You found love—whether it was in high school, college, or through a dating app—and now it’s time to make it last. However, as we’re sure you’re aware, thinking out how to propose is a significant task (hello, shopping for a ring, and memorizing that speech).
We enlisted the help of proposal planner Alexandra Uritis to ensure your long-awaited moment went as smoothly as possible. Before you get down on one knee, Uritis weighs in on 13 things you shouldn’t forget to do.
How To Prepare For A Proposal
Are you ready to propose? To begin, examine the following points.
1. Double-Check That You And Your Partner Are On The Same Page
It may sound self-evident, but be sure you both have marriage on your mind before you start plotting. Consider the future of your relationship. Tell them you want to get married one day and ask whether they view marriage as a possibility for them as well. Are you concerned that this talk may come across as overly formal? Start by talking about your closest friend’s recent engagement. Is this a difficult topic to discuss? Yes. But maybe you’ll have a better notion of what your partner will say when you open the ring box after you’ve gone through it.
2. Have A Discussion With Their Parents
Do you want to go back to the beginning? Yes. Important? Maybe. It is entirely up to the family. If your spouse has intimated that you should ask his or her parents for their son’s or daughter’s hand in marriage, go ahead and do so. However, this does not imply that your companion is owned by anyone. Say something like this: “I am completely in love with your son/daughter, and we want to spend the rest of our lives together.” I’m thinking about proposing to you, and I’d like for you to be a part of it as well.
3. Purchase A Bauble
Because the engagement ring will be worn every day for the rest of your partner’s life, acquire a sense of what they actually like. Take images of their everyday jewelry, look through their Pinterest boards, or enlist the advice of a close friend or family member. When it comes to jewelers, obtain referrals to ensure you’re buying from a reputable company with excellent reviews and customer care.
You can also give diamond ring if you have a budget. Simply inquire if it isn’t a secret. And one more thing, Instead of normal diamonds, VSS diamonds could save you a lot of money on ‘diamond’ jewelry. A VVS diamond has small inclusions that can only be detected when magnified. According to me, this will be the perfect gift for Marriage purposes. Last but not least, find out their ring size.
If you want to go the surprise route, check your partner’s jewelry. Look for a ring that he or she frequently wears (and make a note of which finger it goes on). Then take it to a jeweler or make a mark on your own finger to see how far it fits. Based on your partner’s height and weight, many jewelers can make an educated guess regarding a ring size. There’s also the option to resize.
4. Personalize It
It’s time to prepare your proposal now that you have a ring. Consider whether a large gesture, an intimate moment, or a surprise surrounded by family and friends is the type of proposal your partner will appreciate. Regardless of your budget, Uritis recommends focusing on a lovely, nostalgic location that you can easily glamorize to establish the tone. “Look for a cool location that has significance for them. It could just be your lovely living room, but adorning it with a smattering of candles transforms the atmosphere totally. “She makes recommendations.
Personalization will also get you huge points, so avoid one-size-fits-all solutions.
5. Enlist The Help Of A Professional
Although you are the best judge of your own love, it is sometimes worthwhile to get some proposal assistance. Companies such as The Yes Girls handle everything from logistics to vendor sourcing—just keep in mind that such luxury comes at a price. These planners have thousands of proposals under their belts and know a thing or two about making your bent-knee milestone all the more memorable and, most importantly, worry-free. “You can stay calm and composed and enjoy this time since it’s a monumental occasion for you as well,” Uritis advises. We’ll take care of everything on the backend, so you can take all the credit and seem great.
6. Take Notes
You don’t have to have your speech completely typed out, but you should take some time to scribble down your ideas. Even if you end up winging half of the proposal anyway, writing down your thoughts will give you some direction when it’s time to pop the question. When it comes to proposing, Uritis’ customers usually focus on their partner’s best attributes or even reminisce about the moment they realized they’d found the one. She adds, “It’s just being honest in that moment and making [them] feel loved and delighted.” It can also be brief—a few phrases are sufficient. However, the two finest topics to bring up are what they like about each other and how enthusiastic they are about their future together. ” Don’t forget to include the “Will you marry me?” part, of course.
7. Arrange A Party
You don’t have to throw a full-fledged engagement party, but you should have a plan in place for how you and your partner will commemorate the occasion. Make a reservation at your favorite restaurant, stock up on Champagne, and gather a group of pals.
8. Create A Fictitious Backstory
Come up with a foolproof ploy that takes your S.O. off course a little to prevent blowing the surprise. They may suspect something is up, especially if you’re going on a trip or have unusual intentions, but a phony game plan is a different story. “This keeps the proposer cool if he or she feels truly insecure in this ‘lying,” according to Uritis.
9. Protect The Ring
Keep the ring safe from the moment it enters your possession. Invest in insurance and then hide the ring until it’s time to wear it. When you’re ready to pop the question, remember to be safe. Make sure the ring is safely stored in a zippered pocket or in the box—somewhere you’ll be able to reach it without accidentally dropping it.
10. Having A Photographer On Standby Is A Good Idea
Whether you hire a professional or rely on your future sister-in-law and her iPhone to capture the moment, your soon-to-be fiancé (e) will appreciate you doing so. You can expect some extremely fantastic reaction shots if they have no idea that the proposal is coming. Indeed, Uritis strongly advises her clients to hire a photographer, “, particularly in this day and age when everything is done for the gram.” You can even go for an unplanned engagement shoot as a bonus.
11. Store The Bauble Discreetly
When your partner notices the bulge of a ring box in your pocket, it spoils spontaneity faster than anything else. The Box Sock was invented by the Yes Girls to save the day. This wearing device has a little pocket and a miniature ring box that can be retrieved as soon as you stoop to one knee.
12. Be Flexible
Be ready to go with the flow because life happens. Wait until the occasion feels right before proposing, not merely because the sun is setting or supper is about to end. And if you’ve planned something more low-key, it’s possible that you’ll have to wait a few days if your love is stressed out from work or the weather isn’t cooperating.
13. Don’t Rush It
You’re now all set to propose! Take a deep breath, get down on one knee, and deliver the heartfelt speech you’ve undoubtedly practiced a million times when the time comes. According to Uritis, it doesn’t matter which knee you kneel on, but if you’ve hidden the ring in your sock, you should kneel on the opposite side. Allow a few seconds for your partner to process, cry, or hug it out. They’ll then determine when it’s time to officially put the ring on once they’ve collected their thoughts. Your spouse may extend a hand to assist you before you do anything, but this does not obligate you to do so.
