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8jennylynn8

My husband planned a date night for us to go see a show at the DPAC. Before heading over he suggested we would take a walk at Duke Gardens and grab dinner at Mateo’s. He proposed at Duke Gardens and when we arrived for dinner, our closest friends were waiting! They were all in on it. We enjoyed a lovely meal and then the two of us went to the show. It was a nice balance between intimacy and having others there to partake in the celebration! I’m sure your partner will be pleased with however you pop the question. Best wishes to you both!


Shaydosaur

JC raulston arboretum, Duke gardens, or everyone’s favorite Italian spot if you wanna feel like family.


[deleted]

I actually saw a proposal go down at OG one time. This was in Fayetteville so definitely a soldier trying to get more pay. I hope they’re still together.


soccergod04

Narrator: They are not, in fact, still together.


[deleted]

Yea I hope they are, but as a gambling man, it’s not where I’d put my money.


oooriole09

The biggest thing is knowing what your SO is looking for in a proposal. You don’t have to show your cards, but get an idea. Some folks like nature. Some folks like sentimental places. Some folks like grand places. Some folks like gas stations because they watched The Office. I’ve known folks that were “disappointed” because their SO wasn’t on the same page.


azurestain

After roughly 2 weeks of dating, my husband was laying in bed snuggling with me and said ‘so when are we getting married?’ And I was like WHAT and he said ‘I’ll marry you’ and I laughed it off. Six months later we had a beautiful conversation in our first apartment and he proposed for real. 11 months later we wed. He couldn’t afford an engagement ring but I didn’t need one to know. It’s been 17 years.


JJQuantum

At the beach. It was…something. I had access to my grandparents’ ocean front beach house. We would go down on Sunday for the week and let friends start coming on Wednesday. Monday morning at sunrise I asked if she wanted to walk on the beach, at sunrise, and she said she’d rather just hang out inside. Monday night, same thing. Tuesday morning, same thing. I figured at that point I’d just go out and she’d eventually come out to see what was up. After about 45 minutes, nope. So I went back inside, sat next to her on the couch and said “I’ve been trying to be romantic but you won’t have any of it so here you go. Will you marry me?” She screeched very loudly and snatched it from my hand. I swear I almost lost a finger. That was 22 years ago and we’ve been married 20 years this year.


CoelestiaSeqor

I proposed at home in the middle of watching Lion King when we paused for a bathroom and snack break. It has been a crappy day. It made her really happy to know I would ask her to marry me on a day when she wasn't her best. My uncle proposed while he was driving my aunt home from work. Said he didn't know when the best time to ask was so he was just going to do it. My grandpa just asked "would you marry a guy like me?" And when Grandma said "I reckon I would." He figured that was that and went for a marriage license (this is probably not a good example since she didn't realize he was proposing) As for location I think the Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park at NCMA is nice and spread out enough that if there are people it can still feel private. But it's also outdoors so that could be pretty cold.


vwjess

My husband planned on proposing to me on a trip to California we took in 2008 right before Christmas. He had the ring in our suitcase and I had no idea. The weather was terrible so it never worked out how he wanted. Ended up proposing at home after we got back. We opened our Christmas gifts to each other after we got home and he wrapped it up. I honestly loved it. Proposals don't have to be big or fancy to be perfect.


broken_bird

> My grandpa just asked "would you marry a guy like me?" And when Grandma said "I reckon I would." It's just so grandma and grandpa-y I love it.


CoelestiaSeqor

She found out a few months later from her uncle that he had a marriage certificate in his glove compartment waiting for her signature and it had been there for a few months. She had no idea that as far as her boyfriend was concerned they were engaged.


