Everyone has thought about how they are going to propose at some point during their life. Usually the romantic dinner reservations at some fancy restaurant comes to mind. Well, that can be romantic but that does not mean it was very creative. Not very creative at all actually. A marriage proposal happens once so you want to make sure it is the best it can be.

Here is something that many people do not really think about. Outdoor proposals can be some great experiences. You can go to your favorite campgrounds and stay for the weekend. You want to make sure it is just you and your girl who are on the trip. A nice and quiet trip where you can lay under the stars at night.

There are so many different techniques at your disposal while camping! For starters, you can hide the ring inside your sleeping bag. While laying down at night, before you turn off the small light inside the tent (but this would have an excellent dramatic effect if done under the stars on a clear night), complain to her that there is a small rock digging into your back. Reach inside the sleeping bag and pull out the ring. She will never have seen it coming.

Another camping proposal is to take apart a lantern. What you want to do is hang the ring inside the glass part where the flame usually burns. Wait until it begins to get dark out and tell her you are going to light some lanterns. If you are lighting more than one lantern, save the one with the ring in it for last. Now, as you get to the special lantern, tell her you are having trouble getting it lit and could use a hand. When she comes over, tell her there is something inside preventing it from being lit. Hand her the lantern (in a preferably dark area so she cannot see the ring just yet). Then take a flashlight and shine it right on the engagement ring. This is going to be one of the last places she would ever have guessed an engagement ring was hiding.

Get your girl to possibly go for a walk by herself, or get a friend to come by and keep her busy for a while just before it gets dark. Go inside the tent and hang the ring from the center point where all the bars for the tent cross. Let the ring hang down a little on a piece of string. Now, to add some great effects, position a small flashlight to point directly at the ring. The more focused the light, the better. So if you have a good alternative small, focused, light source, use that instead. Now, the sky is getting darker and setting the scene for us. Before your girl gets back, turn the flashlight on and close the tent. When she gets back she is bound to ask why the flashlight is on in the tent. Tell her you forgot to shut it off and ask her politely if she would turn it off for you. As soon as she opens the tent she will see the ring hanging at eye level reflecting those beams of light off of it in all directions.

Most campgrounds have access to a lake. Hide the ring in a belt pouch, fishing kit, flashlight - anywhere that it will fit. Take this item with you when you two go on the boat for a nice little time on the water. There is nothing like a sweet romantic time in a small boat on the water. If you can manage to get a row boat it is even better since it will remind her of all those romance movies in Italy. A small CD player or MP3 player can go a long way here as well. Play your song before breaking out the ring and asking her to marry you. The song, the boat, the water, the night sky, and especially the ring added together is a recipe for tears of joy.

There are even more ways to propose while camping, but here are just a few to get your brain thinking. The trick is to make it unique. This is a night she has been dreaming of since she was a little girl so it is your duty to make it the best occasion ever. Good luck lovers!