Aaagghh, trying to develop brilliant marriage proposal ideas, is enough to drive you crazy. Not only that, but after all that planning, you still are on edge waiting to see if she'll say "Yes!" And to top it all off, after all is said and done, not only will everyone be looking at her engagement ring but they'll also be asking...... "so, how did he pop the question?"

Joel asked me to marry him on Valentine's Day. I had no idea that he was going to propose so it was a total surprise. However, he called my parents several weeks before to ask for their permission for my hand in marriage. He then swore them to total secrecy. He also called his parents several days prior to proprosing to me, to alert them as to what was going down. He cooked me a 7 course meal at his apartment. Then we watched an episode of "24," his favorite tv show. Hence, it had the feel of a very typical evening. After "24" ended, he presented me with my Valentine's day gift......which surprised me. He "re-gifted" a stuffed animal that I had given him during our first Valentine's Day together. The stuffed animal was a running joke in our relationship...as he admitted to me years after-the-fact that that was probably the worst gift I had ever gotten him and that most grown men do not wish to receive fluffy green frogs as gifts. Anyway, he delighted in my puzzled expression for awhile as I simultanelously pretended to appreciate the regifted frog. A number of minutes passed and then he said matter of factly that he actually had one more gift for me. He took my hand and led me into the his bedroom. He had candles lit throughout the room and rose petals sprinkled across the bed In the center of the bed, was a small box. He led me over to the box, got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. He opened the box and then forgetting tradition and overwhelmed with excitement, I took the ring out myself and put it on my finger. I than began kissing him. He stopped me because I never answered his question. After I responded with an emphatic "Yes!" the rest is history......

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Have no fear. Here are some marriage proposal ideas which you are free to take full credit for and present as your own:

- Marriage proposal ideas: #1 Do it outside...the proposal that is.. pack a 5 star, upscale picnic with champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, and other such gourmet luxuaries. If you have one, go to one of your favorite natural spots for the picnic. Present her with a list of 100: unique things that you have done together, inside jokes, favorite moments, etc. After she has eaten the delicious meal and read the list, she will be like putty in your hand..... Pull out the ring and ask her if she will be yours forevor

- Marriage proposal ideas: #2 Do something special to a momento that you have from one of your dates. i.e. Frame a movie ticket stub from the first movie you went to together. Go back to the place where you had your first date. Reminisce about all the good times you've had together since you've started dating. Present her with the momento and talk about how you've had so many adventures together and how you never want that to end. After she's squealed over the momento and how thoughtful you are, pull out the ring and pop the question. This will be a night that she will remember forever and you will look like one, romantic stud.

- Marriage proposal ideas: #3 Have a t-shirt printed up that says "The next Mrs. _______ (insert your last name)." Cook a romantic dinner at home for her. When the timing is right after dinner, tell her you bought something for her. Present the t-shirt (which should be elegantly wrapped up in a gift-box). As her eyes are bulging over as she reads the tshirt, pull out the ring and ask away.

- Marriage proposal ideas: #4 Take her to your childhood neighborhood. Show her some of the special spots that you loved growing up. At the last spot, get down on one knee and propose. Have a fabulous evening planned following the proposal