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Article created by: Monika Pašukonytė

Marriage proposals can be a life-changing experience. Or at least a relationship-changing experience, as no matter what the answer is to the big question, the relationship is bound to change in one way or another. With proposals, we always hope they change for the better. Yet, sadly, not all of them get the anticipated answer “yes.” 

The reasons people say “no” to someone’s proposal are always different. Today, let’s explore some of them that were shared in a thread on the famous r/AskReddit. And, well, let’s just say that these stories range from simply entertaining to borderline scary. 

More info: Reddit

#1

Man expressing frustration while woman looks uninterested during a tense conversation about marriage proposals online. Dated a guy for 3 years & he regularly reminded me that I was the ugly chick in my town, that I wasn’t very smart. He proposed, telling me he was being generous because no one else could possibly love me. I Rejected his proposal because I wanted better for my self. 10 years later, I married a man that called me beautiful every day & encouraged me to chase my dreams. I’m now working towards my PhD.

randomredditor0042 , Mikhail Nilov Report

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    #2

    Small kitten held gently in hands, symbolizing tender moments in marriage proposals rejected by folks online. He wanted me to get rid of my kitten because he was jealous of her and was very concerned about the amount of attention I gave her…. It’s been 16 years and I still have the cat. Excellent trade 👌. Editing to add the cat tax is posted on my profile if Sophia the Queen kitty 🧡🧡🧡.

    jesslangridge , Cats Coming Report

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    #3

    Woman sitting on floor watching child jump by window in a home setting, illustrating moments rejected marriage proposals online. He was 11 and I was 23…… for context I was his babysitter.

    idkwiao , Alex Green Report

    #4

    Silhouettes of a family on a wooden pier during sunset, illustrating moments related to marriage proposals rejected online. He was a wonderful person, but he wanted to start a family right away and I wasn’t ready, and knew I wouldn’t be any time soon. It broke his heart, but it was the right decision. The guy from my past eventually got married to a young lady who had 3 children already, and they had a one more together. He seems like the happiest dad in the world and I’m glad I said “No”. I am happily married myself. I am still not ready to have kids yet and neither is he. When the right time comes, we will be ready and welcoming. If it doesn’t, that’s okay too.

    Conquistador-Hanor , Pixabay Report

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    #5

    Couple having a serious conversation indoors, capturing the moment of a rejection related to a marriage proposal online. He was very traditional and wanted me to be a sahm. I didn't want to. He also said he hates when women get half in divorce, so I asked him what did he expect a woman to do if he wants her to not work? Plus take care of everything so he CAN work? I walked away. He married someone else and she divorced him because he didn't do a thing outside of work. She was exhausted. I am happily married to a true man now.

    Mukduk_30 , Polina Zimmerman Report

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    #6

    Couple sitting closely at a bar with drinks, illustrating moments when marriage proposals were rejected online. My boyfriend of 4 years and I went on a holiday together. I was still very in love with him at that moment and i thought he had the same feelings. The 3rd night I had a bad fever and told him he could go out if he wanted because I was going to bed at like 8pm. So he went to the hotel bar I think. I woke up at 4:00ish all sweaty and took a shower and he was still not back from drinking, so I went to the hotel bar (this was a big hotel so it was stil open and pretty crowded) and saw my boyfriend being a little to comfortable with some college-age girl. I asked a waitress of she had seen him do anything, and she told me they had been making out dozens of times. I was too shocked/hurt that moment for the confrontation so promised myself to break up with him as soon as we got home. 2 days later, while we were at another hotel, he asked me to marry him. The answer and the reason were pretty obvious.

    ShandiHocking47 , cottonbro studio Report

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    #7

    Elderly man holding colorful flowers while talking to a young girl sitting on a wall, capturing proposal moments online. I was 12 and a 65 year old man asked me. I started crying and told my parents. He was barred from ever being near me again.

