5 Memorial Day Weekend BBQ Proposal Ideas

4 hours ago
2 min read

Memorial Day weekend is a time to honor the people who served this country and gather with the people who make your world go round (and who will be so happy to help you plan a memorable proposal), around a backyard, a grill, and something cold to drink. It is also the official start of barbecue season. Here are 5 BBQ-themed proposal ideas for Memorial Day and beyond.

Fireworks as the Grand Finale

Volunteer to run the Memorial Day fireworks show and buy a few consumer fireworks or coordinate the neighborhood display. Get your friends and family involved. They will love it! Build up the whole evening like it’s just about the show: get people hyped, make a big deal of the countdown. Then, right before the finale, cut the music, grab a mic or just project your voice, and say you’ve got one more thing to light up tonight. Turn to your partner, get down on one knee, and pop the question. When they say yes, set off the grand finale.

The cook-off reveal

Turn the whole afternoon into a friendly cook-off with teams and a real bracket. When it’s time to announce the winner, have someone else do the honors so your partner isn’t suspicious. Then, when they walk up to accept the prize, get down on one knee. The collective reaction of people who actually love you both? Chef’s kiss, as we say.

Serving up the special sauce

Make a custom BBQ sauce label, something like “The perfect blend, just like us,” or just straight-up “Will you marry me?” Pass it around the table casually, and let a few people in on it beforehand so they’re watching. The moment your partner reads it and looks up at you? Everyone’s already crying. It’s low-key and high-impact at the same time.

Pie, ice cream, and a ring on top

If your partner has a sweet tooth, end the cookout with a big dessert spread: homemade pies, a few flavors of ice cream, and all the toppings. Make sure your partner’s favorite dessert is part of the spread and that they find a mysterious gift box with the ring and a meaningful proposal card next to it.

Adding a French twist

In France, we don’t really do the big slab-of-meat situation. We’re more into skewers. Think alternating cubes of marinated beef or chicken with mushrooms, bell peppers and onions, seasoned with herbes de Provence and a little olive oil. You prep them the night before, they cook fast on the grill, and they look beautiful on a platter.

Serve ratatouille on the side. It is the perfect summer dish and to make it even more special, add a smoky flavor by first grilling the veggies then mixing them in a pan with olive oil with garlic and French herbs. Traditional ratatouille is made with zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, tomatoes and onions.

Put together a fancy cheese spread with a scrumptious baguette and other fancy breads selection.

Chill a good rosé, and set the table with china, stemware, and actual glasses. It will completely change the energy of the gathering and make it feel so much more special.