Keanes A6 Book Inside Pages

The Little Book of
ROMANTIC
PROPOSALS
Jewellers since 1948
You’ve done the hardest part and
you’ve found your Soulmate!
You know you have found the one person who makes you
feel complete. You know you will love them forever,
and you’ve decided you want to spend the rest of your
lives together. So what’s the next step ?
Keanes’ Little Book of Romantic Proposals promises to
get you through asking one of the most important
questions of your life.
We have compiled some of the best and most charming
marriage proposals to help you create a moment that
you both will never forget.
Use these ideas as your own or for inspiration to create
your own unforgettable moment.
So what are you waiting for?
Go pop the question!
Jewellers since 1948
History of the Engagement Ring
In most Western cultures, an engagement ring is traditionally
presented by the man to his beloved as a gesture of his
commitment to marry her.
Like many other great ideas it all started with the Romans,
where it was common for women to wear betrothal
rings. Over the centuries however many other types of
betrothal gifts were given; in the 19th century many bridesto-be received a sewing thimble! Surprisingly diamond
engagement rings as we know them didn’t become popular
until the 1930s.
In Ireland, the UK and the USA the engagement ring is
traditionally worn by the woman, on the ring finger of her
left hand but this not the case in all countries. German
women wear the ring on their left hand while engaged but
then switch it to the right hand once married. In Brazil,
both the man and the woman wear a plain band on their
right hand while engaged then move it to the left once they
complete their nuptials.
Of course it goes without saying that how you decide to
wear yours is completely up to you!
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The Important Question
The first question an engaged woman is asked is:
“Can I see the ring?”
The second question is always:
“So how did he propose?”
A well planned proposal will not only help you with your
pre-question jitters, but most importantly will create a
moment that you both can always cherish.
We’ve put together a few inspiring ideas to help you along
the way. We even have a few stories on how the celebrities
have done it.
Good luck and remember that even some of the best made
plans can sometimes not work out so don’t get hung up on
getting it absolutely perfect. Relax and enjoy the moment!
Jewellers since 1948
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ROMANTIC
PROPOSAL
IDEAS
Jewellers since 1948
Create Your Fairytale
This is for you creative types out there! Create a story of
your time together using pictures and mementos from things
you have done together. Have some fun and write it as a
Fairytale, her being the princess and you being the prince
(or frog). As it comes to the end have the prince propose to
his princess and as she turns to the final page produce a box
with a diamond ring.
The appeal of this is that you can keep the story book as a
keepsake for years to come, as you live happily ever after!
A Trail of Rose Petals
If looking to propose in the intimate setting of your own
home then this is your answer! To get the maximum element
of surprise, plan this for when she arrives home from work
or after a day of shopping with her friends.
As she arrives in the door, she will find a trail of rose petals
through the house with love notes from you left along the
way. At the end of the trail have her find you kneeling in
the middle of a candlelit room, waiting to ask her to marry
you.
Jewellers since 1948
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Time Capsule
Tell your girlfriend you want to make a time capsule together
so that you can dig it up years into the future when you have
grown old together. Get her to suggest a few items and over
a few days gather up mementos of your time together.
As you group the items together, tell her that it wouldn’t
be complete without a picture of the moment you two got
engaged. Then pull out a camera so that you are ready to
take that shot right after you present her with the ring.
A Helping Paw
Does your girlfriend have a pet cat or dog who she adores
almost as much as you? Have them to lend a “paw” for
your proposal. Get your furry friend a fancy new collar and
attach the ring to it. When your girlfriend stops to admire it,
get down on one knee and ask her to marry you.
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Charm Bracelet
Buy your girlfriend a charm bracelet as a present shortly
before you want to propose to her. At various times over the
next few weeks buy her charms for her bracelet, little hearts
and other little things that mean something to you both. The
final gift should be a charm saying “will you marry me?”
Anniversary Proposal
Find out what your girlfriend’s favourite colour is. Then send
her a single rose in that colour every day for however many
years you have been together. On the last day include a
card with a rose that says “x beautiful roses for x beautiful
years.” That evening arrange to take her out to dinner and
give her a single red rose with a card (or just say): “x of your
favourite colour roses for the past x years, and 1 red rose for
the rest of our lives, will you marry me?”