    Suby-doo , RDNE Stock project Report

    #8

    Diamond engagement ring in red box symbolizing marriage proposals rejected by folks online in awkward or failed proposal moments. I was offered a "shut up" ring. I'd been dating my ex for a little over 2 years. I never asked for marriage, but I did make it clear that after I finished university I'd be moving across the country for better job opportunities and wanted to have a clear idea of where our relationship was headed by then. One thing about me: I abhor diamonds. It's a moral thing and I also find other gemstones much more beautiful. My ex knew this, as it was something I'd talked about before. Well, university graduation was approaching; I was about three months out from getting my diploma. Our relationship was still on shaky ground, I had no idea what his plans were for his career or for us. I again brought up that I was leaving the state to advance my career, and we had three months to decide the trajectory of our relationship. 2 weeks later, he gave me a ring. He proposed to me in my dorm room... with a diamond. It was at that moment I realized that he was never going to be the right partner for me. I let him down easy, and went on to move out west.

    WiseGuide9891 , W W Report

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    #9

    Two children sitting on grass outdoors, one holding vintage phone, symbolizing marriage proposals rejected online. She was 5 and I was 4, I think it wasn't going to work out.

    alphaevil , Pixabay Report

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    #10

    Elegant outdoor wedding setup with floral centerpieces and ocean view, ideal for marriage proposals rejected by folks online. Because I suspected that my ex-gf's desire for the spectacle of a wedding and the status of being married was greater than her desire to be with me.

    gerhardsymons , Asad Photo Maldives Report

    #11

    Couple arguing intensely at home over a rejected marriage proposal, highlighting emotional disagreement and online proposal reactions. Told me that putting a cheating clause in the prenup would "make the entire document less valid" in the state of Colorado. Another lie in string of many, and easy to disprove with Google. The entire document was written for him and he refused to add just one protection for me lol. It's incredibly embarrassing to think I almost married someone who could lie to me so easily and genuinely did not care for me.

    She_Plays , Timur Weber Report

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    #12

    Man in black shirt holding an engagement ring box during a marriage proposal at a restaurant setting. I didn't want to get married and made it perfectly clear. He proposed in a restaurant anyway and got his feelings hurt.

    Distinct_Magician713 Report

    #13

    Couple sitting at a table with food and candles, showing tension during a marriage proposal that didn’t end well. He wanted me to convert to Judaism. Dawg I don’t even believe in *a* God. Let alone your God.

    glitterpumps , cottonbro studio Report

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    #14

    Toddler sitting on wooden deck facing teddy bear, symbolizing marriage proposals rejected by folks online. He wanted children (sooner rather than later), and I did not (ever). He also wanted me to give up my hard-earned career to be a stay-at-home mom to said children. I had always been very honest about the future I envisioned; he had not.

    Glindanorth , Pixabay Report

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    #15

    Couple in a modern living space with the woman sitting on a couch reading and the man walking away holding a cup, reflecting rejected marriage proposals. I had broken up with my long term boyfriend for multiple reasons, it had been toxic for years and we had been living together for 8yrs. I had enough and told we are done and i will be looking for another appartment for myself since he refused to leave the appartment we had been living in my name and wich i had been paying rent and everything for. I found a new appt but i had to wait for a month before i could move there so i was stuck living with him since he refused to leave to his parents. When he heard the news i found an appt and was moving i think he only then realised i was being serious. One day after that he gave me a tiny cardboard box and quietly told me to open it when he has gone out for a jog. I opened it. It had a necklace and a paper with cringy love poem made by him declaring his love and asking me for marriage and accept the necklace until he gets a job and money to buy a proper ring. (He had no degrees and no job i had to pay for nearly everything in our relationship. I am also 100% sure his mom bought the necklace too.) I told to return the necklace.

    caffeinefoxx , Jack Sparrow Report

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    #16

    Person jumping joyfully outdoors with backpack, illustrating freedom and happiness after rejected marriage proposals online. I've been proposed to by three people. I've said no every time because I never want to be married. This was a fact WELL known to each of those people before they proposed to me. I guess they thought I was joking?

    mulans_goat , Sebastian Voortman Report

    #17

    Ring Pop candy display with colorful ring-shaped lollipops in a store aisle, symbolizing playful marriage proposals. It was my first day of school after moving states mid-semester. I was the mysterious new kid. Jeff (not his real name) handed me an unwrapped ring pop and said "You're hot. Marry me!" Ya know- at 14 I just wasn't ready for that kind of commitment, or mouth herpes.

