Whether you met on a dating app, you’re childhood sweethearts, or you embarked on a workplace romance… once you’ve both figured out you want to get engaged, and you’ve gone out and bought the ring, it’s now the time to decide how you’re going to pop the all-important question.
Given that it’s such a big moment for the two of you, you’ll want to get it right. Lucky enough for you, in this blog, we’ll take a look at some top proposal tips for trying to keep your cool on the day, as well as a few suggestions on how to create a proposal that’s perfect for your other half!
Before we dive into it, perhaps you know someone who’s recently got engaged? If so, take a moment to browse our joyous selection of engagement cards! Below, you can get an idea of what our creators have come up with:
1. Talk about it beforehand
Ok, so we’re taking a slight step back here, but obviously you need to both make sure you’re on the same page about wanting to get married, before you even consider how to propose! Provided you’ve had those conversations, and you feel like you’re in a place where you’re both ready to commit, then it’s time to find out how they might like to be proposed to!
For instance, if they’re painfully shy, the last thing they’re going to want is a crowded restaurant for an audience when you get down on one knee. But, if you haven’t had the conversation about what they’d like before, then it can seem forced – and the last thing you want to do is ruin the surprise!
One of our top tips for proposing is to try to bring the conversation up naturally. That means if you see some cute proposal pictures on Instagram, casually ask what their perfect proposal would be, instead of just asking them straight out of the blue.
2. Keep the ring safe
If you’ve chosen to get a ring ready for the proposal, then logistically, you’re going to want to keep it safe! Take out insurance as soon as you’ve bought it, and stow it away safely – somewhere you know you won’t forget, and also somewhere you know your significant other won’t accidentally find it! This is perhaps the most important of our proposal tips.
Alternatively, if you’re still hunting for the perfect ring, dive into our blog on popular engagement ring styles!
3. Don’t let the surprise slip!
Depending on what you have planned for the proposal, you may need some help from others. However, we’d recommend only letting a trusted few in on your little secret – otherwise your cover could be blown before you get the chance to ask!
Whether you want to go down the traditional route and ask your loved one’s parents for their blessing, or you just feel like you need to let your best friend in on the surprise, try to limit the number of people who know – and make sure you only confide in people who you know aren’t going to spill your secret!
4. Have a back-up plan
Of course, we’ll all go into a proposal thinking about how we want it to be, but ultimately, one key element of proposal planning, is to always have a back-up plan. For instance, if you’d planned to go for a romantic walk around your local park and ask the question, but it starts throwing it down, is there somewhere covered where you can shelter, or are you able to hold it off for a few days?
Hopefully, all will go well, and you won’t actually have to refer to your back-up plan, but as much as anything, it’s there to ease some of your nerves, and hopefully have you feeling a little less stressed about the situation.
5. Capture the memories
Getting engaged is such a private, intimate moment, and one that’s so full of emotions… and it’s going to be a day you’ll both treasure forever (provided they say yes, of course!). So, if you can, try and think of a way you can capture the memory on camera.
This could be you setting up your camera and pretending to get some candid shots for your Insta (whilst surreptitiously filming the whole thing!). Or you could hire a photographer who can secretly take pictures of the moment when you get down on one knee, and then some more formal photos once you’ve both composed yourselves.
Either way, it’ll mean you’ll have some sweet shots from one of the best days of both of your lives. Plus, having images means you’ll be able to do a cute social media post letting all your family and friends know about the happy news. (We’ve got a blog filled with plenty more sweet ways to announce your engagement!).
6. Try not to sweat about it too much
Of course you’re going to be super nervous, but nerves are good – it shows how much you love this person and how much you care about creating the perfect proposal!
Ultimately, lead with your heart – say what comes to mind in the moment, and don’t worry about memorising something specific to say.
Also, it’s easier said than done, but try not to sweat the small stuff… yes, you might have already planned to pop the question during your intimate dinner while the sun sets; but if the timing isn’t quite right and you’re stuck in a deep conversation about something else, then ask the question after!
You might be stressing about whether you’ve chosen the right moment, or perhaps having last minute worries about what knee to get down on to propose… but let’s face it, as long as you lead with your heart and let your other half know just how much you love them, they’re bound to be impressed!
Tip: If you are wanting to know what knee you should get down on – it’s traditionally your left knee that should be on the ground with the ring box in your left hand.