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Surprise Birthday Party
Arrange a surprise birthday party for your intended brideto-be, inviting family and friends but of course not telling
them what the real surprise will be! Take her out for the
day and get help setting up the party from a select few coconspirators while you are out.
When you both arrive home she will get the big surprise of
all your guests popping out to wish her a Happy Birthday!
Then with all your family and friends around you, call for
everyone’s attention. Take her hand, profess your love for
her and ask her to marry you. Quickly turning the birthday
party into an unofficial engagement party!
X-Treme Proposal
This is not for the faint hearted! For the adrenaline junkies
out there what better way to start the biggest adventure of
your life than by proposing during a bungee jump? Ask her
right before you jump, getting the instructor to capture it all
on video.
Afterwards you can share with family and friends the
moment you decided to take “the plunge” together. Just
make sure you don’t have the ring in your pocket during
the jump!
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Getting Back the Element of
Surprise
If someone ruins the surprise for you, then take some action
and reclaim the element of surprise. Buy a cheap, fake
diamond ring and break off two of the arms that are holding
the diamond in place.
Place the broken ring in a beautiful box and get ready for
the proposal. Pick up your girlfriend and drive her to your
chosen location. Tell her how much you love her and as
you are saying this open the box in front of her. You will
both look down and see the ring; broken in the box. Act
upset and say something like “how could this happen?”
Now it’s time to bring back the element of surprise; bring
her for a walk in the park to a bench where rose petals,
wine, candles, flowers and stuffed animals are waiting.
Get down on one knee and ask her to marry you with the
real ring that was in your other pocket all along.
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Some Seasonal Ideas
•
Buy a box of Valentines Cards and in each, write a
favourite memory from the time you have spent
together. Then in the week leading up to Valentine’s
put them in random places where she will find them:
a handbag, glove compartment and anywhere else
you can think of. Finally on Valentine’s Day give her
a giant card with the words “Will You Marry Me”.
•
While at the beach, rope her into building a sand castle
with you (making sure the tide won’t come in and
ruin it half way). When finished and while she’s
not looking, place the ring on the highest turret
– as she turns around pop the question.
•
For a Halloween proposal, carve “Marry Me” in two
pumpkins and leave them outside your house.
As she arrives home give her a treat – a diamond ring!
(You dressed in a Halloween costume is optional).
•
Customise your Christmas Cracker by inserting a ring
rather than the customary joke and toy. Make sure she
wins the tug though!
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Some Tech-Savy Ideas
•
Create a web page with your proposal on it then
leave her a clue with a link to the page.
On the page itself include the reasons why you
love her, pictures of you both together and with the
question “Will You Marry Me”.
•
Upload a video of your proposal on YouTube.
Give it a fun name like “Luckiest Guy in the World”
or “New Romantic Trailer”. Then call her over and
say that she “has to see this great new video!”
•
Save a picture of you holding a sign that says
“Will You Marry Me?” on the desktop of her computer.
But make sure you are around for when she sees it!
•
If you are social networking mad (anyone for
Facebook or Twitter?) you can ask your girlfriend by
changing your profile picture. Send her a message
and ask her to check your newly improved
homepage. There in instead of your normal picture
have the words “Marry Me?”.
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PROPOSAL
IDEAS
FOR
LADIES
Jewellers since 1948
Anything boys can do girls can do...
You’ve found your Prince Charming and you know what you
want - so why not ask for it? Here are some thoughts on how
to propose to the man of your dreams.
Set the stage. Pick his favourite place to pop the question
- whether you consider it romantic or not. This might be a
secluded camping site, a fancy restaurant or a golf course at
sunset. Let your boyfriend’s taste be your guide.
Keep your plans flexible. You may have an evening of French
cuisine and fine wine planned but he may be in the mood for
something more informal. So unless your plans involve other
people or events, just go with the flow.
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Go dramatic if your boyfriend likes the theatrical; he will
appreciate the efforts you have made to make it special. If
your partner tends to like things more subdued then keep
the occasion subtle.
Bring or plan an engagement gift. There’s no reason why
you shouldn’t get him a ring, alternatively cufflinks with
“Marry Me” engraved on them works brilliantly.
Give him some time to be surprised and tongue-tied.
