In the 16th century, people—men and women—in Europe held a formal walk or procession in public places to socialize and show off their fancy clothes. This event was known as a promenade.
By the time the late 19th century swung in, American colleges and universities had adopted the promenade for their own formal dances. They began calling it ‘prom’.
In time, the term ‘prom’ was used to describe these events where young men danced with their crushes.
The process of this beautiful event began in the background with what’s called the proposal. Like a marriage proposal, a guy first has to ask the girl he’s interested in dancing and walking at the prom with.
Some guys just ask by saying, “Will you go with me to prom?” Or “I’d like to go to prom with you.”
Others get creative. In this article, we present to you 30 of the very creative ones that made their way into the internet.
30 Romantic Prom Proposal Ideas As Seen Online
1. With Cup Full of Candy
A card with the proposal on it but with a cup full of candy to accompany it is one of the most heartwarming proposal ideas on the internet.
She’s going to say yes. Something in her head is going to look beyond the crime of. The candies do the trick.
Also, doesn’t this proposal look like the UX of a music player? Perhaps the girl in question is a music lover. Or this guy was just being creative.
In his mind, prom night with this girl is going to be like a piece of music that would be left on repeat for a long time. Beautiful idea.
2. Shitpost Themed Proposal
This one’s got a lot on his mind. Hopefully, the prom night doesn’t turn out to be a conversation about how Breaking Bad ought to have been a movie and not a series.
Shit posting your proposal is not a run-of-the-mill idea. Which is why it made this list.
You also have to be interesting for real and hold conversations that’ll last the night. After the dance and drinks, this is what’s going to make the rest count.
Again, what are the attached pictures about? They’re mostly cutouts from the movie poster of Breaking Bad. It is about Walter White, a chemistry teacher who got into meth production to pay off his medical bills. His priorities change however after meeting a guy named Jesse.
Is this guy suggesting that her date for prom is going to experience a shift in her life’s priorities at the end of the prom?
Leave your opinion in the comment.
3. And He Said Yes
Brave girl here asks her crush to prom using a cardboard paper with her proposal written on it.
In my humble opinion, this proposal idea is lengthy. This is like sending a thesis just to ask someone to lunch. It’s a prom dance, for Pete’s sake.
Except—except if Sarah’s the romantic type of girl who wants to hear all the details, read every word, all the while she’s looking in your face with those puppy eyes. Yuck.
4. Programmer’s Protocol
Sometimes, just say it in a language less understood by all except the princess. Here’s an idea for you if you’re a programmer scoping out your crush for prom.
Rebecca let him down. Maybe Becca is a programmer too and found this proposal idea cheesy. Lesson one: if you’re a programmer, don’t propose to a fellow programmer. Propose to an English major student. They love you. They think programmers are geniuses.
5. U-Haul To Prom
Paige is a lucky girl. The guy here is willing to stake it all, even his dad’s job, to get her crush to go to prom with him. Great idea, neat concept.
If you can’t hijack a U-Haul truck, maybe rent a truck from your friend’s dad. Also, you can’t write directly on the truck. It will cost you a few bucks at Home Depot to get the kind of paper to write on. You also need a good sense of proportion. If she can’t read your proposal, don’t bother.
6. Graffiti It
Someone graffitied the trees in our local nature preserve for a prom proposal!
byu/shadowgattler inmildlyinfuriating
Or just graffiti your proposal in the woods where you know she walks through. Wildlife be damned. Your masculinity is at stake here.
This idea would take some math to pull off. One, you find your crush’s route, you determine the trees that are likely to be in her line of sight as she walks by. Then you have to get plenty of the right kind of red paint.
This proposal is an enduring one. The experience will not only remain in the girl’s mind and heart for a long time, but nature will also keep it like a diary. The couple can come back years later to see this memento left on the bark of trees.
7. Picker of The Century
This right here was recorded online as creativity gone wrong. If it wasn’t racial, it would have been the sweetest idea ever. Even if it’s novelty juices only once in a lifetime.
Nope. Don’t do this. That is, don’t go racial with your proposal idea. Just say what you want to say on your placard and leave it at that. According to the news, the homeboy couldn’t even make it to the dance on account of the backlash.
Why then is this one on this list? Well, to show you how not to ask a girl to prom. It was all fun and games until it wasn’t anymore. It was a proposal with a terribly bad taste.
8. The Tip Idea
In a restaurant where she eats, though. Do you stalk her or what? Anyway, this proposal is cool in its creativity. This guy went all the way. Wonder how long it took to think this one up.
