Engagement Alternatives (When Your Original Plans Fell Through)

So many of our plans have been totally derailed this year. Were you about to pop the question with a flash mob and a hot air balloon? Or maybe even something a little more low-key like taking your S.O. to the place where you first met. Either way, how about some tips for when you still want to put a ring on their finger, but it just requires a little change of scenery?

1.Dinner Date Indoors

If you can no longer hide the ring in the cheesecake at your favorite restaurant, there are a few options! See if that restaurant is doing curbside OR you can try to recreate your favorite recipe together. You can even decorate your place to have the same ambience and feel, add a few nice candles to your dinner table, play soft music, whatever their vibe is!

2. Travel, but Make It At-Home

If you were thinking about getting down on one knee at a special landmark like the Louvre or Disney World, it just takes a little creativity to recreate that at home! A TON of places are offering free, virtual tours, such as museums, parks, even theme parks have YouTube videos where it’s like you’re riding your favorite rides. Get some inspired-cuisine to make it even more immersive, and let your S.O. know that one day, you still will take that trip together!

3. Big Shindig on a Smaller Scale

So if you really were wanting a flash mob downtown with all your friends and family, fret not! There are still ways to get your loved ones involved, but safely. If your plan involved more people, think: How can we cater this to be virtual? Maybe they can jump in on a Zoom call, pre-record a special video, or even FaceTime after the proposal to still be a part of it.

4. Safe Scavenger Hunt

Your original plan may have involved a scavenger hunt around town, at some of your favorite spots. There are some cute ways to still do a scavenger hunt, just tweaking it a little. Maybe you’ve got a park near your house that will open enough to hide some clues (almost like Easter Egg hunting) or you can hide them around your space! And if you still want to add in elements from your favorite places, you can! Grab a candle from that store where you first met, or a photo of you two on your favorite vacation, and set it beside the clue.

If anything, this year has taught us to be flexible in our planning, but to also share love when we can! Like Harry said to Sally, “When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”