A young man has been left devastated after his girlfriend turned down his moonlit proposal because it didn't match her expectations.
Proposing is a significant milestone in a relationship, often remembered fondly by couples. However, one man is reconsidering his future with his partner after she interrupted him during his proposal and told him to nip it in the bud.
The pair, both 21, have been together for six years and frequently discussed marriage, agreeing they wanted to wed each other. Recently, the couple booked a spontaneous trip to Hawaii, where he intended to propose. The "problem" was the woman had envisioned a "grand" proposal "similar to the ones you might see on TikTok or Instagram".
She dreamt of rose petals and giant letters on the beach, which the man considered but explained would need to happen near their home as he couldn't arrange it on a holiday to an unfamiliar location. Despite her wish for a lavish proposal, he thought she'd appreciate his efforts "because of the circumstances" of their romantic, unplanned getaway.
He kept the ring in his pocket, "waiting for the right moment to ask her", and hoped he'd be able to pull off a sunset proposal, something she'd previously expressed a liking for. Unfortunately he "missed his chance" with the sunset and opted for a moonlit proposal instead.
He took to Reddit to share his story: "We got to the beach, the city was very much still awake and the lights of the buildings and streets combined with the bright moon illuminated the ocean beautifully.
"We stood there hugging and kissing, both knowing it was a beautiful and intimate moment. I started telling her how much I love her and how I want to be with her my entire life. As I started to get on my knee and [reach into] my pocket for the ring, she stopped me.
"'I hope you're not about to propose to me right now," followed by the five hurtful words - "this isn't what I expected'. My heart dropped, I got back up and stood speechless before starting to walk back to the hotel." The man felt "rejected" but his girlfriend is insisting he propose again but "the right way" and "during sunset".
She maintains she didn't "reject" him but the proposal "simply wasn't how she would have wanted it to happen". The remainder of their holiday was "very tense" and now the man is contemplating whether he still wants to be with her. He also doesn't think it's "right" to "redo the proposal".
People were keen to share their opinions. One person said: "Marriages aren't about grand gestures, they're about shared values, having each other's backs, being ready to be there through thick and thin. The right partner won't give a damn about the right moment, what time of day or night, whether they're on a beach or anywhere else. She sounds superficial AF."
One person remarked: "She is ungrateful, plain, and simple. Being in Hawaii wasn't enough for her."
Another voiced: "A loving partner would have cherished the moment, regardless of the 'grandness' of the gesture. It's wise to reconsider your future with her."
