Valentine's Day Romance: Free Ways to Pop the Question

Plenty of people plan to get down on one knee this February 14, popping the question to their significant other. Roughly 2.2 million couples get engaged annually, according to Census numbers, and The Diamond Information Center says that about one in ten of those proposals happen on Valentine's Day. You could charter a helicopter or a hot air balloon. You could spring for a billboard on the side of a highway, or hire a songwriter to put your love to music. And while all of these grand gestures would be great, there are plenty of creative and free ways to pop the question.

Proposal Scavenger Hunt

Take your sweetheart through a scavenger hunt for love. Give her a clue that takes her to one of your favorite spots where another clue will be waiting. Create a journey that takes her down memory lane by including locations that hold a special spot in both of your hearts. At the end of the chase you'll be waiting with the treasure—a diamond ring and a romantic proposal just like this recent proposal where the bride-to-be was taken on a wild chase through roof tops and even a stop for a clue at Wal-Mart.

Hiding Rings Inside Food

Romantic dinners always serve as a good backdrop for marriage proposals. Whether it's at a dimly lit restaurant, or in the comfort of your own home, building a meal around popping the question is a popular option. Alanna Klapp says her husband put her ring inside a fortune cookie.

"I almost ate it," she says. "The restaurant owner steamed open the bag and the cookie, put the ring in, then steamed it all back shut. You couldn't even tell!"

But thankfully she didn't or the story would have ended up with a much different outcome.

Flash Mob Proposal

Flash mobs are hot right now, even in the world of marriage proposals. Pulling this off will take quite a bit of prep work, but very little financial investment. Recently Trang decided to set up a flash mob proposal on the UCLA campus where he and his girlfriend Nam first met. Their YouTube video has already received nearly two million hits and when you watch it you'll understand why.

Rubber Ducky Ring Bearer

Draw a hot bath for her, complete with candles, soft music and lots of bubbles. Invest in a bridal rubber ducky to serve as your ring bearer. After leading her to the tub with a trail of rose petals let her discover that the rubber ducky is wearing some important bling. Tied around its neck will be the engagement ring.

Play Games with Her Heart

If the two of you love to play games, work that into the proposal. Play a round of Scrabble or Hangman—anything that allows you to spell out the words "Marry me." It won't cost anything and from then on the game will hold an extra special place in both of your hearts.

In-Flight Marriage Proposal

If you're already planning a trip with your loved one you can go to great lengths to turn an ordinary flight into one she'll never forget. One creative bachelor planned for months to sneak onto the same flight as his girlfriend, sitting in the back while she was in business class. After getting clearance from flight attendants he used the speaker system to surprise her at 3,000 feet in the air.