Proposal Ideas??!!

[matthew20]

I will be visiting Belarus in October. My girlfriend already knows that a proposal is near..I don't know the area, but I would love to surprise her anyway! Please send some creative ideas! Prefer that they are from Russian Men/Women or anyone that has proposed near this area before. Thank you.

[mendeleyev]

I have, then also married off two daughters so far.

Does she want her parents involved in the proposal? Many do, some don't and it is best to find out in advance so as not to cause hurt feelings out of not knowing her expectations. Usually there are no "surprises" when local couples decide to marry.

You'll ignore my advice and waste the money but I offer it anyway in the off chance that someday some guy will play it smart. There are no engagements in her culture--a 'betrothal' takes place at the entry of the church when arriving for the ceremony and the only "vow" is when the priest asks if you both are there to marry of your own free will without reservation. In the ZAGS ceremony (civil) there are not betrothals.

So, save the money you'd normally spend on an engagement ring, cause it is not something she'd expect locally anyway, and use that $$ for another trip to visit her.

If she is into tradition and wants you to ask her parents, then I can guide you with that. It should be her call so ask her.

[mendeleyev]

Nice photo, how long have you known her and where in Belarus is she from?  I have no small experience there and even in cities Belorussian families tend to be more traditional then in some parts of Russia or Ukraine.


 

[matthew20]

Thank you both for the feedback. In response to some of your questions. She is in the Vitebsk region of Belarus. We have been together almost a year now and we have already decided that we want to be together. Actually we have done a few things backwards. We decided to send in the I-129F petition for a the fiancee visa and I have spoken with her parents concerning the matter. We both know that we love each other and want to have a life together. So she is aware that I will be asking the big question. We will not be marrying in Vitebsk. We are planning on having an engagement party with close friends and family. Even though she knows that I will be popping the question, I was hoping to receive some ideas on surprising her none the less.

[Daveman]

Well, after what you wrote she won't be very surprised with a proposal..  so I suggest this..


Take her to a very nice restaurant with all the romantic trimmings... then at the best, most obviously right moment, pull out a small jewel box.. open it and show her the brochure from a cleaning company while explaining to her "I already have your interview lined up!  Once you're working, I can take some needed time off and relax around the house."


Well, at least that should be a surprise... 




Guess I'm not much for surprise proposals but pretty adept in the genre of general shock...


Good luck!

[matthew20]

haha, well, that should surprise her indeed! i don't know if she will be super amused, but i would have a good laugh. thanks for kind words

[Shadow]

If you can not surprise her, surprise others.
When you land avoid her at the exit and go to the information desk, then let them call her telling that Will Yu and Mary Me are waiting....

[mendeleyev]

She is in the Vitebsk region of Belarus.

Cool. I was trying to place the building, river, and bridge in your photo but couldn't. She is up in the northeast not so far from the Russian border.





One meaningful surprise for her could be done by observing a local tradition: Bring a bottle of vodka and loaf of bread to her parents when asking for the hand of their daughter. A sign of their acceptance would be Mama taking both into the kitchen and returning soon with the bread sliced and bottle opened and everyone breaks a little bread together.

If the bottle and bread were to be ignored however...

[ML]

Traditions of different cultures

http://traditionscustoms.com/wedding-traditions/strange-wedding-traditions

[GQBlues]

If you can not surprise her, surprise others.
When you land avoid her at the exit and go to the information desk, then let them call her telling that Will Yu and Mary Me are waiting....

LOL! 

This just reminded of the time, just out of college, when my friends and I were at an airport waiting for the our flight out for an extended ski trip. We were bored just sitting around and started screwing around. We decided to ask and have them hail one of our friends in the PA system.

"(h)Ayop Talaga' please report to USAir baggage claim no. 1 immediately!"

[TS]

Be careful on not presenting a ring.  Depending on how old she is she may expect it.  Rings are becoming more and more popular in FSU.  If she is over 35 years old, probably safe on no ring.
Remember international Womens day was started in the USA and now it does not exist here.  But March 8th is still very important in FSU.  Rings are gaining that traction with the younger generation.  She probably does not care but why go cheap.
 

[mendeleyev]

TS, without being argumentative I'd wager that trying to find a gal on the Metro or in the city centre wearing an engagement ring could take weeks. Even more telling, go hang around ZAGS on a busy day and try to find one. I've married off two under 35 daughters in recent years and there were no engagement rings nor with weddings of children of friends or relatives.

He'd be better served buying her a lovely cocktail ring or diamond tennis bracelet if he wanted to upgrade his previous investment. That is something she'll wear.

I think that this is a classic case of WM creating an artificial demand as we can teach RW to expect luxuries from us when those same things might not be expected from a local guy.