That looks like a restaurant receipt. To make this idea work, you’d need to collude with the waiter. Perhaps ask your crush to pay for her drink or food—if you guys have been doing 50/50 in the past. The waiter then brings the fake bill with the proposal on it.
9. Fall Out Proposal
my fallout prom proposal, we watched the show together and I think she really liked it so I did this
byu/Frogfight3r inFallout
This proposal is based on the Fallout TV series. The two had been watching it and the guy got the idea to use it as his proposal. It is always a great idea to base your proposal idea on something you both are familiar with.
It can be movies, TV shows, cartoons, games that you both enjoy playing. This way when you propose, it’s easier for her to relax, and probably laugh while saying yes.
It takes some thinking and creativity though, to come up with a proposal like this. You need to put on your thinking cap and come up with something that doesn’t end up being cheesy.
10. LEGO prom
The place of wordplay can not be overemphasized when putting your proposal idea together. It can be as simple as associating everyday words with their origins. For example, the proposal idea below borrows the idea of construction with the use of Legos.
This idea is a great one because it suggests that the guys involved have been friends. Prom is an opportunity to reinforce their friendship, build more memories.
Prom night usually gives young friends an opportunity to measure their feelings. Some even begin dating for real after prom night. Others get their first kiss that night too.
11. The Dancing Queen
Lovers of golden oldies can relate to this proposal idea here. This idea is based on the songs Dancing Queen and Mama Mia by the group Abba.
So what’s your favorite song that your crush also likes a lot? Or that song that your crush can’t get enough of? That’s the song you should base your proposal idea on.
12. Is That Mom?
If you’re too shy to ask her alone, get mom to join in the campaign. We also learn from this proposal that whoever you are, prom can be a beautiful experience. Wait, do you think that’s Maddie in the picture with our guy?
13. Parodied
A parody is a good idea for a proposal. You could make a video, or take a photo of you performing your parody of Sia, then send it to Jack. As seen below, it’s as easy as dressing up in a wig and wearing a swimsuit.
The girl loved it too.
14. Trademarked Question
A prom proposal, in its simplest form, is a question, as seen below. The proposal idea below is an elaborate one, I admit. You should go all the way, if you can, for the love of your life. Right?
There’s a creative play on words in this proposal. Possibly, there’s a secret joke about the weight that the two shared.
15. Use A Song
That favorite song of yours could have the best lines in it for a prom proposal. For example, the idea below is based on the popular Barbie song we all know. Perhaps the name of the girl in question is Barbara. If so, the Barbie song is a clever idea.
16. Can I Steal You?
And we think she got the girl. As you may have noticed with prom proposals, they don’t have to be complicated. It could just be a simple question.
With some color here and there and a bunch of flowers, you could get the girl of your dreams to go to prom with you. Who knows, she just might be a simple girl who wants simple things. And she happens to be crushing on you as well.
17. Light His Fire
And it can also be a call to action, so to speak. The proposal below is a poetic request that the girl lights up his night at prom.
The girl is prompted to dress in her best. Her beauty or dress is going to shine as they dance. This proposal will have the girl dreaming of prom. It will be one of a kind.
18. Sneaky and Cheesy
This is one of the most creative prom proposals I’ve personally seen. This is proposal creativity at its very height.
You can picture the girl’s eyes growing with amazement when she opens this box and sees the proposal on a specially made circle of pizza.
The closest proposal to this would be the one where a guy gets on his knees to ask her hand in marriage.
19. If A Copywriter Asked
This proposal is what you get if the guy is a skilled copywriter. Her answer was always going to be yes. We don’t know any girl who doesn’t want to be the freshest couple with her partner at prom.
We’ve seen less ingenious attempts at creativity with marriage proposals. This one here deserves an award for thinking out of the box. He understands sales and the psychology behind a successful close.
The idea is to think of what every girl dreams about prom night. Then make that desire the focus of your proposal.
20. The Salesman
This brother is a skilled salesman. Like the previous prom proposal, this dude understands how to get his crush to think about the feeling of being with him.
This proposal appeals to the girl’s desire to be loved, adored, and to be the most important girl in the guy’s life. Even if for one prom night.
This idea would work best if the friends involved have shared a mutual interest in each other prior to prom night. Or if they’ve been hanging out, getting lunch together, and so on.
In the picture below, it appears the couple in question have been seeing each other. Or maybe the guy was only trying to evoke romantic emotions in the girl by adding pictures of couples he got from Pinterest.
21. Or Just Take Your Sister
Even when you can go to prom with your sister, you still have to ask her. Especially if there are a couple of your friends who think your sister is hot and are scoping for her.
If you need a proposal idea for prom, and the girl is your sister, the picture below shows you how to do it.
