proposal idea. Since each woman is different, some may prefer a quiet moonlight stroll on the beach while others will choose a thrilling proposal at the top of a roller coaster. By creating a weekly date plan, you can tailor your engagement proposal precisely to your girlfriend.

For couples on a budget, a weekly date night can be a fun way to plan low cost activities in advance. A picnic in the park, free college events, or a wine-and-cheese tasting are all budget-friendly ways to enjoy a romantic evening. Alternating the person in charge of planning the date can add a little competitive fire to weekly date night and provide more variety for a long term relationship.

Above all, remember that the purpose of a weekly date night is to establish a specific time that both of you can look forward to each week. Even better for you; you can turn one of those weekly date nights into the evening when your girlfriend becomes your fiancee.

Read through EngagementPro.com for more ideas on planning the perfect engagement proposal.

Broken Engagement Ring Etiquette

Who keeps the ring after a broken engagement?

There are two ways to analyze who gets to keep an engagement ring after an engagement is broken. The first involves engagement ring etiquette. The second involves state law.

1) Engagement Ring Etiquette

Conventional engagement ring etiquette dictates that ultimate possession of the engagement ring should be determined based on which party terminated the engagement. In general terms, the person who cancels the wedding should give up ownership of the ring. If a bride-to-be breaks the engagement, she should return the ring to her finacee. If a groom-to-be calls off the engagement, he should allow his fiancee to retain the ring.

Standard engagement ring etiquette is based on the traditional marriage model where a man proposes to a woman and the woman's family pays for the wedding. The model breaks down in a modern world where the couple can be gay or lesbian and payment of wedding costs are determined by each couples' situation.

The old-fashioned perspective on etiquette surrounding the engagement ring also fails if the relationship deteriorates quickly. Given the standard rule, each side may resort to a game of chicken with worse and worse behavior in an attempt to get the other party to end the engagement. Under these circumstances it can be difficult to decide who called off the engagement and who should have the right to keep the engagement ring.

However, the convention rule is the best one to use in most circumstances. The most common route to a cancelled engagement is a mutual decision to "postpone" the wedding. In this instance, the bride and groom should mutually determine the best outcome for the engagement ring based on their own situation.

2) Engagement Ring Law

When simple engagement ring etiquette fails, men may have to resort to the court system to get the engagement ring back. The law surrounding the possession of an engagement ring is a confusing mix of varying laws and precedent. In the United States, individual state law determines possession of the engagement ring. While there were historically 50 different outcomes for an engagement ring depending on jurisdiction, most states have moved to a "no-fault" engagement process with a "modified-fault" engagement and "strict-fault" engagement still used in some cases.

A no-fault engagement is straightforward with regard to the engagement ring. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the broken engagement, calling off the wedding results in the engagement ring being returned to the presenter in all cases relying on a no-fault engagement policy. In particularly regretful instances, this can be an unfair treatment. No-fault engagement and the return of an engagement ring seem unfair in cases of a previously-virginal fiancee giving in to sexual advances based on false promises or an unaware fiancee discovering significant lies about a partner subsequent to an engagement. However, no-fault engagement is the primary means by which courts in most U.S. states render decisions.

Less commonly used today, but more common in previous times, is a strict-fault engagement policy. A strict-fault engagement policy states that a fiancee is entitled to a return of the ring unless he unjustifiably breaks off an engagement. He is entitled to return of the engagement ring if he justifiably cancels the wedding. Only in the instance where he unjustifiably calls off an engagement--with the opinion of the court determining "unjustifiably"--will the bride-to-be receive possession of the ring. Strict-fault engagement rules have fallen out of favor as the uncertainty surrounding the definition of a justified wedding cancellation has given way to the cleaner decisions provided by no-fault treatment.

The third method of determining who keeps the engagement ring is a modified-fault policy. Under this analysis, the presenter of the ring is entitled to return of the ring unless he calls off the engagement. No analysis of justification or circumstance is used in the modified-fault situation. The only determining factor is whether the presenter of the ring calls off the engagement. Just as in no-fault or strict-fault situations, modified-fault treatment may seem unfair under specific circumstances. A fiancee who abuses or cheats on his bride is still entitled to return of the ring so long as he is not the person who ultimately calls off the engagement.

Engagement Proposal Ideas - Boston - Boston Public Garden part 5

Start at the Boston Public Garden engagement proposal ideas part 1 of the EngagementPro.com series or go directly to part 2, part 3, or part 4.

Five Engagement Proposal Ideas in the Boston Public Garden


5) In Front of the Rose Garden

The Boston Public Garden includes four separate areas devoted exclusively to rose bushes. With a variety of colors and degrees of bloom, the rose gardens make for a spectacular engagement proposal location. Since there are four different arrangements of roses to choose from, consider a targeted walk through the garden with the aim of smelling each rose garden.

Ask your potential fiancee to choose a favorite rose bush along your tour. Once she has identified the best rose, complete your journey in front of that location. A romantic wedding proposal will be made easier in front of the beautiful roses throughout the garden. For an even classier touch, purchase a rose bouquet before taking her on a walk through the garden.


Weather and season affect the quantity and quality of the roses throughout the Boston Public Garden so for the best opportunities plan for a late spring or early summer proposal. There are more than a dozen colors of roses throughout the garden, but the short life of a fully-bloomed rose makes it difficult to specifically plan for a certain variety to be available.

Return to the Boston Public Garden engagement proposal ideas part 1 or look for other wedding proposal ideas throughout EngagementPro.com.

Engagement Proposal Ideas - Boston - Boston Public Garden part 4

Start at the Boston Public Garden engagement proposal ideas part 1 of the EngagementPro.com series or go directly to part 2,  part 3, or part 5.

