“A thing of beauty is a joy forever: its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness.” John Keats
For most of us, proposing to the one we love only happens once in a lifetime. If done well, the story of that proposal may be retold through generations – so getting it right matters.
If you are planning a surprise proposal, planning is key to it going off without a hitch. Below we have outlined some successful strategies to make your proposal special and memorable – getting a positive response is up to you.
First Thing – The Ring
Nothing seals the deal as effectively as a magnificent ring, chosen to suit your partner’s specific taste. If purchasing a ring without their knowledge, there are a few personal details you must know:
- Do they wear gold or silver?
- What style and stone do they prefer?
- What size is their finger?
Most of the above questions can be answered by secretly copying the style, cut and sizing of other rings in your partner’s collection. It may be a good idea to get a second opinion from one of their close friends who knows their taste and is discreet enough to be entrusted with the secret. Oh – keep the receipt just in case you need to swap it…
The ring doesn’t mean a thing without the setting. Buying a quality, luxurious ring box is vital for creating that first impression – that gasp of realisation of what is about to come… The ring box should ooze style, fashioned from leatherette or velvet to exude quality and enhance the first impression of the quality and expense of the jewel nestled inside.
Adding the Magic
In the movies, proposals are portrayed as complete surprises to the recipient, but life doesn’t usually work that way. Chances are a marriage proposal has already crossed your partner’s mind so if you want it to be a complete surprise, you are going to have to do a little planning to make it unique.
Returning to a place special to you both, perhaps the spot where you first met can be a lovely way to bookend the relationship. Consider having your favourite song playing or, if there is an in-house band at the location, put in a playlist request.
Romantic vacations and cruises can provide a lovely way to combine a proposal and to celebrate your future plans together in quiet intimacy.
Finding the Words
Nerves are to be expected when proposing but they can sometimes cause the mind to go completely blank. To rehearse or not to rehearse, that is the question. My advice is to have the opening lines rehearsed and from there, speak from the heart. Begin by talking about how your life has changed for the better since meeting them, enumerating personal qualities that you love – these things can be funny or quirky, and proposals don’t have to be serious. The best ones will bring out a smile and a ‘yes’!
Privacy
The wisdom of proposing in front of family and friends is highly questionable, even if you are quietly confident of the response. Proposing should be an intimate, personal conversation between two people, not a social media moment.
Keeping it Traditional
Tradition has been overlooked in recent years but customs like asking parents for your partner’s hand in marriage can still be a respectful and honourable entry into a family if your partner comes from a more traditional household.
However you choose to propose, as long as it comes from a place of genuine love and caring, it will be appreciated and make it memorable, meaningful and magical. I wish you the best of luck.
