So you’ve bought the ring, or at least know what you're after. You know that this is the right move for you, and you are ready to commit to a long-term relationship. Hopefully, you will even know who you are going to propose to!
So now comes the really hard part – the proposal itself!
In years to come, you will look back and reminisce on the proposal, and it is a time that should evoke joyous memories, the odd laugh and perhaps a tear or two. Deciding when, where and how to propose are age-old questions, and put simply it is a very personal thing and there is definitely not a right or wrong answer.
But before rushing too far ahead, a couple of pointers that you may wish to think about in advance of the momentous moment.
Firstly, just make sure that you keep your plans under your hat a little. The more people you tell the more chance there is of the word getting out and spoiling the surprise. It also puts you under unnecessary additional pressure, if something goes wrong and you need to delay it to a later date the last thing you need is people checking how everything went.
And secondly you may wish to think about whether she will be expecting the formality of a traditional proposal where you will have ‘asked for her hand’ from her father. Even if she’s not expecting it, it could earn you some brownie points with the prospective in-laws - and that’s never a bad thing (especially give the fact that they could well be paying for lots of elements of the marriage!). If you are planning to go down this route, remember to think about what to say very carefully, taking time to stress how you plan to look after his pride and joy for the rest of your life and how much you care for each other. There will be plenty of time to have a laugh and a joke with your father-in-law to be in the future, but this may not be the best time to start!
With these two things in mind, it is now time to think about when you plan to propose, where you plan to do it, and what you’re going to say.
