Popping the question is a huge moment for any couple. More often than not, the pressure of it all comes heavily upon the proposer to get it right. Since a marriage is a big deal, there are a couple of all-important things that a man should consider before proposing to a girl.
* Have a conversation with the people who matterThis is an absolute must. Know whether or not you need to ask for your partner’s hand in marriage and, if so, who you need to speak to.The last thing you want to do is start your engagement out on bad terms with your future in-laws—understand the hard-to-navigate aspects of your partner’s family and make sure you consider everyone your partner would want considered in the process. From there, make sure you’re prepared to answer any questions you might get asked. And, lastly, don’t wing it. You don’t want to seem unprepared or, worse, flippant—so make sure you have some clear talking points prepared. Of course, it goes without saying, having a conversation with your own parents before anyone else is always a better idea.
* The ringOnce you’re sure you want to propose and are confident your partner will accept, the next step is perhaps the biggest of them all—saving for a ring. Start by figuring out what kind of ring your partner wants. You should have a clear idea of their preferred cut, setting, and metal. The ring is something she’ll wear for the rest of her life, remember! Doing some digging into what kind of ring she may like to have on her finger after the proposal is something that will save men a lot of shopping time, and maybe even some nerves by the time it comes round to popping the question.Then, know how much you should spend on an engagement ring and set a clear, realistic budget. From there, set a goal and save, save, save. If you want to propose to your partner on an upcoming vacation or a specific holiday or date you might want to stick to being realistic about the spending. From health problems to car issues to homeowner woes, life has a knack for throwing unexpected financial hurdles at us at the most inopportune times—so saving for an engagement ring might take longer than you originally expected.
* The friendsSomething that’s really important for men to consider when they’re planning to propose is who they tell. They might want to keep it to themselves, but some might want some help or advice of his friends or the bride’s friends – this is where he’s got to be picky! He’ll have to choose friends or family members that he knows will keep it on the hush hush, and stay well clear of blabber mouths!
* The wordsRemember, this is a once in a lifetime (hopefully) event for you.The words ‘Will you marry me’ won’t necessarily naturally come into conversation – especially when the proposal is a total surprise, who knows how the conversation will go with an unsuspecting girlfriend! Whilst you can’t plan everything, you should consider different ways of saying it and practice! It will help the nerves when it comes to it!