As in, for marriage.

I know a number of the members here are married.

Girlfriend and I went ring "shopping" today. It was just supposed to be so I could get a feel for what she really liked and how much it was going to set me back 6-8 months from now when I planned on buying it.

One of the ones she really liked was a $2000 ring that was lowered to $450 (for today only)

Needless to say, I bought it. She doesn't know I did, however.

Sooooo I'm at a complete loss for how to propose.

One of the most cheesy ideas I had but really liked was having a friend of hers or a family member take her to the St. Louis Zoo, where I'd be standing below the balcony waiting for her to see me.

This was where we first saw each other, after she decided to enter on the wrong side on our first date and I had to walk all the way around. I looked up at the balcony and she was there, I waved, she walked down, blah blah.

I actually like this idea but the problem is

1. It seems almost as cliche as the down on one knee during dinner in a fancy restaurant shit.

2. I don't plan to propose until December-January, and the Zoo isn't open during the winter.


TLDR;

Those of you who are married/engaged, how did you guys propose, or how did you girls get proposed to?