The proposal is cleverly worded to show that your sister wasn’t an afterthought. It also shows you aren’t asking her because you couldn’t get someone else.
22. What Are Friends For?
Some ask their friends to prom. In this case, one of them would have to take the bold step. The dilemma for many is: how do I ask? Familiarity can be a roadblock but with the right words, you can persuade your friend to go to prom with you.
You can base your proposal idea on something you both enjoy doing together. In the example below, these friends probably watch and love the show Friends.
Also, do not assume that since they are friends with you, they’d automatically want to go to prom with you. They just might have someone else in mind. You may be great friends, but they might be crushing on someone else.
The author of the proposal below realizes they still have to ask. Hence, the question: will you go to prom with me?
23. Fishes In The Sea?
Your proposal idea can be rhymed like a piece of poetry. Make sure though that the person you’re asking to prom loves poetry. You don’t want them reading your proposal and asking what you’re talking about.
Also, you don’t need to be Shakespeare to rhyme your proposal. It can just be a simple two-lined poem like the one in the picture. The dude here even goes the extra by dressing in a fish costume to present his proposal.
24. The Sentimental Proposal
This prom proposal is one of the most sentimental ones on this list. It is a heartwarming proposal and you can just see the girl blushing just before she whispers her ‘yes.’
Maybe this girl’s favorite snack is donuts. Maybe not. Whatever the case, the guy is a thoughtful dude. He put his all in this proposal and hopefully got a positive response.
With the use of puns, he showed creativity. And by incorporating real donuts, he showed sincerity of purpose.
25. It’s A Girl’s World
You know girls get many passes in today’s world, right? Maybe boys suck because no boys asked her. Which is cool. Not everyone would get asked for prom. And you won’t always get a yes.
In fact, some boys and girls miss prom night because they couldn’t get someone to go with them.
The proposal idea below is one of the most direct ones. ‘Be my chick to prom.’ Hopefully, she got a yes. If they both didn’t get someone to ask them, then they could as well get together.
26. Her Favorite Song
Your prom proposal can reference her favorite song. It shows thoughtfulness. It also shows you really care about her, not just for party’s sake.
In the example below, the boy referenced Luke Combs song Beautiful Crazy. Likely, the girl knows this song. And this is the trick to making your proposal a hit.
This idea can be better though. For example, the presentation could have been more creatively put together than a paper and marker-type thing.
27. Add A Frog
This sample idea for a prom proposal is whimsical and funny. Girls love funny guys. You’ll likely get her to go to prom with you if you can make her laugh.
Somewhere in the middle, insert the question. Add a photo of a frog or something else for amusement. The beauty of this idea is, it’s straight to the point, and only takes a little creativity to pull.
28. Save Him
This prom proposal idea is screaming “save me from being alone, please!”
It’s the one prom proposal on this list that’s going to her thinking of you differently.
She’ll likely ask you later in the night after the dance what you mean by it being brutal without her. This is good. It’s an opportunity to have a good conversation about life and it’s different shades of terrible. You can tell her about rejections.
Prom is supposed to be a fun event. And some guys and girls go to prom alone. The heavens don’t fall on their account. Not to be taken too seriously, this proposal idea is supposed to be dramatic. Girls love drama so go for it.
29. The Confident Guy
Ditch the question mark if you’re going to use this proposal idea. The guy in this example below wasn’t playing the long game. He went straight hitting the nail on the head by claiming ownership of the girl’s time and presence at prom.
Which is why he didn’t need the question mark at the end of the proposal.
If you’re a confident guy, unafraid of being rejected, then this proposal idea should be your favorite. Also, if you’re sure she’s going to say yes, perhaps because she’s suggested it, go for it too.
Girls talk. Before prom night, there’s usually gossip about who’s asking who, and who’s getting rejected or a yes. If you’ve heard something in your favor, then this proposal idea would work.
30. A Man With A Plan
Here’s a man with a plan. He knows what he wants, loaded the truck with the loot, and went for her. As you can see, the proposal came with a promise to be different.
This is intriguing. The girl in question is about to experience a beautiful night, rivaled only by the ones in romance novels. And if she’s a reader, she’s about to live some of her fantasies.
This guy probably appeared that night with a bracelet of rubies and gems. He wore it around her neck, held out his elbow and the girl hooked her hand in it.
Last Thoughts
Everyone should have a memorable school experience. That’s where prom comes in. Even though it is now quite different from the original promenade, it remains a celebration of friendships and young romance.
A prom proposal is what prepares the heart of many guys’ romance. And a girl for her first acceptance. This is why you have to give it your best shot. You should save this article if you’re yet to experience your first prom. Let’s make it a night to remember.