    BakedBrie26 , Mike Mozart Report

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    #18

    Couple sharing a tense moment over wine in a dimly lit restaurant, illustrating marriage proposal rejections online. One night at a bar for someone’s birthday my long term friend suddenly started talking about how his mum would love me and his sisters would love me and how he always wanted his kids to be bilingual and how he knew I’d make good money and he could stay home. He’d worked out this whole plan in his head but we’d never even kissed. I’d actually had a crush on him a LONG time but I was over it by then. I just told him ‘But we’re not in love’. It was so strange.

    robottestsaretoohard , cottonbro studio Report

    #19

    Man on one knee proposing marriage to a surprised woman outdoors, illustrating marriage proposals rejected by folks online. When my friend proposed to his girlfriend she said: "Ugh, ok. I don't want to be one of those girls that says no." They lasted a couple months.

    discostud1515 , Caleb Oquendo Report

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    #20

    Woman looking upset with arms crossed after a failed marriage proposal, man in background holding a drink in a kitchen setting It sounds so sad, but I could have lived forever with this guy because on paper, he was perfect. The minute he proposed, I realised that it was on paper and not perfect for me. He's still the most incredible human, but not my human. I wasn't excited, it felt like just a step. He deserved better and we both deserved to be excited about it. I actually said yes and then ended it a few months later.

    Important_Sprinkles9 , RDNE Stock project Report

    #21

    Couple embracing tenderly indoors with affectionate expressions, illustrating moments related to marriage proposals rejected online. We were in college and he wanted a wife for show not for real commitment—we’d only been dating a couple of months.. He asked someone else 4 MONTHS later. .

    ChrisShapedObject , August de Richelieu Report

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    #22

    Young woman sitting at a cafe table, looking at her phone with a latte nearby, illustrating marriage proposals rejected online. I was 15. Obviously he (21) was an idiot...

    Lou-nee , Pixabay Report

    #23

    Couple walking on a wooden bridge surrounded by greenery, capturing a romantic moment often seen in marriage proposals. It was 2 months in and he was “ready”. I was 19 and very much not ready. Unsurprisingly, he was military.

    ShayBriar , Jonathan Borba Report

    #24

    Couple dressed formally sharing an intimate moment in a vintage room, illustrating marriage proposals rejected online. First time: because I was engaged to someone else (and no I was not cheating with this guy, he just figured that since I was engaged, marriage was what I wanted, so proposing would win me away). Second time: because we’d been dating two whole weeks. Third time: I’d realised he was an alcoholic who was never going to stop thinking I was cheating when I gave him no reason to think that. He felt me pulling away and started to bring up marriage….

    MichaSound , MART PRODUCTION Report

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    #25

    I felt like I was going to [pass away]. I legit had a panic attack and just felt like I was going to regret it for the rest of my life. And it wasn’t even a real proposal! He was just talking about getting engaged soon and what kind of ring I wanted.

    curryp4n Report

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    #26

    Couple sharing pizza at home, highlighting moments of marriage proposals rejected by folks online. My ex showed up out of nowhere after we'd been broken up for a year. Took me to lunch at a pizza place I wanted to go to. Then pulled out a ring and asked me to marry him. Felt like he had bought the ring for someone else and decided since she didn't want it maybe I would. This was the second proposal, first was from a pregnancy scare, I said no then too. When I told him I was going to get checked for pregnancy he said "Well I guess we can get married." I said I'm not marrying anyone just cause I'm pregnant. I wasn't pregnant just started have irregular periods.

    peoriagrace , Kampus Production Report

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