The $20,000 wedding proposal

For most men, the opportunities for creativity are few and far between. While women can play with cosmetics, wear thousands of styles, and alter their hair color on a weekly basis, most men have to make do with the occasional splashy tie or funny t-shirt. This is one of the reasons that proposal stories are so wonderful. The male of the species, long accustomed to being the less colorful partner, suddenly finds himself thrust into the role of magic maker. He has to create one perfect, memorable moment that will be strong enough to provide his beloved with a tale that she can retell for thirty or forty years.

I've known men who spent weeks, months, or even years preparing for this perfect moment. I've even had friends who planned the proposal before they met the girl! However, even the most obsessive of my friends pales beside Gennady Zaleskiy, a Ukrainian tycoon who staged a $20,000 play to let his beloved know that she was the one. The 38-year old hired a theater company in Zaporozhie, Ukraine, to stage a performance of The Romantics; the one caveat was that a masked Zaleskiy had to perform the main role. At one point in the play, Zaleskiy's character was supposed to declare his love to the leading lady. Instead, he turned to the audience and said "No, the woman I love is called Victoria, and she is in the sixth row. Will you marry me, Victoria?"

Victoria said yes, although there is not yet any word on whether or not they've set a date. I gotta say, this guy kicked the legs out from my buddy's ring-in-a-champagne glass maneuver!

Bruce Watson is a freelance writer, blogger, and all-around cheapskate. He still thinks his proposal was the coolest one ever. Of course, he's deluded...