7. Don’t rush the experience!
Getting engaged is going to be a highly emotional experience for you both – there’s going to be a huge element of surprise (even if it’s something you’ve already discussed!), so another of our proposal tips is to give your partner the time to laugh, cry, and process the question before getting the answer and hugging it out!
Then, once that’s out of the way, you can put the ring on their finger and breathe a sigh of relief, before you can enjoy spending the rest of your lives together.
Proposal tips: How to make the moment extra special
So, now you know how to plan the perfect proposal, it’s time to think about when to propose, and how you’re actually going to pop the question! Ultimately, you’ll want it to be extremely meaningful, so take a look at these suggestions, and have a think about what your bride or groom-to-be would consider to be extra special…
Their favourite place
Is there a city or holiday destination that you’ve travelled to together that has become your special place? Then it could be the perfect proposal setting! For example, if your first ever holiday away together was in Croatia and there was a peaceful beach you used to visit every day, why not head back there and plan the perfect, private proposal before celebrating together at one of your favourite restaurants?
Alternatively, is there a place your significant other has always wanted to visit? If they’ve been dying to go to Reykjavik, then why not plan that ‘once in a lifetime’ trip, complete with a romantic proposal under the Northern Lights (or, one of the many other natural wonders that Iceland is so well known for, you know, just in case you need a back-up plan). We’re certain it’ll be an experience they’ll never forget.
Incorporate a dating milestone
We appreciate that a trip away is very much money-dependent! For something equally as sweet and thoughtful, but with a lower price tag, you could incorporate some of your dating milestones into your proposal.
For example, why not recreate your very first date? Or perhaps take your significant other back to the place where you celebrated your first anniversary, or said “I love you” for the first time? It’s super sweet, super meaningful, and super romantic, and in our opinion, is one of the best ways to propose!
Get their loved ones involved
If your significant other is a full-on family person and you know they’d love to have their nearest and dearest around to experience the proposal, then you could look to make it a family affair.
It could be something as simple as the two of you going on a romantic walk where you can pop the question, before heading back home for a surprise engagement party; or, if your loved one would like something showier, then you could consider proposing at a family party (as long as you get the OK from the hosts, of course!).
Alternatively, if your significant other loves their fur babies more than anything in life, then why not get them involved? Whether they carry the ring, or are just around for when you pop the question, that thoughtful gesture will mean the world to them.
Practice your speech (but not too much)
Whether you’re hoping to keep it short and sweet, or you’re planning on expressing your love through a longer speech, it’s important to think about what you’re actually going to say before the big moment. For instance, you might want to express what you love most about your partner, or perhaps mention the moment you realised you loved them.
However, one of our top tips for proposing is to avoid writing a script and just let your words flow naturally. If you over practice, your words might seem too rehearsed, and you’ll probably find that when the moment arrives, you completely forget what you had planned anyway!
Simply memorise a few things you definitely want to mention, then let your words come from the heart.
Plan some post-proposal celebrations
While we’ve touched on this, another of our tips is to plan some fun post-proposal celebrations. Whether it’s a delicious dinner, a surprise gathering, or a romantic getaway, the moments following the proposal can be just as magical as when you pop the question!
The actual proposal will be over in a flash, so it’s a wonderful idea to extend the celebrations and have some plans in place for after you’ve proposed. This way, you can take some time to reflect not only on the proposal, but also on your journey as a couple. After all, the proposal is only the beginning of your new adventure!
These are just a few ways you could make your proposal feel extra special and personal to the two of you. If you’re interested in discovering other ways you could pop the question, we’ve written a whole blog full of proposal ideas for the big moment.
Proposal planning can be hugely daunting, but ultimately, as long as you and your significant other have had the conversation, and know you’re ready to commit to each other, then there’s nothing to be *too* nervous about. Hopefully, these proposal tips have given you some ideas on how you’re going to pop the question, so now, it’s just a case of getting it all planned in!
Alternatively, if you’ve recently gotten engaged, then it’s time to start thinking more about the wedding itself – from choosing your wedding colour scheme, to picking your bridesmaids, we’ve got you covered on our blog, which is filled with all the wedding inspo you could want (plus more!). Or, if one of your friends or family has recently said yes to the big question, then remember to take a look at our range of engagement cards, where you can include your very own, special message.