Five Engagement Proposal Ideas in the Boston Public Garden

4) Plan a Picnic

Planning a romantic picnic engagement proposal requires more effort than some other proposal ideas, but can be well worth the trouble for a loving fiancee. A wedding proposal picnic at the Boston Public Garden requires a few steps in preparation. First, be sure to pack a suitable lunch or snacks for the occasion. While buying takeout food is always an option, your girlfriend will be impressed if you take the time to make food yourself. Even a simple meal of sandwiches and fresh fruit can go a long way to setting the appropriate mood for your engagement proposal. Don't forget to bring along chilled beverages in addition to prepared food. Home made ice tea or even orange juice in a thermos can demonstrate you took the time to plan your engagement well in advance. A blanket or sheet to sit on is a luxury, but not absolute necessity, as the Boston Public Garden has numerous benches under the shade of large trees. Be sure to scout the location in advance or view videos of the venue to establish a few possible locations in case of large crowds. Remember to bring a camera to capture the moment after your proposal and above all else, remember to pack the ring. While there are several ideas for the proposal itself, the two most popular picnic proposal ideas are:

• Wrap the ring box or the ring itself into a dessert box from a local bakery. Once you have finished your meal, present the dessert box and tell her to open her dessert. Launch into your prepared proposal once she sees the ring or the ring box.
• During the picnic, give her a kiss and tell her there is something you want to ask her. Begin your engagement proposal and be sure to move the food out of the way prior to completion.

Continue to the Boston Public Garden engagement proposal ideas part 5 of the EngagementPro.com series.

Engagement Proposal Ideas - Boston - Boston Public Garden part 3

Start at the Boston Public Garden engagement proposal ideas part 1 of the EngagementPro.com series or go directly to part 2, part 4 or part 5.

Five Engagement Proposal Ideas in the Boston Public Garden

3) Walk Around the Swan Lake

The elegant lake in the Boston Public Garden is a romantic spot during warm winter months. Filled with both live swans and Swan Boats, the pond allows calm breezes to waft through the center of the garden.

If you are thinking of a wedding proposal in the Boston Public Garden, consider taking your potential fiancee on a stroll around the lake to set the proper mood. A walking path surrounds the entire lake and encourages meandering through the various areas of the garden. With dozens of rose bushes, colorful flowers, and quiet shade from the magnificent trees, a walk around the lake will allow you to pick the perfect spot for your engagement proposal.

A stone walkway atop a cement bridge crosses the center of the lake and provides a perfect backstop for a couple picture after a successful wedding proposal.

Continue to the Boston Public Garden engagement proposal ideas part 4 of the EngagementPro.com series.

Engagement Proposal Ideas - Boston - Boston Public Garden part 2

Start at the Boston Public Garden engagement proposal ideas part 1 of the EngagementPro.com series or continue on to part 3, part 4, or part 5.

Five Engagement Proposal Ideas in the Boston Public Garden

2) Propose Near a Street Performer

During all non-winter months, the Boston Public Garden is filled with numerous public performers covering a variety of genres. Balloon animal makers, musicians, and singers commonly position themselves along the main walkway attached the bridge crossing through the heart of the garden.

For a romantic engagement proposal, consider finding a musician or singer during a less crowded time of the day. The best method is to first take out a $5 bill, fold it in half in your palm with the $5 visible, then ask the performer if he/she takes requests (he/she will say yes). Next, ask the performer to choose a romantic song, then give the $5 to performer. Normally performers use an open instrument case or other visible location for tips and the sight of a $5 tip--assuming they did not already notice it in your hand--will guarantee a quality effort.


Finally, step towards your girlfriend and launch into your engagement proposal routine. Popular options include a romantic kiss followed by kneeling and presenting the ring or reciting a poem with a performer in the background. An added bonus is the presence of the street performer will attract other couples and you are assured of having numerous volunteers close at hand to take pictures after your successful proposal.

Continue to the Boston Public Garden engagement proposal ideas part 3 of the EngagementPro.com series.

Engagement Proposal Ideas - Boston - Boston Public Garden part 1

If you are thinking about a Boston engagement proposal idea, consider a pleasant stroll through the Boston Public Garden followed by a romantic wedding proposal to your girlfriend. The Boston Public Garden is free and open to the public year round, but the best time to plan an amorous proposal is during the late spring months of April and May when the garden is filled with delicate rosebuds and colorful flowers.


Five Engagement Proposal Ideas in the Boston Public Garden

1) Propose on the Swan Boats

The Swan Boats have floated on the pond of the Boston Public Garden since the 1870s. The current fleet of Swan Boats are replicas of the original boats used in the 19th century and carry approximately 18 people per ride. Since the Boston Public Garden pond freezes during winter months, the Swan Boats are in operation from late Spring to early Fall.


Prospective fiancees have two options for an engagement proposal on the Swan Boats. Private rentals are available with advance reservation and a nonrefundable deposit. No reservations are accepted for standard Swan Boat tours, but wait times seldom exceed fifteen minutes. Given the standard design of all the Swan Boats, seats in the very front or back will be ideal for a wedding proposal. The back of the boat has the advantage of added privacy while an engagement couple in the front will receive the benefit of added attention.


The boat ride is particularly romantic near dusk as the sun glints across the surface of the water. If you prefer a more private engagement proposal, consider combining a Swan Boat ride with one of the more private Boston Public Garden engagement proposal ideas listed throughout our series:

Continue to Boston Public Garden engagement proposal ideas part 2 of the EngagementPro.com series.