Love has its way of making us do crazy things that might seem reasonable in the moment but cringe later on. However, some people take their romantic gestures a little too far, making your little embarrassing experience appear tame in comparison.
If you’re looking to feel better about some of your romantic blunders or just want to have a good laugh, keep reading.
Some of these stories made the news, while others come from personal posts, but they all have one thing in common: love can make people act a little ridiculous!
A man bought 99 iPhones in 2014 to propose, and she said no.
In November 2014, a Chinese man thought a grand romantic gesture was what he needed to persuade his girlfriend to marry him.
However, instead of thrilling her with flowers or chocolates, he purchased 99 iPhone 6s worth over $80,000 and arranged them in a heart-shaped display before proposing in public.
Instead of a tearful “yes,” the proposal ended with a rejection in front of a crowd. And honestly, who can blame her? What was she supposed to do with 99 iPhones, anyway?!
A Houston man stopped traffic on I-45 to propose in 2015.
Dramatic, over-the-top proposals might not be for everyone, but they do have their appeal.
That said, in December 2015, a Texas man and several friends took things a little too far when they blocked traffic on the Interstate 45, one of Houston’s busiest highways, to propose to his girlfriend.
The proposal didn’t just draw widespread criticism online; it also landed him in serious trouble. He eventually got arrested and was charged with obstructing traffic, showing how quickly a “grand gesture” can turn into a legal problem when public safety is involved.
A student said she turned down an internship to stay near her crush.
In a personal story shared online, a woman said she turned down a strong internship opportunity during engineering school because it would have taken her away from a crush who planned to stay on campus that summer.
Against her best interests, she decided to turn down the internship. She instead spent the summer cycling around campus in the scorching heat, all for a chance to catch a glimpse of him.
And guess what? She did all that and only got to see her crush once that entire summer, leaving her with no internship, no romantic payoff, and a lot of regret!
A man staged a fake convenience-store robbery in 2019 to propose.
What would you like your dream wedding proposal to look like? Perhaps you’d like some flowers? A beautiful view? Or an intimate event with close friends and family?
Well, in 2019, one New York man felt all of that was too tame and wanted to do something really shocking. With help from a friend, they staged an “armed robbery” at a convenience store while he proposed. Instead of being impressed, his girlfriend looked understandably upset, since the setup relied on fear and confusion to create drama.
The video sparked backlash online, with many viewers calling the stunt reckless and cruel. It’s the kind of proposal idea that might sound “cinematic” in someone’s head, but lands terribly in real life.
Thankfully, he had a chance to propose again, and this time he did it right, no fake robberies, drama, or trauma.
A Reddit user claimed their brother failed a test on purpose for extra time with a crush.
In one Reddit story, a user said their brother deliberately failed a school test so he’d be placed into remediation with his crush.
The plan was simple: more time together, more chances to talk, and less competition from everyone else in class.
Even if it “worked” socially, it’s a painful trade: worse grades, extra work, and a decision you can’t exactly explain to a teacher without sounding ridiculous.
He might have failed the test, but at least he got a perfect grade for romance!
Someone online said they jumped off a train to see their girlfriend again.
One young man had promised his girlfriend that he would arrive at the train station a few hours early so they could hang out before he left for school. Unfortunately, after drinking the night before, he woke up late and arrived minutes before his train departed.
As the train pulled away, he saw his girlfriend standing on the platform, heartbroken that they wouldn’t see each other for months. By sheer luck, the train stopped after a short distance, and in a split second, he grabbed his bags, jumped off the train onto the tracks, and ran back.
His poor decision might have looked like a movie scene, but it’s also the kind of impulsive decision that can go wrong fast.
A woman said she barked at a pack of dogs to protect her husband.
In another personal story shared online, a woman said she saw a pack of large dogs approaching her husband while he took out the trash. Without stopping to think, she ran outside, waving her arms, yelling, and barking at the top of her lungs.
According to her retelling, the now-confused dogs froze in their tracks, then backed off and ran away.
It’s a brave image, but it also could have ended very differently if the animals had reacted aggressively instead of getting spooked.
A man claimed he changed his handwriting to match his crush’s.
On Quora, one guy confessed that he completely changed his handwriting in school to mimic his crush’s. His goal was to help her out with her assignments and schoolwork without getting caught.
It’s definitely not the best decision academically, but it’s a surprisingly intense example of the lengths people will go to just to feel useful to someone they like.
A Bangladeshi woman reportedly swam for about an hour to enter India in 2022.
In May 2022, a 22-year-old woman from Bangladesh fell in love with an Indian man she met on Facebook. She wanted to meet him in real life, but couldn’t because she didn’t have a passport.
Instead of waiting to get the right documentation, she travelled illegally through the Sundarbans forest, which is known to have tigers. She also swam for over an hour across a river until she got to India.
She eventually met her boyfriend, who was indeed a real person. The pair quickly got married at a temple in Kolkata, but their fairytale would soon be cut short. Once authorities got wind of the incident, they promptly arrested her for illegal entry, and she was later deported.
A man said he rode on a bus roof for six hours to meet his girlfriend.
In a story shared online, one man said that he offered to pick up his girlfriend from the airport late at night. Unfortunately, when he arrived at the bus station at 10 pm, the last bus was already full.
The only space left was on the roof of the bus, and without a moment’s hesitation, he climbed up and began the six-hour journey.
Not long into the ride, he realized how dangerous the choice was, especially in winter winds with nothing to shield him. Luckily, he said he arrived safely, but it’s the kind of decision that’s terrifying to imagine in hindsight.
Love can make people bold, but it can also make them impulsive. These stories range from funny to genuinely risky, and they’re a good reminder that big feelings do not always lead to good decisions.
If you’ve ever cringed at your own romantic moment, know that there’s someone else out there who has made an even bigger blunder.