Before you jump into a proposal there are quite a few steps you need to take to make sure that she says yes. Once you decide that you want to propose, it’s still going to take some time before you can do it well. Beyond simply buying a ring and taking her somewhere special to ask the question, there are a few things you need to do first to assure you get a “yes!” Here are five tips to guarantee that happens:

Details

Planning your proposal should be special. You’re going to be looking back on this moment for the rest of your life and you want to remember it as a moment that was special between the two of you. If you’ve ever talked about marriage before, you likely know a little bit about how she wants to be proposed to. Consider those things, as well as special little details about the relationship that will make the proposal special.

Get Permission

Before you start planning your proposal it’s a good idea to get permission. Ask her parents before you begin planning to make sure it’s ok with them. It’s likely that all is well if you have a good relationship with them, but it’s good practice just to make sure before you surprise anyone. This will also give you a good idea about whether or not she’ll say yes when you ask her, as her parents can give you insight. This blog post from a wedding blog called Women Getting Married outlines the right way to ask for permission.

Have A Ring She’ll Like

It’s unlikely that she would say no if you don’t have the right ring, but it does help to have thought about her preferences before you go ring shopping. Before you propose, try to get a good idea about what her ring style preferences are and which color metal she prefers—as well as her ring size. This shows that you care about what here interests and preferences are.

If you don’t know what she wants, do your research by asking her family and friends or poking around in her social media. Or, you could simply ask her and keep the details of the engagement private. You probably know what is best for you and your relationship. Check out this blog post from Brides.com to learn more about picking the right ring.

Talk It Through

While it may be romantic to have some element of surprise in the details about how you’ll propose, too many surprises may be shocking and uncomfortable. Before you consider proposing think about talking things through with her to see where she’s at in her life and whether or not marriage is the perfect option for your relationship. If both of you are on the same page, it’s unlikely that you’ll get a negative response to your proposal.

Shop Around For The Perfect Ring

Just like clothes, ring trends come and go and are reflective of the times. Not everyone likes the current styles and fashions in rings. That being said, many rings are more expensive without reflecting her taste and your relationship. We recommend shopping around for the perfect ring at shops that sell unique pieces at affordable prices. Pawn shops, for example, often have a diverse variety of beautiful rings that are more meaningful and personal than simply picking up a ring that reflects the latest trends.

Instead of paying far too much for a retail ring, look around in local pawn shops like Gems N’ Loans, which has five locations throughout Southern California including Vista CA. They’re experts in helping their clients find the perfect piece of jewelry, and can help you get the most with your money to find the perfect ring to represent your love.