It turns out there is a lot more to proposing than simply getting the ring and asking the big question. Odds are high that you didn’t decide to propose overnight, so how you decide to propose should be well thought out because you’re going to reflect on this moment for the rest of your life (assuming things go well). So we looked everywhere to find the answers to the biggest proposal questions. Before you pop the big question, here is what the Experts say you should know and do.

Talk With Her Parents

The team over at The Spruce have solid advice here. While this tradition is becoming less important today, it’s still good practice to make sure her parents are ok with your proposal before you go through with it. The last thing you want is to find out later on that things aren’t as good as they seem, so getting on the same page with her parents is a good way to assure that things go smoothly when you finally get to the big moment.

Practice/Rehearse

Its number 9 on the list from The Plunge, but we think it should be a little higher. No matter if you know the answer, your proposal is one of the biggest moments in your relationship, so you are going to be nervous. Don’t try and wing it. That means that you should think about everything from the setting to the way you ask the question. Know what you’re going to say. Practice getting down on one knee. These little practice runs with hopefully eliminate any nervous moments and let you focus on making the proposal great..

Consider The Relationship

The Brides wonderfully points out the obvious, but before you propose you should have a good understanding of whether or not things will be a good fit. If your partner has no idea that you will be proposing anytime soon and has no goals for marriage or settling down, you could find yourself with an unpleasant surprise if you pop the question unexpectedly. There can be an element of surprise on how and when you’ll propose, but if your partner is completely off guard about the state and future of the relationship things are likely to go sour.

Know How to Buy a Ring

A great tip from YourEngagement101.com () talks about the ring. What type of ring you propose with can matter more than you think. You want to propose with a ring that your partner will be proud of wearing on a regular basis, even once you get married. But for all you rookies, don’t think price equals quality. Retails diamonds are horribly overpriced and no-one wants to start their new marriage in debt. We strongly consider looking at your local pawn shops. We now that sounds strange at first, but most pawn shops have certified gemologists and act as jewelry wholesalers (basically means, all the quality without the cost). One of our favorite Pawn Shops that always exceeds standards with a huge selection is Gems N’ Loans. They have 5 locations in Southern California so you can spend less, while getting so much more.

Timing Is Everything

The Wedding Bee has a great piece going over these details. Some people have their heart set on what time of year they want to get married and where. If you want to get married within a certain period of time, make sure that the timing lines up with when you propose. Most weddings need about 6 months of planning at minimum (more if the wedding requires guests to travel to a destination), so take that into consideration when you propose.

Sources:
The Spruce – https://www.thespruce.com/asking-for-her-hand-in-marriage-3489813
The Plunge – https://www.theplunge.com/gettingengaged/how-to-propose/
Brides – https://www.brides.com/story/planning-the-perfect-marriage-proposal-advice
Your Engagement 101 – https://www.yourengagement101.com/proposals/2010/03/5-mistakes-men-make-when-proposing/
Wedding Bee – https://www.weddingbee.com/dating/when-is-the-right-time-to-pop-the-question/