So here you are, in love with the perfect woman and ready to pop the question. But don’t let it be a pop. Give it some substance and some personality. Your relationship has probably been building for quite a while, so why wouldn’t your proposal involve a little planning?
Of course, some guys are too nervous at that big moment to do anything but open the ring, drop to one knee, and squeak out the words, “Will you marry me?” But other men can manage something a little more momentous and memorable. If that’s you, think about these ideas for how to make the big moment an experience she’ll remember for a lifetime.
The Right Ring
It’s really all about the ring, isn’t it? The ring serves as a symbol of your offer of a lifetime commitment. Spend a little time and effort to find just the right piece to make her dreams come true.
Go beyond the stone. Yes, it’s essential to get one with the cut, color, carat, and clarity she deserves and wants, but the setting is important too. Review the hints she has dropped, and think about what you might be able to include in the design that will be uniquely about your love.
These are the things that call for expert help, so find one to help you get her just the right ring instead of just walking into a common jewelry store and looking at price tags.
Apart from the pros, a little input from friends can be helpful, too. Consider dragging your most jewelry-savvy friend along on the shopping trip.
The Right Place
Every relationship has special locations. The place you first met, the place you went on your first date, the place where you first said “I love you”…the list goes on and on. She may know where most of these places are, but others will be unfamiliar. That’s where you can really hit the jackpot on your proposal planning.
Let’s say you were at a particularly scenic part of your daily jog when you received a text from her accepting your first request for a date. That could be the perfect place to take her for the proposal that moves your love to the next level. And as you explain the significance of the place before you propose, she just might start to realize something is up.
The Right Mood
Men have it easy today. It’s so simple to create a certain mood at your chosen proposal spot. Your dad would have had to haul a boom box and a mix tape to the scenic overlook to propose to your mom. All you need is the right playlist on your iPhone.
Of course, it takes more than music to set a mood. Some candles, maybe some wine, perhaps the pleasant aroma of a scented candle or some incense. Figure out a way to safely store these essentials at the site ahead of time so that you just need to arrive with her on your arm and a box in your pocket.
The Right Accomplices
A proposal is more fun when you have other people in on it. Close friends, especially some who’ve already executed their own awesome proposal, can help you tweak your plans and provide priceless insurance in case things don’t go as planned.
But you need a witness, too. The great thing about proposing in a public place can be that a photographer can surreptitiously get positioned nearby to capture video and photos of the big moment. No reason you can’t stream it live on social media for faraway friends and relatives, too!
An engagement proposal is a step that doesn’t require much more than a ring and a relationship, at least in a pragmatic sense. But to make it your own and to make it a memory for both of you, it takes a little more.