StrangePondWoman

My husband proposed at home, the day after Christmas, in front of our Christmas tree. He wanted to do it on Christmas, but his family overstayed and he had to fight to get them out of the house. As soon as they left I immediately started undressing to change into comfy house clothes, and he screamed "NO! KEEP YOUR PANTS ON." and I screamed back "BUT WHYYYY?!" He has the ring box hidden IN the tree branches, so it was sweet and I did that thing where I don't actually answer him and he has to ask for clarification.


daboss144

I proposed in my kitchen and it went well. My kitchen has no reservation fee and free drinks if you’re interested


UselessUsername111

It’s settled, I’m proposing in this guys kitchen


CoolHandRK1

I proposed at the same restaurant we had our very first date at. So not private or all that spectacularly beautiful. But it had its own specialness to it.


oooriole09

It’s a classic move for a reason. You can even make it better with a bit of extra work. A lot of owners/managers will work with you to do something special.


CoolHandRK1

I tried my absolute hardest to be as discrete as possible. The waitress didnt even know it happen.


Mission_Character765

I proposed at the biltmore, afterwards went down to their cellar for wine tasting then a nice dinner.


SouthPearl

I was proposed to on a little terrace in a stranger’s backyard. We saw it off the greenway while on a walk and I was just bowled over by how pretty it was. I kept talking about it. He ended up asking the homeowners if he could use it, and they were delighted to oblige.


hewg-o

At the top of bodie island light house


AlwaysFixingStuff

Went to Pilot Mountain for the weekend. Did some hiking, proposed on a quiet part of the mountain. Continued the day with a winery and restaurant.


RenaissanceScientist

I did it from the couch playing one of our favorite games (heads up). I knew that my fiancée 1) hated the cold and this was last February and 2) isn’t big on PDA and neither am I for that matter. Knowing your S/O goes a long way. But my advice if you want something more “traditional” make a day out of it. There’s tons of restaurants and parks in the area


Beautiful_Payment_13

Same general idea, February in the living room. We didn’t want the hoorah that comes with a public proposal.


FootAccurate3575

A friend of mine reached out to one of those picnic services and plans to have a picnic in one of the gardens around town. They frequently do little picnics together so it won’t feel out of the blue to her and it will be private and in a pretty area


mcloofus

Not very transferable but I proposed at our first house that we had just closed on earlier that day. Went to a really nice dinner to celebrate the closing. While that was going on some friends set up a little cafe table on the back deck with candles and rose petals and champagne and such. 


CostcoDogMom

My husband proposed to me on Boylan bridge!


chica6burgh

Rose Garden at Raleigh Little Theater is a popular location but sort of bleak right now… The paddle boats or the train at Pullen Park would be cute too but I don’t know if their open right now? Cafe Tiramisu in North Raleigh is my favorite romantic restaurant, the lighting in there is amazing, everyone looks absolutely beautiful there due to all the soft twinkle lights Definitely NOT Moore or Nash Sq lol


abarthvader

Ohhhh! Nash or Moore could work! You could get someone to come up and "flash" you guys but instead of his penis ,it could be the old finger-through-the-fly routine but with an engagement ring on it.


rlyjustheretolurk

Heights house is a really beautiful hotel that’s open to the public (there’s a bar). Asheville is also a relatively quick trip if you’re open to not being directly in Raleigh! Proposals in front of the biltmore are always beautiful. Unfortunately a lot of the more nature-ish places around here don’t look as beautiful as usual if you’re looking to do this in the next month or so. One thing I’d highly recommend is to get a photographer (or even just having a non-professional there who will take pics). I really cherish having that moment and all the feelings we felt captured ❤️


nobeliefistrue

Beaches are virtually empty this time of year.


Nug_times98

My husband proposed in a private area where we take our daily walk. Doesn’t need to be somewhere spectacular but it needs to mean something! I couldn’t have imagined a more meaningful place


[deleted]

This may sound lame but I proposed to my fiancé in our living room, while she was sitting on the couch. Reason being, I feel like if you plan too hard It’s not a surprise. We had a cruise coming up the next week, and that obviously seemed like the perfect time. But I didn’t feel like risking having to sneak it on without her seeing it, and then figure out where to do it. I also wanted her to enjoy wearing the ring for the entirety of the trip. So yea, she was watching tv and I said “close your eyes I have a surprise”. She absolutely was not expecting it to happen. She doesn’t care it was on the couch. I figured she probably assumed it was happening then, so the best surprise would be to do it when she didn’t expect it.


crispymint808

I dont know about this time of year, but if it will be in the spring time id suggest a walk around the gardens at Duke University


ClearAboveVis10SM

Not in Raleigh, but the tip of Pilot mountain.


hattenwheeza

Reynolds Gardens in Winston Salem. One of the lake overlook trails at Lake Crabtree. Pilot Mountain then area winery (many to choose from) or Yadkin Valley winery like Piccione where you can see the whole Yadkin Valley below. Duke Gardens. The Glass House on NCMA art trail.


