That’s what I’m sayin’! Your proposal and / or ring shouldn’t be looked upon
as a gift to her
Only my opinion, or course, and I’m sure she is tres lucky and happy to be with you, 
tomndebb
Getting married is not a gift. Experiencing that moment of surprise and joy that one has been asked (even if the question and answer are foregone conclusions) may be a gift.
The ring is a pledge; remembering old conversations and arranging to have a specific description turned into a tangible reality is a gift.
YMMV, obviously and this is not an issue over which either of us want to fight, but I figured you ought to see the rationale behind my choice of words.
So, ya got any single friends in the Southeast?
Well, did you propose? Did she say yes? Details, man! Don’t keep us in suspense! 
Damn this suspense! I tell ya, I’ve chewed my fingernails up to the knuckles…
Details man!
We need details!
If you forget her birthday or this anniversity, you won’t be forgoten, so this will help you remember both!
::sniff::
Awwwww! I missed that the first time around. But I really am crying here, all this time later. I am such a sap.
Add me to the list of those waiting for details from the OP! Did it happen? Did it not? Is not being back to report in a good sign or bad?
My friend’s now-husband proposed to her at the the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve/Day, and her birthday is New Year’s Day. Not quite on the birthday, but easy to remember (the cat ran over with the ring on its collar).
More impressive is the fact that anybody got a cat to do that.
So we went to dinner last night at the Chateau Marmont, which is a old Hollywwod hotel and restaurant that is quite weel known and fairly swank. I brought her flowers when I picked her up, half a dozen roses, three red and three pink. She thought those were just for her birthday, though. We got to the restaurnat and we got lucky, they seated us at this perfect table out in the garden area. It was a beautiful, evening. It had rained a bit earlier, so everyhting seemed kind of fresh and clean. We ordered omse champagne and toasted her birthday. Then the soup and salad, then the main course. Then the waiter took the dishes away. There actually weren’t too many people around outside.
I had managed to get the ring box from my jacket into my lap without her seeing it. And then I started to tell her how much I loved her and how I wanted us to be together forever. She was saying, “Oh, stop it!” because I had fooled her (not on purpose) a few times. I said, “I love you and I want you to be my wife” I produced the ring box and opened it (no getting on my knee, I know her and that is not the way she would have preferred it) and set it down in front of her. At first her reaction was stunned silence, she really was not expecting it. Then she started crying and said, “Oh my God, this is all I ever wanted, I love you!” She took the ring box and tried to take the ring out, but she was too flustered, so I took it out. I wanted to put it on her finger myself, but she grabbed it and put it on. That was actually kind of funny. She LOVED the ring. We kissed and she asked through her tears, “Oh, how’s my makeup…” Heh.
The waiter came by and congratulated us and gave us desert and some wine and champagne (he got a pretty good tip). She called her sister, I called my parents. Everyone was happy. She said it was the best night of her life and I was smiling all the way home.
Then the idea of planning and paying for a wedding hit me and I barely slept a wink.
Congratulations! Was the time between you asking and her saying yes the longest 3 seconds of your life?
What a nice story. I’m really happy for you both. Now, what’s that expression… oh yeah… SnugglesSoft!
Congratulations! I’m as big a sap as WhyNot, I got a little teary-eyed. Best wishes to both of you–and we’ll all look forward to hearing about the trials and tribulations of wedding planning. 
Hurray for Gangster Octupus! I wish you many happy years together.
Damn, where are my tissues.
GREAT! Huge congratulations!
Any chance you guys could elope or have a family/close friends only wedding and put the money towards, oh, a house or something? You’d save a lot of aggrevation and time, too!
(sorry, guy talking here - a wedding should be celebrated however the bride-to-be wants it - it is her day. But man, the money and the hassle…)
Yay!
WOOKINPANUB, here’s a tissue. No wait, I need one. OK, here you go.
Wonderful story. But you do know that her family pays for the wedding, right? You spring for the Groomsmans gifts and maybe their Tux rentals, and that’s about it. You dad is supposed to help pay for the Honeymoon and spring for the the Rehersal dinner (if any).
Yes, and the Easter Bunny is supposed to bring us colored eggs on Easter.
Thanks everyone!
wipes away a tear
Good show, mate. Good show. hugs