10 Summer Proposal Ideas

While there’s just a few weeks left until fall, it’s not too late for your summer proposal! Summertime is filled with cookouts, outdoor music festivals, vacations, and more, making this fun and adventure-filled time of year a great time to ask your partner to marry you. Below we’ve listed a few of our favorite ideas to help you plan the perfect summer proposal.

1. Go on a Boat Ride

Whether you take her on a speed boat, canoe, pedal boat, or sailboat, this proposal is one she’ll definitely remember. Take her out on the water and enjoy the scenery before you pop the question.

If you decide to do this proposal, we recommend proposing with a stand-in ring and then showing her the real ring once you’re both back on land. This way, you don’t have to worry about permanently losing your engagement ring.

There are several river cruises in the Quad Cities area that you might want to consider for your summer proposal, including the Celebration Belle in Moline, IL, the Riverboat Twilight in LeClaire, IA, as well as American Lady Cruises in Dubuque, IA.

You can also look into boat rentals, including boat rentals at the Loud Thunder Forest Preserve in Illinois City, IL and Rock Creek Marina & Campground in Camanche, IA.

2. Go to a Baseball Game

If your girlfriend loves baseball and going to baseball games, why not propose during one? Not all major and minor league baseball stadiums allow proposals, so you should confirm ahead of time that you can propose. Many stadiums will allow you to display a message on one of their screens in the park, which would make for a fun and memorable public proposal.

In the Quad Cities, a River Bandits game at Modern Woodmen Park might be the perfect setting for your proposal. For a $10 donation to Bandit Scholars, you can have a video board announcement shown at the game. To learn more, and to check Modern Woodmen Park’s rules before your proposal, visit their website.

3. Propose with Fireworks or Cold Sparklers

The summertime is filled with captivating firework and cold sparkler displays, which will create a beautiful backdrop for your proposal and proposal photos. We recommend having a professional shoot off the fireworks or cold sparklers for safety.

Keep in mind that some areas do not allow cold sparklers or fireworks to be set off, so check with local regulations before using them. Your area may also have limitations on what days fireworks can be set off.

4. Go on a Camping Trip

If your girlfriend likes to camp, take her on a camping trip to incorporate one of her favorite activities into your summer proposal. There are several state and local parks, as well as campgrounds, in the Quad Cities area for you to choose from. Or, if you plan on travelling further for this proposal, take her to one of the numerous national or state parks around the country. Then, during your trip, you can propose!

5. See a Live Music Performance

There are tons of concerts and live music festivals during the summer that you and your girlfriend can enjoy before you pop the question. Take her to see her favorite musician or group and propose after the performance.

There are several live music venues in the Quad Cities, including The Tangled Wood, Racoon Motel, The Rust Belt, Codfish Hollow, Common Chord’s Redstone Room, and more.

6. Take a Vacation

Vacations are everyone’s favorite summer activity. If your girlfriend has always wanted to visit a specific spot, or wants to get out and explore, take her on a romantic getaway to propose!

7. Go on a Hot Air Balloon Ride

Proposing at dawn or dusk during a hot air balloon ride would make for the perfect picturesque proposal. There are many hot air balloon companies that offer rides, and you can often rent the balloon privately for two people.

In Galena, IL Galena on the Fly offers hot air balloon rides, as does Buzzards Glory Hot Air Balloon Company in Cedar Rapids, IA.

8. Visit a Botanical Garden

The scenery in a botanical garden would not only look amazing in your proposal photos, but it’ll also be a great place to explore and enjoy nature before and after you pop the question.

In the Quad Cities, you can visit either the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island, IL or Vander Veer Botanical Park in Davenport, IA for gorgeous backdrops.

9. Host a Cookout

Cookouts are a quintessential summertime activity and might be the perfect setting for a summer proposal if your partner loves eating and hanging out in the sunshine. This is also a great proposal idea if you want to incorporate friends and family members into this special moment. Host a cookout that can also double as an engagement party!

10. Go to a Drive-In Movie Theater

If your partner loves movies, why not propose at a drive-in movie theater? Propose to her privately after the movie or call the theater and find out if you can display your proposal on the screen.

In the Quad City area you can find the Blue Grass Drive-In in Blue Grass, IA and Voy 61 Drive-In Theatre in Delmar, IA.

Shop Engagement Rings at Necker’s Jewelers

We have a huge selection of engagement rings in our stores in Davenport and DeWitt, IA, as well as a selection of engagement rings on our website.