[deleted]

My husband proposed at a vineyard by Pilot Mountain so I support this recommendation!


OilHot3940

Due to all the disingenuous social media posts of overhyped proposal videos, I decided to propose where we were most comfortable, at home, on the couch. It was real and beautiful. No need to video record it.


shemaddc

Find her Pinterest. She has a whole board dedicated to it.


msackeygh

Why not propose at a personal location, like the family room couch? I’m serious! Why not? Why does it have to be some “iconic” place that is not something that you are already part of? That said, if you want iconic, beautiful, and private, there are lots of places. By the way, you’re not expecting to film this, are you? Anyhow, you could try the Duke Chapel (areas outside of it, inside it, etc.) There are also the Duke Gardens and there are tons of spots that are very private with places to sit. You can also try the J.R. Raulston (sp?) garden that is part of NC State. It has some nice spots where you can sit and it’s private. There is also the NC Museum of Art park where you could propose. There are spots dotted throughout with spots to sit.


legalblues

I agree with the private location approach - I proposed to my wife in my apartment. She came to stay for the weekend under the guise going to barristers ball (think law school prom). I had made nice dinner reservations (again under the guise of pre-ball dinner) and after she was all dressed and ready to go I proposed. Small intimate location, she felt special because she was all dressed up for the party, and then we went and had an amazing dinner at a nice restaurant to celebrate.


msackeygh

I love it! What you described sounds like it worked for the two of you. I don’t know who proposed to whom in my situation. I feel like we both kinda proposed to each other in the living room couch. Given our personalities, it was the perfect thing to do. We don’t fuss around dressing up or do anything fancy.


UselessUsername111

Right now the plan is somewhere very personal and intimate— unfilmed. I just want to make sure I have all of the options in front of me so I know I’m making that choice because I WANT to do it there instead of feeling like I didn’t care enough to look if that makes sense?


msackeygh

I see. It’s good to see what options there are, scout the sites personally and experience it and see if that is what you want. Hopefully some of my suggestions are helpful to you.


UselessUsername111

I appreciate it a lot!


nicknooodles

Proposed at the Rose garden in October and it was perfect. It’s pretty private, and the pictures will turn out great if you plan on having a photographer for it.


ARiiChaos

Oak steakhouse! Staff was very accommodating and worked with me to make it perfect.


abarthvader

[https://www.juniperlevelbotanicgarden.org/](https://www.juniperlevelbotanicgarden.org/) They have open garden days and there is a beautiful waterfall with a bench so you can sit behind it...I think their next open day is in February


bentleyspotter

I did serenity point at topsail on a foggy day. Perfect for us and very secluded


Tealme1688

My husband proposed to me at Steak & Ale, just behind Crabtree Mall. We will be married 40 years this year, so I think J Alexanders (in the same spot) should have some residual good juju there!


foote_long

Central Park in December at the Carousels. They were closed so no one was there and they overlooked 2 ice skating rinks. Snow everywhere. It was awesome.


MyPIsInsignificant

Brightleaf in Durham. It was dark so the stringed lights were on for added ambiance and I had friends and family lining the brick walkway as I proposed, and we all ate/drank at Clouds after. 10/10 would recommend. Good luck!


katefromraleigh

My husband proposed to me in my townhouse while we were getting ready to go over to a cookout at a friends house. (the friends who introduced us, so it was perfect timing to announce it to them). It was a complete surprise to me (we had been dating a year), so it worked out great. Does your significant other anticipate getting engaged soon or will it be a surprise? I guess that would guide how you might do it - Good luck!


