So, it’s time to surprise your partner and ask them to marry you. This is a fantastic time of your life. Take a moment and enjoy the excitement it brings. And then try to clear your mind and plan how you want to do it. To help you do so, here’s a pre-proposal checklist for you to follow before you get down on one knee and ask them to spend the rest of their life with you.
Are they thinking what you’re thinking?
No proposal can be successful if the couple is not on the same page. Your partner might be madly in love with you, as much as you are with them. But are they ready for the next step as you are? Do they ever want to tie the knot? These are the questions you must answer before going any further.
If you’re not sure, the best course of action is to speak with your partner. You can try to make the conversation about someone else’s proposal and marriage to avoid spoiling the surprise. It can be someone you both know. Or characters from a movie you saw together. Whichever you think might come up more naturally in a conversation.
Another option is to openly ask them. Even though in this case the proposal won’t be a surprise, this is the safest choice. You can mention to your loved one you’re thinking of doing it. If they say they would accept, do the actual proposal at a special moment when they least expect it.
Involve the family
Traditionally, before asking your partner to marry you, you should ask for their father’s permission for it. In this day and age, there are probably not many reasons to do this. But, you should, however, involve the family in the big moment.
Father, mother, siblings, or whoever your partner considers their family to be, can help you with the organization of the whole event. They can help keep it a secret if that’s what you want to do. They can help you choose the ring, the location, or whatever else you might have doubts about. And, depending on how you plan to do it, they might want to be present and make it even more meaningful for all of you.
Choose the engagement ring
Where there’s the proposal, there should be an engagement ring. The engagement ring will be the symbol of your love your partner will wear every day for the rest of their life. So, no pressure, but it’s a pretty big deal to make the right choice.
The said family members can help you find the right style. You can also take a good close look at the jewelry your partner wears. You might want to go for the same style as those. Try also snooping around their Pinterest, seeing what jewelry pages they follow and like on social media. All this could give you a hint of what they would like before you start looking for an engagement ring near you and going around shops.
An important thing you should not forget is the ring size. To figure out the right one, you can measure a ring already in your partner’s collection. You can always resize the ring after the proposal, of course. But it would be so much more romantic if it would immediately fit perfectly.
Choose the location of the proposal
The place where you pop the question is almost as equally important as the right ring. Because it will forever be part of your story and the memory you’ll cherish together.
But which location is right for you is a very personal question and it’s different for every couple. It can be where you had your first date, where you first traveled together, or your favorite bench in the neighborhood park. It could also be on a trip to a place you always wanted to go together. Or it can be in your kitchen. It’s really all about what you like as a couple.
Wrap up
Before you propose to your partner to get married, you should make sure you both want it. After that, you should ask for the help of the family members, find the ideal engagement ring and top it all with the perfect proposal location. Once you’ve done all that, you’re ready to go down on one knee (maybe not literally, it’s up to you) and put a ring on it.