Remember, even though he loves you for the
unconventional woman you are, he probably won’t see
this one coming.
Most of the ideas listed previously can be easily adapted
for you ladies but here’s a few more to consider.
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Woo with Memories
Guys love to be wooed as much as girls do. Propose in a
place that means a lot to him. Maybe a park where he grew
up, or the place where you went for your first date, all are
special to him and can be made memorable by proposing
to him there.
A Sporting Chance
Proposing at a sporting event is a creative way to propose if
your man is a sports fanatic. For this idea you could either
arrange to have your proposal broadcast over the public
address system or better still, displayed on a large screen.
If you are really adventurous, you could also contact
the team’s management beforehand and try to make
arrangements to make your proposal on the pitch at
halftime. They might be willing to help you stage a scenario
where you are either chosen to win a prize or participate in
a contest. Then while you are on the field, they would hand
over the microphone to allow you to make your proposal.
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Chalk it Down
Write “Will You Marry Me (name)?” in chalk on the street
outside your house or apartment in big letters and ask him
to look out the window. Make sure you are standing close
by and when he turns around, get down on one knee and
ask him to marry you.
The Early Bird Catches the Groom
Arrange to wake up about an hour before your boyfriend
usually does (without waking him up of course). Go down
to his car and tape a huge poster to his windscreen saying
“Will You Marry Me?” You can decorate it with pictures,
words and photos of special moments you have spent
together.
You should wait just inside the door so he can’t see you
while he goes to the car - when he turns around you should
jump out and give him a long, passionate kiss.
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Inspiration from Hollywood
Carrie Bradshaw & Mr Big – Sex & the City
Ryan Reynolds & Sandra Bullock – The Proposal
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Famous Engagement Rings
Kate Middleton’s engagement ring
from Prince William
Elizabeth Taylor’s 33.19ct Krupp diamond
from Richard Burton
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Engagement Rings & matching
Wedding Bands
Round Brilliant Solitaire
with 6 claw setting
Princess Cut Diamond
with Round Brilliant side stones
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Emerald Cut Diamond Three Stone
Marquise Solitaire with Diamond Shoulders
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ROMANTIC
SPOTS FOR
GETTING
ENGAGED
Jewellers since 1948
Paris
What better place to surprise your girlfriend with a proposal
than in the city of love – Paris. If you want to create a
moment that you will never forget what better spot than the
Eiffel Tower. To avoid an audience go early in the morning
but the tower is at its most romantic at night as it twinkles
against the Parisian sky.
New York
Is there anything more romantic or magical than New York
at Christmas? Visit the Rockefeller Center and see its giant
Christmas tree, then glide around the ice rink afterwards
hand in hand. Take your girlfriend to a show on Broadway
followed by a ride on a horse drawn carriage through
Central Park. All that is left for you to do is utter those four
little words “Will You Marry Me?”.
Jewellers since 1948
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Rome
A list of the most romantic places to propose wouldn’t
be complete without Rome! Surrounded by beautiful
architecture and historic landmarks, finding a beautiful
spot to pop the question isn’t hard. The top choice must be
the Trevi Fountain; seen as the most romantic and beautiful
place in Rome. Drop to one knee at night, with the light from
the fountain illuminating her delighted face. Afterwards toss
a coin into the fountain together and make a wish to your
future happiness together.
Bavaria, Germany
The fairy-tale Neuschwanstein Castle that belonged to 19th
century Bavarian King Ludwig II and set high in the stunning
Bavarian mountains should put a huge smile on the face of
your loved one.
By taking a horse-drawn carriage up the hill to the
castle you’ll start to feel like royalty from centuries past.
Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the world’s most magical
castles and was the inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty
castle. The perfect place to propose to your very own
princess!
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Cliffs of Moher, Clare
Of course there are also lots of romantic places to propose
closer to home! Why not take a trip to the world famous
Cliffs of Moher in West Clare. Be prepared by packing a
picnic blanket and a warm coat. Then as you look out onto
the Atlantic Ocean and across Galway Bay, get down on
bended knee and ask the all important question.
Mizen Head, West Cork
Visit Ireland’s most south westerly point and pick your
perfect proposal spot whether it be the old lighthouse, the
weather station or simply sitting overlooking the dramatic
cliff scenery. Pack a small bottle of bubbly so that you can
both toast the special moment in this gorgeous location.
