10 Things to Do for the Perfect Marriage Proposal
Whether you met back in high school, through a mutual friend, at work, or on a dating app, you found love, and now you’re ready to commit for life. Deciding that you’re ready is just half the battle: Planning a proposal is major undertaking (that involves everything from shopping for an engagement ring to memorizing that very important speech), so it’s important to start early and give yourself time to prepare.
To help you make this long-awaited moment as perfect as possible (and to ensure it’s the type of proposal your partner actually wants), we asked professional proposal planner Alexandra Uritis to give her top tips for popping the question. Ahead, Uritis shares the 13 things you can’t forget to do before you get down on one knee.
1. Make Sure You’re on the Same Page
This might seem obvious, but before you start plotting, it’s important to make sure you both have marriage on the brain.
2. Chat With Their Parents
Old-school? Yes. Important? Maybe. It really depends on the family. If your partner has hinted in any way that you need to ask his or her parents for their hand in marriage, do it.
3. Buy the Ring
The engagement ring is a piece of jewelry your partner will wear every day for the rest of their life, so get a sense of what they really love. Snap photos of the jewelry they wear every day, take a peek at their Pinterest boards, or ask a close friend or family member to help narrow it down.
4. Get Personal
Now that you have a ring, it’s time to plan the proposal. Think about the type of proposal your partner will love, whether it’s a grand gesture, an intimate moment, or a surprise surrounded by family and friends.
5. Take Notes / Plan
You don’t need to have your speech totally written out, but spend a little time jotting down what you’d like to say. Getting your thoughts on paper will give you some direction when it’s time to pop the question, even if you end up winging half of it anyway.
6. Plan a Party/Celebration
You don’t need to plan a full-on engagement party, but make sure you’ve got an idea of how the two of you will celebrate the big moment. Book a table at your favorite restaurant, tuck some Champagne in the fridge, or have a few friends waiting in the wings.
7. Set Up a Fake Backstory
To avoid blowing the surprise, come up with a foolproof ruse that leads your partner off track. They may know something’s up, especially if you’re taking a trip or have out-of-the-ordinary plans, but a fake game plan keeps the proposer calm through the duration of this ‘lie.’
8. Keep the Ring Safe
From the second you have the ring in your hands, keep it safe. Invest in insurance and then find a safe place to hide the ring until it’s time. When you’re ready to propose, safety is still key. Make sure the ring is secure in a zipped pocket or safely in the box—somewhere you’ll be able to reach it easily without dropping it.
9. Have a photographer Ready
Whether you hire a professional or trust your future sister-in-law and her iPhone, your soon-to-be fiancé(e) will love you all the more for finding someone to document the occasion.
10. Don’t Rush it
Now you’re ready to pop the question! When the moment comes, take a deep breath, get down on one knee, and pitch the sentimental speech you’ve probably rehearsed a million times. According to Uritis, it really doesn’t matter which knee you go down on, but if you’ve stashed the ring in your sock, then kneel on the opposite side.
