4 Steps For Planning The Perfect Proposal

So you’ve met that special someone, and now it’s time to ask the most important question of your life. No pressure, right?!

Let’s face it proposals can be daunting. With social media, Pinterest, movies, friends who have gone before, and all the other outlets showcasing how to pop the question, it can seem like a steady stream of endless ideas. How is anyone supposed to sift through all these proposal possibilities and find the perfect one?

Have no fear, Marry Me Brandon is here.

Four steps to think through as you plan for the big day:

1. Location location location

Keeping up with the proverbial Jones can be exhausting.

You can plan the most extravagant scenario ever. However, you may end up going home alone if you’re significant other isn’t as outgoing as you are. Knowing your audience and what would make the moment not only memorable but comfortable is the key.

Proposing isn’t a competitive sport. So when it comes to picking the place, remember this rule: let your why lead to your where.

Why is this place so special, significant, or desirous. To help filter through these thoughts, ask yourself:

Does this place have significant or sentimental meaning to our relationship? — This could be where you had your first date, first kiss, the first time we told each other we loved each other, etc.

Will this place make my significant other comfortable? — If they’re not into crowds or people-watching, then a park or public area might now be the best. If they want something more intimate, you may need to think about places for just the two of you or an area with limited onlookers.

Do I want this location to be memorable for us? — Maybe you don’t have a place with meaning already but want to. Planning to propose with an epic mountain view in the background, or while walking the beach at sunset, or simply a place you want to be able to re-visit every so often can be a great way to pop the question.

Is this location representative of our relationship? — This could be something as simple as sitting at home while watching a movie, pausing in the middle of doing dishes, or at a family gathering surrounded by loved ones. If it is a moment that represents your daily lives, then it can be a perfect place to mark the next step in your love story.

2. Don’t forget to smile

Proposals are milestones in the course of a relationship. And, like most milestones, we want to mark and commemorate them. We can opt to capture them on film or our memory. You can hire professionals or keep it personal with a selfie.

Whether you want that day to be a surprise or your partner to be fully prepared, it’s always helpful to help your significant be at their best, especially if you’re going to take pictures. If a photo is worth a thousand words, make sure those words are kind and flattering.

Recruit family and friends to help you with this. Enlist them to ensure your partner is ready with the big 3: nails, hair, and attire. I know this may seem superficial but remember, happy fiancé, happy future.

We live in a social media-driven culture, and the need to share picture-perfect highlights is at an all-time high. While this reality isn’t always healthy, and not every person will deem this step necessary, it may very well add to the day and allow you to relive the moment often.

3. Speak from your heart

You don’t have to be an author, poet, or wordsmith to ask someone to spend forever with you. The most important words you can say on that day won’t come from a book or a tweet. They’ll come from your heart.

Proposing is about promises, not perfection.

Think about moments you’ve shared. Qualities you enjoy about them. How they make you feel, the future you foresee, and the person you have become because they’re in your life.

These attributes and experiences will help you form the sought-after words. You can scribble them down or recite them from memory. Either way, when it’s time to say them out loud, let them flow from your heart.

4. Breathe

Remember, the moment doesn’t have to be perfect to be memorable.

The importance of a proposal isn’t the size, cut, or clarity of the ring. It’s not the elements, surprises, or events you’ve planned. It’s not even the family and friends hiding in a place, awaiting to celebrate your new relationship status.

No, the importance of every proposal is the person.

In the end, proposals, like weddings, are preferential. You can’t go wrong as long as you stay true to your relationship personality. So as you plan to take the next step in your relationship journey, don’t forget to soak up the moment, have fun, and breathe.

It may be the most important question of your life, but it doesn’t have to be the most daunting.