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Torc Waterfall, Killarney
Torc Waterfall set in the Killarney National Park, oozes
romance with its picturesque location at the foot of Torc
Mountain. Pick a spot on one of the large rocks overlooking the waterfall and make sure to hold on tight as you
surprise her with a gorgeous ring!
Thomond Park, Limerick
Ladies, if your man is a die-hard Munster Rugby fan then
what better place to propose than in the home of Munster
Rugby! Bring him to a match and have pre-arranged for the
proposal to pop up on the big screen at half time! Then
present him with a pair of cufflinks with the engraving
“Marry Me?”.
Jewellers since 1948
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CELEBRITY
PROPOSALS
Jewellers since 1948
Brian O’ Driscoll & Amy Huberman
Shortly after captaining Ireland to the grand slam in 2009,
Brian popped the question to Amy the night after her 30th
birthday party. True romantic Brian showed his softer side
by spelling out ‘Will You Marry Me?’ in flowers in the back
garden of their Dublin home.
Ray D’arcy & Jenny Kelly
Ray shocked Jenny by popping the question as he stood
fresh out of the shower in his boxer shorts.... Fortunately he
decided to go down the romantic route a few weeks later
when on Christmas day he decorated their bed with petals
and placed the ring in the centre. Then Ray (along with their
daughter Kate) both got down on one knee and asked for
Jenny’s hand in marriage.
Alan Hughes & Karl Broderick
When TV3 favourite Alan Hughes won the reality TV show
Celebrity Salon he excitedly phoned Karl to let him know
and told him ‘I’ll be able to get home for an hour’. Karl
however had his own celebrations in mind and within the
space of Alan arriving back had their home covered in
candles and flowers. Then when Alan got home, Karl went
down on one knee and proposed!
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Prince William & Kate Middleton
Proposing to your other half is nerve-wracking at the best of
times, so just imagine if you’re also asking her to become the
future Queen of England! Prince William popped the question
to long-term girlfriend Kate Middleton during a romantic break
at an African lodge. But he only got down on one knee after
hiding the ring in his rucksack for three weeks beforehand!
The ring itself has a dazzling 18-carat oval sapphire surrounded
by 14 diamonds. Just as impressive however is that the ring had
been his late mother’s, so holds important sentimental value
and makes it all the more romantic!
Michael Douglas & Catherine Zeta-Jones
The eve of the millennium was the date, and the Aspen home
of Hollywood producer and actor Michael Douglas was the
setting for a New Year’s proposal. Following an evening of
celebration to see in the new year/century/millennium, Douglas
presented actress Catherine Zeta-Jones with an antique, 10carat marquise-cut diamond ring.
Giuliana DePandi & Bill Rancic
The US Apprentice winner Bill Rancic’s proposal to E! News
anchor Giuliana DePandi took the couple to new heights. A
limo met Giuliana at the Chicago airport and whisked her off
to a nearby helipad where Rancic was waiting, holding her
favourite pizza and a bottle of champagne. He waited until they
were flying over downtown Chicago, with all the holiday lights
on display, to propose. Giuliana’s sparkler is a 4-carat cushion
cut diamond ring and goes with any red carpet ensemble!
Jewellers since 1948
page 30
Robbie Williams & Ayda Field
When pop star Robbie Williams proposed to Ayda Field,
he took four queen cards from a deck and handed them to
Ayda. When she turned them over, each had a word written
on it, which spelled out ‘Will You Marry Me’. Afterwards,
Robbie explained that when he split a pack of cards, he
would always come up with a Queen of Hearts so it filled
his heart and made him know that he was with the right
person.
Ben Stiller & Christine Taylor
Sometimes, the big moment doesn’t always go to plan!
Usually known for starring in hilarious comedies, Ben
Stiller didn’t mean to be quite so funny when he proposed
to girlfriend Christine. He decorated her house with rose
petals and candles, got down on bended knee and then …
realised he’d left the ring in his rucksack! Luckily she still
said yes!
