A Day on the LakeThis fisherman took his girlfriend on a boat trip across Broken Bow Lake in Oklahoma, but he had a surprise up his sleeve. He asked her to record him performing a trick with the dogs they brought with them, but instead he offered a fake proposal. Pulling out a ring, he knelt down on one knee and asked her to marry him, while simultaneously dropping the “diamond” into the murky waters below. Minutes later, he pulled out the real ring and redid his proposal, prompting a string of “Are you serious?” responses. Luckily, she said yes.

A Surprise at the Food CourtThere’s something romantic about proposing in a food court-the heavenly aromas of Arby’s, McDonald’s, and Sbarro, the congested seating, the greasy food trays, the spilled soda, and the hustle and bustle from the nearby Target. Really, what could have gone wrong? Perhaps a synchronized flash mob would have been a bigger hit, or at least more entertaining for spectators to watch.

A Proposal to Die ForThis gets props for being the most creative and most terrifying one we’ve seen yet. A man who is about to pop the question to his longtime girlfriend hoists himself up on a ledge-you know where this is going-to get the attention of their guests. As his friend tosses him the ring, the proposer fails to catch it and falls backward off the ledge and down several stories. Cruel intentions or cute prank? Regardless, we appreciate the slow-motion replay of his girlfriend’s reaction (was she channeling Chewbacca?) to seeing him fall to his supposed death.

A Talk-Show Idol Doesn’t HelpEllen DeGeneres is known for her good deeds, from helping injured animals to distributing food to America’s hungry people. When a fan of The Ellen Show wrote to the host asking to propose to his girlfriend on the show, DeGeneres jumped at the chance to help facilitate someone’s happily ever after. Unfortunately, the gesture didn’t go over so well, and when she said no, DeGeneres looked more than a little uncomfortable. I doubt the show’s producers factored “No, I’m sorry” into the options of how she might respond.

Forget the TiVoThe Aussie TV program Footy Show aired an episode from 2009 in which a member of the audience pulls his girlfriend on stage and pops the big question. Less than pleased with his approach, she says, “You cannot do this now,” and dramatically runs off stage. If you listen closely, you can hear the man saying, “I told my mum to record this. I’d better tell her not to record this.”

The Hot-Dog Guy Doesn’t Like You EitherIt’s safe to say that proposing at a sporting event is borderline cliché, but having your longtime girlfriend reject your marriage proposal only to hear the nearby vendor yell, “Hot dogs! Hot dogs!” over and over is just plain cruel.

All-American Surprise, RuinedThis Boise State footballer wins the game, and the girl. Unfortunately, his “surprise” proposal to a Boise State cheerleader was ruined by the reporter who had been tipped off about what was coming.

Shut Down on National TelevisionWe feel bad for the man who proposed to his girlfriend on national television, just to have her turn him down. But for a guy who decided to propose in front of hundreds of people in the audience, thousands of people watching around the country, and the love of his life, he’s not so good at articulating his feelings. Cut the “ums” and “uhs” and you might have a decent proposal. Regrettably, his girlfriend of “a few months” didn’t feel the same.

Startled on StageTo the man proposing at a concert to his girlfriend: her reluctance to get on stage with you should have been the first clue. But we give him props; unlike others who have been denied in public and wallow in their rejection, this guy is the first man we’ve seen who chased his girlfriend for some follow-up chitchat.

Great HeightsWhen this man proposed to a woman on top of New York City’s Empire State Building, she offered him little solace. The hesitation in her voice when he said, “I want to ask you something,” was followed by a brutal “What the f–k are you doing?” as he got down on one knee. Apparently chivalry is dead.