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I have decided to ask my boyfriend to marry me. We've been together nearly five years, he seems amenable to the idea of marriage but to be honest I don't know if he'll ever get around to asking me so, being the 21st century woman that I am, I've decided to ask him and I'm not patient enough to wait until the next 29th of February.

Naturally, I'm going to propose in stitches. Keep reading, it makes sense.

I'm going to buy a ring (going to talk to jewellers at the weekend because I don't know his ring size - he doesn't wear any rings so he's not got one I can "borrow" - so I want to make sure I can change it if the size is wrong!), stitch a proposal, sew a ribbon to the bottom of it, and tie the ring on with the ribbon. This piece is then going to be mounted on a card which I'm going to give to him on our anniversary (4th November). Now, I've been looking around the net for a nice, shortish verse or poem which proposes marriage without being clearly intended as the man asking. A surprising (or surprising to me at least) amount of these have gone along the lines of "be my wife". I can't change that to "husband" and maintain the rhyme! Has anyone seen anything which would be suitable?

Another issue, aside from the syntax, and keeping it small so it'll fit on a card, is the time limit...I'm stitching a wedding sampler for a couple of friends who are getting married less than three weeks before our anniversary, that's a big project, so I might only have two and a half weeks to work on this, and then I'll have to do it on the quiet so it might be really difficult to get any stitching done in the evenings! I think my limit would probably be about 10 lines of verse.

And finally, if everyone could keep this quiet (folks who have me friended on facebook, I'm sure you wouldn't say anything but still...!) I would really appreciate it - I've only told three people off-line, they're thrilled to bits, but I want it to be an absolute surprise for him.

Now I really hope he says yes...

Good for you!

I Googled: poem "woman proposing" and got lots of sites. Give it a try and maybe you'll find something you like.

I didn't look at them all, but one suggested a card with "Will you spend your life with me?" and had an illustration of two teddy bears. You could substitute your own figures.

I did the same thing that Wanda did and yes lots of sites came up but as you have said most of the poems still put the man as the asker, or they are quite long.

This site however has a very nice poem that you could use. The "What are you doing the rest of your Life" Would work and you could shorten it and jut use the first 2 verses would look great and then the ring at the bottom. http://www.screensaver-download.com/love_poems.html" target="_blank

OR you could get really creative and make up your own poem!!!!!

Good for you There's some creative people on here maybe someone can come up with a little poem for you
As for f/book my lips are sealed & is it my turn on bin lid yet lol xxx

Rose, I have thought of writing my own, but to be honest the last time I wrote any poetry was at least 10 years ago and it wasn't very good! (I'm still going to try though...)

Jaki, your turn on the lid, I'll sit on the sofa with one of Sophie's cookies

Great idea KK, I wish you all the best Unfortunately I can't think of a suitable poem, but I'm sure you'll find one which is perfect for you two

Somewhat related - Hubby and I went from deciding to get married to wedding day in 4 weeks (hubby got offered a job abroad), we had a basic registry office ceremony, not put any thought into it ourselves (We plan to have another wedding later one, will put a bit more thought into that one), but the registrar read this lovely poem for us, and I've recently found it in xstitch - Apache Wedding Blessing by Janlynn. I have to stitch it, right?


Should also add, I never got a proposal, it went more like this.

Him: "Hmm, this job sounds perfect".
Me: "Definitely!"
Him: "I guess we'd better get married then."

The End

Congrats to you KK! I hope you are able to find something that is just perfect for your proposal! It sounds like a fabby idea

I was thinking that if you had a poem you like but it asked, "Be my wife," at the end you could just change the line. "Share my life," would still rhyme and has the same syllables, so it could replace the afore mentioned line to make the poem work for you as long as it was the only objectionable part. I'd like to add my sentiments to everyone else's and say congratulations. It sounds like a wonderful idea and I will be cheering for you!

"Share my life" is a great alternative to "be my wife"!

