That's kind of how it happened for me.

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he hands her clues to a five mile hike... where the real engagement ring will be waiting along with several friends who arrived a short while earlier... for an engangement party (and to take pictures for us of course!)

It wasn't quite a five mile hike, but he did plant a series of 3 boxes (The Question 1,2, and 3) about 3 weeks apart. He had a friend post the clues so I wouldn't figure out what was going on.
The boxes had the word stamps for the proposal. (No, I didn't figure it out until the last box!) The words were not in order and they were numbered. Well, he numbered them funny so it looked like there were going to be more boxes in the future.
When we got to the park for the last box, we "ran into" a coworker of his who was out taking video of the first signs of spring. A little ways down the trail we ran into his friend who posted the clues. I thought he was out planting the next box in the series.
Nooooo, they were all there to get the whole thing on film!
So while I was talking to them, he went to get the box. It didn't register in my mind what was going on until he was down on his knee.
I admit, my first reaction was "No! You snot!" because I was putting all the little pieces of the puzzle together in my mind and seeing how easy it was for him to keep me in the dark!
But then I said yes.
I was all kind of funny.
Very memorable.

Well, dinner wasn't quite as romantic as I had planned. Actually it got thrown together in less than 30 minutes. Instead of the fire & Tony Bennett crooning in the background we ate dinner in bed, in front of the muted TV, and talked. Instead of Engagement Chicken I tossed a couple of pieces of salmon on the grill, made some rice and roasted asparagus, and threw together an Asian kind of glaze.

Looking back, it was kinda romantic, just not over the top Hallmark romantic. I guess I wouldn't want it any other way.

How creative and clever!!

Now that's a catch you cannot let go.

well i'd say that's pretty romantic... dinner in bed... talking.
ok so the tv was on, but at least it was muted!!

my dh had to work last night so my valentine's was filled with entertaining a 4 year old, trying to feed a picky eater, bathtime and reading preschool books for 20 minutes. ... but then... maybe i wouldnt have it anyother way either.. ('cept the fussy eater part)...