Many of you would not consider popping the question of marriage an event, but ask any bride that has been surprised with a very creative proposal and she would tell you it was one of the most important events in her life.
In November and December, one in four grooms propose to their brides over the holiday season, so for those of you that are reading this article, we figure you're the other 75% that hasn't and could use some help.
Do you ask permission first?Although considered old-fashioned, asking the father (or mother) for permission to marry their daughter will be very meaningful to the bride, a nice gesture and considered a sign of respect to the parents.
Where do you ask her?First of all, surprise her, it will be a memory that she will cherish for a lifetime and although brides love to plan their wedding, they don't want to be involved in the planning of their engagement, this one is up to you guys.
Studies show that the top three spots girls prefer are:
- On vacation
- The site of your first date (unless it is really crowded)
- A local landmark
Least favorite spots included in front of family and friends, in a restaurant, a sports stadium, or generally anywhere there is a crowd as this is a very private and romantic moment which they can't savor if they feel like they are on a stage.
Do you buy her the ring?Unless you really know her style, shape and color preferences, remember that this is THE ring she will wear for a lifetime so you want it to be perfect. If you're not sure, you may consider a promise ring to present during the proposal with a special invitation written "To my fiancée" (the first time she hears those words) to go wedding ring shopping where the two of you can go and pick out the ring she loves.
If you do want to present her the engagement ring, you may want to get input from her close friends and family before purchasing the ring.
How will you present the ring?Getting down on one knee while holding a box is usually the first signal, but the words that follow are the most meaningful.
What will you say?First, you'll want to sit down and collect your thoughts on what you want to say, but on the actual day you shouldn't read off a paper, just speak from your heart.
These are but a few ideas to get you started:
- Think about what you thought when you first met her when you were awestruck by her beauty
- Talk about the passions you share
- How she supports and inspires you
- How you admire her special qualities (patience, kindness, adventure, etc).
- The specific moment when it hit you when you knew she was "the one"
- How much better your life is with her in it
- How you want to share the rest of your life with you.
- Most importantly "Will you marry me?"
Most memorable marriage proposal? As a wedding planner, I often hear (or even see videos) from my brides. A favorite one was where a groom planned a romantic picnic with his future bride and afterwards they walked to a meaningful location overlooking the San Francisco skyline which was planned for sunset. Pretending to set-up their camera on a tripod which was a normal occurrence for them, he then got down on one knee and explained how much she meant to him and asked her to marry him and placed the engagement ring on her finger.
She said yes, when they embraced she was looking at her ring trying to understand why the ring that he picked out which was totally opposite of her style and what they had talked about. They then met friends for dinner at a favorite restaurant where she said he stuck to his guns on how perfect the ring he selected was for her was and rather than showing off her ring, she actually kept trying to hide it.
Unbeknownst to her, this was just the beginning of her special engagement day. When they arrived at their apartment she was once again surprised as she was greeted by candles and rose petals that led her up to their loft. At the top of the loft was a picture of the bride that he drawn that had spotlights all the way around it. As she marveled with all the romance he had planned, he explained the symbolism of the picture and pointed out that she was actually wearing her real wedding ring all day long, and he presented her with her real and PERFECT engagement ring. They remarkably caught most of their engagement on video and they shared it on their wedding website for their guests to view.
Please share your favorite engagement story.