I've adapted a poem I've come across on the internet slightly, I like it, here it is...

I love you to the highest degree
My feelings as deep as the deepest sea
My love would last a lifetime, I guarantee
A happy future together, I see
Now, if only you would heed my plea
Which I’ve put here for you to see
Hoping you’ll share your life with me
When I ask “Will you marry me?”

I'm going to keep tinkering to see if I can come up with something else, but this seems good to me

I think that's a lovely poem, KK!! I think it's wonderful that you are going to propose to him .... you do realise that everyone will be racing to their computers on the 4th November to hear how he accepted!!

Lovely poem KK all excited for you can't wait to hear his reply

Ali-cat, nice to know there's no pressure then!

Xandra, you definitely have to stitch that the first time I got married we did the whole thin in about 5 months which I thought was really tight timing. You have made me appreciate just how much time we had...!

Love the poem KK, how could he not be boweled over with this.

What a lovely poem KK!!

Little bit of an update on this...

I can't wait until November. Seriously, I've been trying, and I'm about to burst because not only am I trying not to tell too many people (particularly close friends who might accidentally let it slip to him) but also I'm asking those particular close friends about different metals and gem stones and relative hardness and such (they both did chemistry at university so are very well-educated when it comes to these things) and having to lie to them so they don't twig and say it's because I'm looking at jewellery sets for one of their weddings that we're going to soon. I don't like lying to my friends, especially since I know how thrilled they'll be for me, I've nearly slipped and told them both a couple of times, and so I have brought forward the proposal date to his birthday. That's the 29th of September, which is two weeks tomorrow. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, two weeks. As it turns out this has not reduced my anxiety levels. Who'd've thought.

I've found out my ring size with the help of a young lady at a jeweller's who was thrilled for me, and made an estimation of his with the help of the same young lady, I've ordered my engagement ring just now and I'm going to try to buy the wedding rings tonight after he goes out, as he does every Tuesday evening. If I can't get the rings I like in the right sizes I'm going to buy his in whatever size they've got (as I've only guessed his size anyway I anticipate having to change it) and be willing to put off ordering mine for a couple of weeks too. The place I'm getting them from have a 30 day refund or exchange policy so I'll have time.

I got a couple of friends to give second opinions on the engagement rings I was considering and have settled on this little pretty. It's zirconium rather than diamond but honestly I can't tell the difference, and pink suits me down to the ground so I'm very keen on the coloured stone. We may not announce the engagement for a few weeks, until after Mal and Katy's wedding, partly because I know my ex-husband and his new fiancee (this will be his third marriage, the first was to me at the age of 19, he's now 26...) will be there, first time I will've seen him since the divorce, and I don't want to look like I'm playing tit-for-tat.

And now all I have to do is stay sane for two weeks. I really hope he says yes!

Yay we only have 2 weeks to wait to hear his reply now your ring is beautiful now all you need to do for 2 weeks is hold in your excitement lol Good luck & I'm sure he'll say yes xx

I just noticed this thread! Way to go! I think it's great you're taking the initiative! Have you stitched up the poem yet?
Faith

The ring you've chosen is so beautiful! How could he not say yes to such a loving proposal? Best wishes for you both!

Faith - Not yet - I only decided today, after discussion with a friend at work who is going to be my matron of honour, that I am going to bring the whole event forward to his birthday. I have charted the design though, two intertwined red hearts make the background then the poem itself will be backstitched over them in black. The whole thing will fit just perfectly on a card too! I'm going to buy him a birthday card too so he's still got a separate card to celebrate his birthday.

Pamela and Jaki, thank you now I just wish I didn't have to actually keep myself grounded and thinking clearly for the next two weeks but unfortunately I still have to work and be able to think in a straight line!

I think this is all wonderful!! If I'm getting excited I can't even imagine how you must be feeling!!

The ring is beautiful and you have every thing so well planned that he can do nothing but accept ..... knowing what a wonderful and loving lady he has!!