Proposal Fails: 6 Botched Marriage Proposals (VIDEO) | HuffPost Life

WATCH: Epic Proposal Fails

|

We'd all like the big down-on-one-knee moment to be perfect (preferably with music swelling in the background a la every classic rom-com) but sometimes life just doesn't turn out that way.

Even with lots of planning and careful consideration, things can still go wrong when you're popping the question -- like accidentally donating your ring to Goodwill or dropping it in the woods during your hot-air balloon ride.

And unfortunately, no one knows this better than these six unlucky grooms-to-be. We've rounded up our favorite botched marriage proposals in this slideshow, so click below and let us know: Do you have a proposal fail story of your own?

Keep in touch! Check out HuffPost Weddings on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Proposals Gone Wrong

Man Drops Ring Off Brooklyn Bridge (01 of06)

Disaster struck when Don Walling proposed to girlfriend Gina Pellicani in 2009 on the Brooklyn Bridge. But it wasn't because she said no. It was Walling himself who dropped the ring through a crack in the bridge onto the busy roadway below. Although the couple (and onlookers) were horrified at first, Walling was able to retrieve the ring and the band was only bent slightly in the fall. Looks like this proposal ended happily ever after. (credit:AFP/Getty Images)

Man Drops Engagement Ring Into Rock Jetty(02 of06)

In August 2010, Matt Cawley proposed to girlfriend Stacey Scanlon at a Cape Cod rock jetty overlooking the ocean. But Scanlon's excitement turned to dread as Scanlon dropped the heavy $9K ring, which was attached to an oversized sand dollar. The ring fell somewhere in between the rocks, and despite the efforts of the couple, lifeguards and beach-goers the ring was gone. (credit:Alamy)

Man Drops Ring Down Sewer During Proposal(03 of06)

Uh oh. On Valentine's Day 2011, John Iverson accidentally dropped an heirloom engagement ring into a storm drain in downtown Denver. He was fumbling with the wedding band while his girlfriend, Kaitlyn, accepted his proposal and dropped it, but luckily firefighters came to the rescue. In less than an hour, they retrieved the ring -- but not before sifting through all of the mud and muck from the storm sewer. (credit:Alamy)

Man Loses Ring In Sand Before Proposal(04 of06)

In May, Denver-based brain surgeon Steve Carr panicked when he realized that he'd lost the engagement ring that he had hidden in the sand on the beach in Naples, Fla. He was just about to pop the question to Mary Naam, but unfortunately couldn't find the ring in the process. Eventually, a team of people, including a professional ring finder, helped to find the ring. (credit:Alamy)

Man Accidentally Donates Engagement Ring to Goodwill(05 of06)

For two months, Josh Miller had been keeping his engagement ring in the pocket of an old winter coat until he was ready to propose. But when the time finally came to pop the question in April 2012, Miller realized that the coat was nowhere to be found -- he had mistakenly donated it to Goodwill. He called his girlfriend immediately, but she thought he was joking. Unfortunately, no updates have been reported on the whereabouts of the ring. via ABC (credit:Alamy)

Hot-Air Balloon Snafu(06 of06)

In 2009, 26-year-old pastor James Ng was about to pop the question to his girlfriend on a hot air balloon ride when he suddenly dropped the camera case holding his diamond engagement ring into the woods, 500 feet below. As soon as they hit the ground, Ng began searching for the camera bag. He scoured the woods for seven days until he finally found the ring. According to Ng, he'd been raising money for the ring for a year. (credit:Alamy)

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.

Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

Support HuffPost

Related

weddings Video Weddings 2.0 slideexpand

Suggest a correction

|

From Our Partner

HuffPost Shopping’s Best Finds

REI's Hiking Apparel Was Already Kind Of A Steal — And It's On Ultra-Sale Right Now

The 1 Shoe That Has Helped Eliminate My Dad’s Plantar Fasciitis Pain

This Classic '90s Shoe Brand Is Having A Major Moment

Why Brushing Your Pet’s Teeth Is Way More Important Than You Think (Plus The Best Products To Use)

AirPods Are On Sale For The Lowest Price This Year

MORE IN LIFE

Style & Beauty

OK, But Is Sunbathing Really THAT Bad? Here’s The Realistic Answer

Wellness

The 1 Word Therapists Say You Need To Stop Using With Yourself

Relationships

‘Boysober’ And Celibate By Choice: Why These Women Are Swearing Off Sex

Food & Drink

7 Grocery Shopping Mistakes That Cause You To Overspend

Wellness

Do You Have ‘FOPO’? Here’s How To Spot The Damaging Habit.

Work/Life

6 Work Habits That Are Secretly High-Functioning Anxiety In Disguise

Relationships

These Are The Top 5 Fantasies Women Want To See More Of In Porn

Parenting

The Funniest Tweets From Parents This Week

Shopping

This Back-Saving Electric Spin Scrubber Is Under $40 With A Coupon For A Limited Time

Parenting

German Parliament To Relax Strict Restrictions On Family Names

Life

The Funniest Tweets From Women This Week

Shopping

This Internet-Famous Cleaner Is Somehow Less Than $100 — And The Sale Could End Any Second

Shopping

5 Inflatable Hot Tubs That Amazon Shoppers Love

Shopping

This Inconspicuous And Truly Effective Bug Hack Is Only $20 On Amazon

Shopping

13 Products That Make Cleaning Hard-To-Reach Places Actually Easy

Shopping

These Cult-Favorite K-Beauty Products Are Hiding In Plain Sight On Amazon

Shopping

37 Effective Products You'll Want To Immediately 'Add To Cart'

Shopping

The 1 Thing You Need To Prevent Your Bed Pillows From Turning Yellow

Parenting

8 Things You Should Never, Ever Say To A Teenager

Relationships

5 Signs Your ‘New Relationship Energy’ Is Actually Unhealthy

Shopping

These Nike Sneakers Feel Like 'Walking On A Cloud' & They're 50% Off

Shopping

The Travel-Friendly AeroPress XL Makes The ‘Best Coffee Ever.’ Get It For 30% Off.

Shopping

Some Reviewers Chose These Earbuds Over AirPods — And They’re On Sale For $19

Shopping

These Beloved North Face Rain Jackets Are Up to 50% Off At REI

Shopping

Reviewers Love This Tiny Speaker’s ‘Small But Mighty’ Sound Quality — And It’s Under $50

Life

Love Petting Your Cat? There's A 'Red Zone' You Need To Avoid.

Shopping

A Podiatrist Reveals The Best Walking Sandals You Can Buy

Shopping

These 10 Mascaras Will Be Game-changing If Your Eyelashes Have Zero Curl

Shopping

Highly-Rated Outdoor Enclosures For Your Pet That You Can Get On Amazon

Shopping

The Best Anti-Theft Bags To Carry While Traveling

Shopping

35 Essential Items That Everyone Should Have In Their Home

Shopping

Reviewers Say These ‘Life-Changing’ Sandals Really Help With Foot Pain

Parenting

The 1 Phrase You Should Never, Ever Say To A Toddler

Shopping

This Top-Rated Humidifier has Over 45,000 5-Star Ratings. Grab One Now At 25% Off.

Shopping

Reviewers Love This Tiny Speaker’s ‘Small But Mighty’ Sound Quality — And It’s Under $50

Shopping

Reviewers Say This 2-Basket Air Fryer Is '100% Necessary' — And It's On Sale Now

Shopping

These Are The Eight Books That I Caught HuffPost Editors Reading

Shopping

12 Non-Breakable Dishes For Outdoor Dining That Aren't Ugly

Shopping

If You Deal With Plantar Fasciitis, Podiatrists Say These 7 Products Can Help

Shopping

31 Comfortable Bottoms Guaranteed To Make You Forget All About Jeans