Pink & Carey Hart
The pop singer took matters into her own hands when she
proposed to her motocross racer boyfriend Carey Hart. As
he made laps around the track during a race, the songstress
held up a sign that said: ‘Will You Marry Me?’ When he
failed to pull over, she flipped the sign over to say: ‘I’m
Serious.’ He then immediately quit the race and ran over to
accept her proposal.
Jewellers since 1948
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CHOOSING
THE
RIGHT
RING
Jewellers since 1948
Choosing the Perfect Diamond Ring
Obviously this is a vital part of the perfect proposal. Before
making a decision, you need to become a master in covert
operations to find out exactly what she wants:
• Ask friends and family if she has ever mentioned a
preference for a diamond cut and ring style.
Does she prefer delicate pieces or more chunky ones?
• Does she prefer yellow gold or white metals like white
gold or platinum?
• Collect a Keanes Catalogue from your nearest
store and leave it where she’ll find it.
Without arousing suspicion, look through it together and
take note of her comments.
Once you’ve determined her style leave the rest to the
expert advice of Keanes’ consultants.
Determining Her Ring Size
This is not as difficult as it seems and you don’t have to worry
if you don’t get it exactly right as Keanes will happily resize
the ring if necessary.
Here are some techniques you could explore:
• Make an impression of one of her rings in a bar of soap.
• Measure the diameter of the inside of the ring with a ruler.
• To ensure a perfect fit take one of her rings to Keanes
to have it sized.
Jewellers since 1948
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Buying Diamonds - the Serious Bit!
Here are just a few tips on what to look out for when
buying diamonds - it gets a bit technical but don’t worry at Keanes we only stock the finest diamonds so you have
nothing to fear.
The 4 C’s
Colour, Carat, Cut and Clarity are used worldwide to
describe the quality of diamonds. These can vary hugely
and impact on how dazzling and valuable the stones are.
You want to be sure that the ring you buy will match the
effort you put into your proposal, so read on!
Jewellers since 1948
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Colour
We always think of diamonds as being “crystal clear” and
the very best and rarest diamonds are colourless. The scale
of colour quality goes from colourless to light yellow. The
differences from one grade to another are very subtle.
Diamonds with a very strong colour - such as pink, red or
strong yellow are very rare and very valuable.
Carat
The size of a diamond is measured in “carat” which is
a unit of weight. You’ll be glad to hear that big is not
necessarily better - diamonds of high quality can be found
in all size ranges. However one diamond of one carat is
usually worth more than two diamonds of 0.50ct.
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Cut
Put simply, the better the cut the more the diamond
sparkles. Light travelling through a well cut diamond
bounces back out the top of the diamond allowing it to
dazzle.
LIGHT OUT
LIGHT IN
An ideal cut diamond makes full use of the light
entering it, maximising its brilliance and ‘fire’
Cut also refers to the shape of the diamond itself. The
most popular shape is the Round Brilliant Cut as this
sparkles the most, but there are many other popular
shapes.
ROUND
BRILLIANT
MARQUISE
PEAR
EMERALD
OVAL
HEART
The seven most common diamond cuts.
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PRINCESS
Clarity
Diamonds are formed naturally, and so most of them
contain tiny natural marks within the diamond known as
inclusions. The number of inclusions, how big they are and
where they are located all affect a diamond’s clarity.
The less inclusions a diamond has the rarer and more
valuable it is.
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
3
FL-IF
WS -WS
VS -VS
SI -SI
I -P
Flawless to
internally
flawless
(minor surface
blemishes)
Very, very
small
inclusions
Very
small
inclusions
Small
inclusions
Inclusions
visable to
the naked
eye
Phew! The Technical Bit is Over!
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Now the rest is up to you!
Here are a few words for inspiration
“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.”
- Aristotle
“I love you not only for what you are,
but for what I am when I am with you.”
- Roy Croft
We’d love to hear how you get on –
Join us on facebook @ keanesjewellers
And remember if you want any help along the
way drop in or give us a call - we have over 60 years
and 3 generations of experience to draw on!
Jewellers since 1948
Jewellers since 1948
Limerick | Cork | Killarney
93-95 Oliver Plunkett St., Cork Tel: 021 4271256
10 O’Connell St., Limerick Tel: 061 481080
2 High St., Killarney, Co. Kerry Tel: 064 6631515
www.keanes.ie