I don't understand most peoples' concept of proposal I think.
See, to me if someone asks 'do you want to get married?' in normal circumstances I would think that's just a conversation about marriage. I would respond by talking about it as an idea, considering it was introduced like a topic of discussion. Maybe that's where I differ, and most people would say 'yes/no' taking it as a proposal then discussion would come later (unless it was a no). Maybe it's the way the speaker's position is already implied in the word choices that makes it a proposal.
I don't remember who brought it up first or what the circumstances were, my fiance and I just discussed marriage - one of us asked, implying already we wanted to, the other agreed they also wanted to, we talked about it on various ocassions, agreed we should get engaged. We didn't consider this a proposal though.
Then we looked for rings together, took a few months since we don't like most. We happened to find the perfect simple silver bands the day before we had planned a daytrip to the coast to see Amon Tobin so decided that was the perfect day to propose (I love the sea). Got them engraved with the date. On the day we each had the other's ring on us and whichever one of us saw the right opportunity first would be the one to propose. We checked out lots of charity shops in the town, had the picnic we brought on the beach, I showed him a building I loved, checked out an art show (or maybe we did this afterwards). He's always faster than me. When we were looking out over the sea in the viewing domes of the promenade, he saw the moment, got down on one knee and proposed to me, stumbling over his words really nervous. It was THE cutest thing I have ever seen. We shared a mini bottle of wine to celebrate then went to see an incredible visually stunning concert feeling high as kites.
I didn't expect to feel anything, I thought of it as a formality for fun and nothing more since we already knew we were getting engaged so practically were for months. I was completely shocked at how ridioculously different I felt afterwards - like we really were suddenly engaged rather than just together and that was momentous. Don't ask me how! Doesn't make sense to me, sounds stupid! Human experience can be a wonderful surprising thing. I imagine it was similar to how you don't know how having a baby moves you until it happens,.
So, planning it together and knowing about it had less element of surprise (I do like surprises). But I'd say it was pretty ideal for us.
Low-key, no flashy ring/s (although having the rings still mattered because we still like symbolic and sentimental things - even though I said to him we didn't have to have them), no one else present, next to the sea, incorporating lots of things we enjoy into the day.
(lol if there is anyone that frequents the forums and knows I've told this story like three times now over the year... >.>
Never gets boring to me.)