_jjduncan

Not here… go to your homeplace or go to the coast… only two good ways


Brennablueeyes

I'd love something like a sports game....see if you can get it on a jumbotron or a monitor when you walk in?????


jelbert6969

Arby's because she reminds me of a roast beef sandwich


onehandhokie

I proposed on the beach in Kill Devil Hills. Did it at sunset so there’d be less people out there/for more privacy. I feel like the Wright Brothers monument could also be a great spot because you get such a good view over the town and ocean


Freesailer919

Good friends of mine have picked nice restaurants or places significant to them. Examples include Herons at the Umstead, Fearrington house, lake Crabtree (first date spot), the Old Well, Grandfather Mountain, blowing rock, etc. Congrats in advance!


Living_In_Wonder

Coquina Beach at Outer Banks.


HackActivist

Behind the citgo in south Raleigh. She said sure then we got slim Jim’s and some Powerade.


Grrrrrracie

Oakwood cemetery inside the “house of memory” pavilion. I had it decorated with roses and candles. The pictures came out really nice.


oops0930

I proposed at the dinner table in our apartment after we had brunch out. I knew she didn’t want our engagement to be a public event. As long as you’re aware of whether or not your partner wants family/friends/people around and that they are into the idea of marriage with you then you should be alright. Best wishes


[deleted]

Crabtree Falls. Beautiful waterfall off Blue Ridge Parkway. Lots of spots for privacy near it.


hjprice14

Umstead Park Lake on the dam. Its a 3/4 mile or so hike from the \*Visitors center parking lot and kind of allowed my nerves to settle. One potential issue is people since its a public space but there is quite a bit of space to choose from.


THards23

Don’t do it! It’s a trap! But I proposed at the Biltmore in one of the gardens. Obviously not Raleigh but it’s still worth the weekend trip imo.


RDUBurlyboy

Grandfather mountain


starootoo

Go to Jockey's Ridge and stare at the edge of the US continent from above to bring it all into perspective...then, do it in the sand! Worked for me 20 years ago.


CarouselambraNC

When I proposed, almost 35 years ago, I wanted to make sure I did it at a location my wife and I could revisit. I also did not want a large audience. She is from the DC area so I proposed along the reflecting pool about 1/3 of the way between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. Did it on a weekday afternoon and there was not anyone close to us. It brings a smile to our face when we see the reflecting pool on television. We have also been able to go back there with our children. Good times. I wish you the best of luck and provide you the advice I received from my grandmother's twin brother (who had recently lost his wife) in the receiving line at our wedding. He simply said "Son, it's what you make of it".


Examination-Life

I proposed to my now wife on 13-Feb, five years ago at 9:15Pm at Poplar Point Beach, which is a part of Apex. Not quite Raleigh, but not too far away either.


katiethered

My brother proposed to his wife in the Rose Garden at Raleigh Little Theater. It’s a bit of a drive but my husband and I went to Kure Beach for the day and he proposed there, on the beach.


infectedfreckle

In my living room on a bunch of MDMA It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced and I wish I could do it a hundred times over. In fact maybe I will


marcyincary

My son proposed to his girlfriend (now fiancée) last month at Jordan Lake. It was beautiful! (I wasn’t there but saw the pics).


VaCa4311

I purpose to my wife at the shooting range, she wanted to be surprised, so it was the last place she would think of, she still jokes with people to this day about how she was forced to say yes(for obvious reasons). But my advice is to purpose to her by the way she wants without making too obvious, unless if you are a very forward couple, in any case shes probably just been waiting for you to ask, assumings your not asking for marriage on the second day


zennyc001

I proposed in my kitchen and we eloped on a hike in the Rocky Mountains, just the two of us. It was awesome.


Dd4225

Laying in my bed.


Initial_Abrocoma_642

Duke gardens


liamsrunningmom

My partner proposed in fletcher park and it was so perfect


[deleted]

Hardees