Okay, you’re going to pop the question, and you think a quick trip to the Red Lion at the end of the street, with your mates watching, is not the best idea.

So what should you do? Here are ten ideas for the way that you can ask that all important question, will you marry me.

Now, if you’re not a romantic, you’re going to struggle with this whole concept. You might ask, what’s wrong with asking while watching an episode of East Enders, or waiting for the traffic lights whilst in the car going to work? Because, quite simply, you have to try harder than that. Hopefully, in your time on this mortal coil, you’re not going to be asking the question too many times, and this will be one of the key milestones in your life. So, on this occasion, a little effort is needed.

Okay, lets start with one of the most popular ways to pop the question. Basically, it’s all a variation of the central theme of either asking the question, getting someone else to, or signalling the question with some neat device.

First up is the expensive restaurant, tête-à-tête. Okay, it doesn’t have to be expensive, it could just be ‘significant’ (as it was the first restaurant you ever went to on your first date) and you can do a lot to make it that bit more special. Consider having a violinist in the background; although keep a sense of decorum here, as some old chap screeching away through a grade one self-taught violin lesson is not going to endear you to your future partner, or the other diners. And maybe get the waiter to deliver the ring and a proclamation of your love on a card. That seem a bit cheesy, but if you’re worried you’re going to fluff your lines at that special moment, having your partner read the proposal, might help.

So, that’s the basic theory behind a good proposal. A great venue, a nice mood and the romantic delivery of the key question.

Once that’s appreciated, you can build various nuances.

How about ‘dressing’ the route, say when you’re bringing your loved one back from somewhere. You might start with a couple of notices along the road that x loves x, until you arrive at your place with a big sign asking the question. You can then reveal your t-shirt which says the same thing.

A big one is the holiday. Take your intended to their favourite spot in the world and then pop the question.

How about during a flight, snuggled up on the back row of a Jumbo, watching the movie, lights down and the food run finished; use this special moment to ask the key question. It would certainly bring a new meaning to the mile high club.

And for a subtle variation, buy a hot-air balloon flight for you and your partner. And while you’re in the clouds, ooh and aahing at the quarter mile drop to oblivion, ask them if they want to spend the rest of their lives with you.

Just one general point though, don’t use the venue, or the activity, to scare them into submission. The tactic of marry me or we’ll plummet to our deaths might get an initial positive answer, but they’ll change their minds once safety has been reached.

But how about this one. Hire some street artists and put on a little performance for your intended. Say a five minute show which culminates in you asking the question.

Again, a note of caution here. Don’t plan anything that will cause your partner major embarrassment. A clever joke is one thing, ridicule is likely to put off marriage for a good many years.

Perhaps you could plan a party, getting all your friends and family around. And as with the idea above, hire a magician to pull a dove with a marriage proposal out of a hat.

If your intended reads the local newspaper, or has a favourite magazine, then you might consider buying an advertisement which shouts your question from the pages.

And how about a treasure hunt, much like the annual Easter Egg hunt. You can hide clues all over the place, until the final message is encountered as the excitement builds up.

And finally, of course, is the sudden down on one leg and pop the question. On one hand this had its advantages; if your intended bursts out laughing, then it can all be carried off as a big joke and no harm done. The disadvantage is that the down on one knee manoeurve can be fraught with physical dangers. It has been known for suitors to slip over, or pull their backs, so just be careful when you do the flashing Knight bit.

So there you are. Ten ways to dress up asking that question which you hope will be met with a resounding yes. Good luck

Tags: fashion, Gifts For Others (And Yourself!), Proposals, Romantic, Romantic Proposals, Underwear

Creating the perfect romantic night is a chance to show your partner how much you care for them and one of the best ways to pull this off is to plan a meal and a movie at home.

Now, when it comes to planning a romantic meal, unless your are the next Nigella Lawson, or Gordon Ramsey, have a hunt around for some cool romantic menus. It’s not just about popping down to the local Indian takeaway and coming back with a handful of Vindaloos and poppa dons.

A romantic meal requires planning and that’s not only the food, but also the setting (maybe candlelight etc) and the wine. It all has to add up to a feeling of warmth and shared enjoyment, a sensuality that both diners can enjoy.

And you can’t go far wrong with a meal planned by the ever-youthful Jamie Oliver. Have a look at www.jamiesdinners.com/menu/?m=2&ret=challenge to get the idea. You will see that he’s planned a very light menu, without stodgy, or heavy going food.

He starts with cool vegetable crudités accompanied by a pea and yoghurt dip. Next comes scrumptious stir-fired duck with sugar snap peas and asparagus. It’s finished of with baked pears dressed with walnut cream. And to drink, Bellinis. This is an absolutely gorgeous creation which has at its heart peaches and Prosecco; a superb combination.

So, when you’ve got through that treat, you can bound over to the sofa and spin your favourite disc on the DVD player. Everyone has their favourite, but here are a few to remind you.

Top of most people’s lists is the wearing-well 1942 classic Casablanca. Who hasn’t once in their lives day-dreamed of being in the shoes of Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), or Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman)? Now they were the days.

Another big romantic hit is Rear Window, a further classic, this time from 1954 and one of Hitchcock’s best. Starring the irrepressible James Stewart and the immortal Grace Kelly, this is a must for the romantic sofa.

Now, this writer is a bit bemused by the next choice on a lot of people’s lists. The great animation studio Pixar last year released WALL·E and although no one would doubt it’s a great movie, is it truly a romantic film? Maybe cute, but not really up there with the likes of Casablanca.

Now Frank Capra’s 1946 It’s Wonderful Life is surely up there, as well as the 2001 Fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain, Le, or as it’s known, Amélie.

Brief Encounter (1945) of course, Leon (1994), yes maybe, and Some Like it Hot (1959), definitely.

Now, Love Story (1970), might be sited as some people’s most romantic movie and if you need a laugh, watch it. Unfortunately time has not been kind to it and now it seems more painful than tear-jerking.

And finally, how about the 1977 Annie Hall, one of Woody Allen’s best ever movies?

On people’s most unromantic films list, even though they are marketing within that bracket, come Flirting With Anthony (2005), or from the same year, Let Us Go and Burn Her Body (perhaps the clue is in the title) and last year’s some would say dismal The Hattie and the Nottie (oh dear).

Right, good food and a good movie; does it get better than that?

Tags: Gifts For Others, Gordon Ramsey, Nigella Lawson, Romantic