[Levi]

L,
Thanks. You're right. I suppose proposing in a restaurant IS a bit overdone/contrived. But... I think it adds a nice element of surprise when the waiter can bring out the ring with dessert, and I can act like I have no idea what is going on. I was also thinking, if it was fitting for the type of dessert, to have "Will you marry me?" written on the plate in some chocolate sauce or fruit puree.

Call it another cliche, but I also like the idea of proposing on the beach at sunset.

Well, I'm still deciding. The good part is, I can still enjoy a nice, romantic dinner with her, regardless if I decide to propose elsewhere (or not all all!)

The alternative, which one of my friends suggested, was to have "Will you marry me?" engraved on a new iPod for her, as she really wants one. I think this is a great idea... except just a bit too... permanent, esp. if she says no.

I was thinking Aqua Rome... but either Italian or Japanese sounds good to me.

[Lammarite]

Fair call Levi.

My first thought if you are going to propose in a restaurant would be to make sure that the type of food doesn't have the potential to spoil the moment. By that I mean, you don't want to go somewhere where the moment is spoilt because she has spaghetti sauce dribbling off her chin or you have a big bit of spinach in your teeth!

Maybe a nice dinner at Quarterdeck and propose to her on the waterfront while going for a walk. you could have a bottle of champagne and 2 glasses stashed under a bush and if she says yes reach down and get it. OK, maybe the waterfront in Wanchai isn't the best place but you get the idea.....

I'd also avoid the waiter/chef etc involvement, it should be a moment shared between the 2 of you- if she says yes then tell the waiter and you'll probably get a special desert from the kitchen anyway.

Good luck.

[mrcheese321]

Yea, I wouldn't do the waiter/waitress dessert thing either. Too cliche IMHO.

How about taking her for a hot air balloon ride? Or a cruise out on the river?

I have no idea where you can do such things, but I think that would be something fun and exciting.

C

[golfduke]

sazzy, I can def. understand why you didnt like aqua- seafood and sushi are truly their specialties. I never thought japanese/italian fusion would have been good together either, but I love it.

[lychini]

Awww, love, so romantic!
I like the creative ideas, you don’t need to have lots of money, and it’s just so sweet you are thinking about it…
BUT if you wanted to go for the restaurant proposal perhaps a classic tri-buildup which adds to the suspense and charm. If you want to do a dessert perhaps you could get them to write on it ‘You are the sweetness my life …etc’ and then if you get the ipod “you could have it engraved with ‘You are the rhythm of my heart…’ and get the restaurant to play her favorite song/track. Then you could have a third gift before you propose on one knee.xxx
A friend gave a gift to his girlfriend a lovely silver compass, and he lasered her name (intricate! sculpture) as the silver pointer. He also had it engraved ‘I will always find you’. Stalker but sweet! Or perhaps engrave a watch ‘You are my night and day’.
Or a first edition book,or just her favourite?

[Swell]

Levi,

How about the Peak Lookout? The Autumn weather should be perfect for sitting outside, and you can always take a scroll after your meal then pop the question whilst enjoying the view and have a bit of privacy.

Ref some of the ideas mentioned so far:
Song is nice, small & cosy but not exactly cheap
Aqua is v. nice view = v. expensive
Felix - noisy and food average, $$$$
Vong - nice view, bright, food average, $$$$ (The Mandarin Grill is much better food wise, but no view)

[hbrand]

My husband proposed to me on the beach, on an island in Australia -midnight NYE. He just had two glasses of champagne - I can't even remember what we ate that night. He made me look at the stars for ages and we ended up seeing four shooting ones. I had no idea he was going to do it, and besides already being on holiday it cost him about $80AUD for a decent bottle of champers. It was incredibly romantic.

I think your gf will be so blown away by the moment that it doesn't matter where you are, what you eat or how corny you are. As long as she loves you, well that's all that matters in the end isn't it?

Good luck - make sure you tell us what happens and where you end up going/what you do. Just be you and I am sure it will all go perfectly.

[Louiseamanda]

Hi again

Lots of nice ideas but depends again if she is an extrovert (loves attention/singing telegrams etc -sorry....) or if she is shy/reserved (mortified for restaurant staff to 'know' what's going on)
It would be enough for me, to cancel the 'date' if I knew I was going to be propsed to, in my dessert I would prefer a joint decision - ie not to be put on the spot. It can be pretty scary idea for some but please ignore this if you two are different. By that, I mean that she knows you are 'going' to ask her (have you discussed the idea before?) and is relaxed enough about you/it to be able to do it in a frivolous way.
We don't know you or her so our advice may not suit you.
Also, I guess she knows how you are...and the kinds of outings you arrange and may like it all well enough -if so, you decide and be as 'corny' as you wish (so long as its not a cringe!! )

What fun!
L

[siva]

Actually, similar to one of the posts above, i had lunch @ Fitzroy Gardens (in melbourne) with my gf, (we were eating like a $7 sandwich) and for some stupid reason she thought it was really romantic... the sun was bright, the ski was blue, birds chuping, warm comfortable grass, good company, it was just perfect!

like the mastercard commercials, the best moments and things in life is unexpected and sometimes free!

[Levi]

All: Thanks very much. I do appreciate your advice and opinions.

I think you've reminded me that it's the moment and my sincerity that counts, and not all the frills and fancy ideas.

We'll be spending 2 days at the beach. I'll keep the ring with me and if the moment is right and we're both feeling good... I'll ask her then. If not, I'll be planning several meals both at home and in restaurants. Maybe it'll happen over a dinner and maybe not. I'll just let things unfold as they may.

She is fun-loving, and likes to party, but in general, is not too extroverted. Now that I think about it, she does remind me a lot that she really appreciates the little things I do (indeed, those are the things she remembers most). I think it's a good idea not to get the waiter involved if I plan on doing it in the restaurant; maybe it would just seem too impersonal.

As I said (and I probably would have gotten carried away with the whole "planning" thing if it wasn't for most of you), I'll let the feelings be the judge of when will be the right time.

Thanks again. I mean it. And I'll let you know what happens. Wish me luck.
Best,
L