slb, hello. I am having a flashback to a previous thread about marriage proposals. It's odd that this keeps coming up on HTG forums!
I probably shouldn't make a habit of giving advice, but you did ask. In my personal opinion, if you really love this lucky geek, there is no need for any fancy proposal or geeky proposal. One of the problems with all of this new Internet tech is the anonymity and impersonal nature of it. I think of sitcoms I have seen where some poor soul was dumped by a voice message, post-it note or some other absentee method. Nowadays, there must be people being dumped by e-mail, IM, text message, or tweet! Maybe in some cases a break-up is better done long-distance, but a proposal is *personal*, and wonderful, and deserves the special effort of being done without the aid of technology or by proxy. You know, it should be done F2F. ITRW. And with no abbreviations! "OMG WYMM? Y/N?" Imagine telling your girlfriends that he proposed that way. How would that go over with them?
Now I may be old-fashioned, but I don't think you need to provide a dowry or add an iPhone to sweeten the pot. He's getting you, and that should be enough. "Dude, check out my new iPhone! Oh, yeah, I'm also getting a wife." I don't like the way that sounds. Now, I'm not saying that the idea of a present is bad, just don't tie it to the proposal. He can make that association himself. "I've had this iPhone for all these years -- ever since my sweetie proposed to me!" Sounds better. Also, all the other fish in the see won't see this iPhone and know that your fiancé is spoken for. How about a promise ring? He can wear it on his right hand. Maybe that won't work with the younger generation, which wears more jewelry than mine, but my wedding band is the only jewelry I wear. It's special and unique. How unique is yet another iPhone?
You have your whole life together to spring little surprises on him. Put a love note in his database script. And another time, put one in his backpack, suitcase, wallet, car, and so on. A proposal is too important to be trusted to an elaborate scheme. What if it gets lost or found by someone else? That's harmless for a love note, but could be troublesome with a proposal. Finally, best of luck to you and your intended! (Remember, all that I say here is the raving of a happily married guy and you should feel no obligation to take any of it seriously.)
