Whether it be Valentine’s Day, or a special day sometime during the year, proposals can come at any moment in life. As a little girl, you’ve dreamed you’d get engaged when you’re 24 but you end up getting engaged at 22. Anything can happen.
Sometimes the wedding ceremony is the event that is given the main attention, but what about the proposal? If engagement and marriage happens to be in the near future for you, or even just a mere thought, it’s a pretty big step. Guys, you’ve got to get that proposal planned, be creative and plan something, or ask a friend. We’ve put together some tips and steps to help you plan the perfect proposal for you and your sweetheart.
Step 1: Start thinking
This is the basis step to planning the proposal: the thought of wanting to ask your significant other to marry you. This is the point where you start envisioning the fact that you’ll be tying the knot in the near future, and there are things to be decided. You could even hint around in a conversation with your girlfriend about marriage.
Step 2: Ask her dad for his daughter’s hand in marriage.
Yes, this is the traditional step you should take before you even think about buying the ring. Be sure that you get the father’s and mother’s blessing in marriage. I’m sure it’ll be a comforting thought that throughout your marriage, you future father-in-law and mother-in-law are in your favor of your relationship.
Step 3: Begin active planning
Figure out what kind of ring she’d like and what size she wears. Start paying close attention to special places she likes, flowers she enjoys and foods that are her favorite. Brainstorm places where you may like to propose, if you’d like to do it the traditional way and bring out the jewelry box, or if you’d like to hide the ring in a rose. Make a mental list.
Step 4: Start engagement ring budgeting
Now start saving. Figure out how you want to budget and which ring you have your eye on. If you don’t want to spend too much on that big rock she spotted, hint to her that the wedding ring is still coming. According to Novori.com, if you budget correctly, you’ll be able to afford an expensive ring. If you two plan on getting a house or a car later on, try to keep the engagement ring budget low. Oh, and don’t forget to be able to put food on the table.
Step 5: Buy the ring
So you’ve budgeted your amount you want to spend, and you’re ready to buy. Try searching online, there are a plethora of places to find reasonably priced rings. You can find a nice 10-karat white gold ring on Jared.com for $450. Then again, if you can afford to go big, ayou can find some pricey rings for $2,000 that are 14 karats. Up to you.
Step 6: Plan the proposal setting
Whether it be on the beach at sunset, tying the ring to the stem of a wine glass or hiding the ring in a fortune cookie, be sure to plan the event down to the most minute detail. The night should be as perfect as it can get. Make those reservations, although sometimes minor bumps in the road make it unique. If you want pictures to remember the night, or you think she will, bring a camera along that night.
Step 7: Last-minute details
The big day is nearing, it’s time to secure those dinner reservations, make sure your car has gas, and be sure to have the ring. Make sure everything is in check for the big event.
Step 8: Propose
The day has come and all you can think about is what she is going to say. Just take a deep breath and go on with what’s been planned. Don’t freak out too much because you know she’ll probably freak out for the both of you once you ask her. Don’t forget to have fun too.
Five proposal ideas
1. Go for the old-fashioned way: get down on one knee with a rose and ask her to marry you.
2. Have a photographer friend set up a pretend photoshoot of a proposal for their portfolio. Give the ring to your friend ahead of time. Have them ask you two to hold hands and take a few pictures together. Your friend will then go back to the camera bag and get the ring box and ask you to pose for the proposal shot, and then ask her to marry you.
3. Write “Will You Marry Me?” in the sand at sunset
4. Bring them breakfast at work and roll the napkin into the ring with “Will you marry me?” written on it.
5. Get boxes of different sizes with little treats inside and have her open them all until she reaches the smallest one with the ring inside.