Whether you met at high school or you swiped right instead of left, knowing how to propose is going to become inevitable when you realize that you’re in love. There’s a good chance that you’ve already got some proposal ideas in mind if you’re reading this article, and that’s excellent. Proposals are very personal and need to suit the couple. After all, one person’s dream proposal is another’s worst nightmare. However, there are some areas of your proposal that you might not have considered. Here’s everything that you need to know about planning the perfect marriage proposal.
Do You Both Want the Same Thing?
This is a very important step before you even start to think about looking at rings or working out locations. You need to make sure that you and the person you’re proposing to are both thinking about marriage as a real possibility. You should have an idea of what your partner is thinking about in terms of the future. Ensure that they are aware that you would like to get married someday, and always have the discussion about having children as well. You can ease into these kinds of conversations by casually talking about acquaintances who have recently gotten married. Remember, if you propose and your partner isn’t ready for that step, then it could all get very awkward.
The Parent Chat
Some men have stopped asking permission from the parents before they propose. Women don’t tend to talk to parents at all before they get down on one knee! It might be considered old-fashioned, but some people won’t agree to a proposal if the discussion hasn’t been had with the parents first. It’s less about taking away the agency of the person being proposed to and treating them a property, and it’s more about tradition. Again, this will be something that you will need to discuss (vaguely) with your partner. If you’re on friendly terms with his or her parents, then this step will be much easier to work out.
Buying the Ring
There are more guides available than ever about how to choose the best engagement ring. This one subject can be a whole essay in itself, but there are some basic things to remember. If you haven’t discussed the type of engagement ring that your other half would like, then you’re going to need to do some detective work. Check out the jewelry they do own and talk to their family and their friends. Lastly, once you have a firm idea of the ring that you want to use in your proposal, try and make sure that you get the right ring size. While resizing is certainly an option, not all rings can be resized, and that could be a frustrating little problem that you just don’t need.
Making a Plan
Everything is in place, so all you have to do now is get down on one knee. The question now is where and how are you going to do it? The trick here is to personalize the occasion so that it reflects you as a couple. Look at where you had your first kiss, went on your first vacation, or where you bumped into them for the first time. Get inspiration from other proposals that you see in the news or online, like when Dr Kevin Sands, Perfect Smile dentist for the stars, planned a proposal in just five days. Now, some people will prefer their proposal to be an intimate, private moment, while others will want more of an event. You’re going to have to think whether you want a photographer hiding and waiting to take that perfect snap, and whether the entire family should be waiting until your partner says yes.
Have Some Notes
Think beforehand about all that you want to say during your proposal. You don’t have to have a ream of paper with a massive Shakespearean speech printed up. However, jotting down some notes and having them close to hand can keep you on track when it comes to saying what you have to say. You could even have cue cards if needed. Like choosing a ring, there are endless guides and tips for making the perfect proposal speech, but if you want to keep it classic, simply discuss their best qualities and the moment that you realized that they were The One. You don’t have to talk for hours either. You could have your proposal done in just a few sentences if you prefer! However, whether you opt for a long or a short marriage proposal, don’t forget to ask at the end “Will you marry me?”
The Party
Not everyone wants an engagement party, so this is something that you’re going to need to discuss before you propose. If you and they want to celebrate the occasion with those closest to you, you don’t have to do it on the day of the proposal, as many couples will prefer to keep that time to themselves. However, following from the proposal (presuming that your partner says yes!), it can be a lot of fun to organize an engagement party. Chat together about the venue, the theme, and the invite list so that you always know that you’re both on the same page. Remember that the engagement party isn’t the wedding, so there doesn’t have to be long speeches every five minutes!
Don’t Rush
This isn’t a reminder that you shouldn’t rush into marriage, and rather a reminder that you don’t have to rush through your proposal itself. You might be nervous, and your adrenaline might be pumping, but remember to take your time so that it’s as perfect and as memorable as it can possibly be. There’s nothing quite so frustrating as having lots of beautiful sentiments that you want to convey, only to blurt out the proposal due to nerves. Practice what you’re going to say, and run through it a few times before you get down on one knee. You can even get some friends to act as stand-ins for your partner, which is a great way to get feedback on your proposal.
Keep the Ring Close
Once you’ve bought the engagement ring, keep it as safe and as close to hand as possible. Get it insured and have a safe hiding place where it won’t be discovered. The last thing you want is for the surprise to be ruined because you hid the ring somewhere it can be easily found by accident. On the day of the proposal, make sure that the box is secure, and preferably keep that box in a pocket that can be zipped. You want to be able to reach it easily, but you also don’t want it to fall out unnoticed. That could put a dampener on your proposal and ruin all of the plans that you’ve made.
Popping the Question
You’ve got everything in place, just the way you want it. Now all you have to do is make the proposal itself. That’s going to mean getting down on one knee, saying what you want to say, and opening the box. There are some schools of thought that dictate the best knee to go down on, but this can be a little over the top. Traditionally, you should have your left knee on the ground, but you do whatever you feel comfortable with.
A wedding proposal will be something that you never forget. Whether you’re a man or a woman proposing, the key is always to personalize the moment so that it reflects you both, and is in tune with the relationship that you’re in. Get the proposal right, and it will only make your relationship and your future marriage as strong as it can possibly be.
