[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hen madly in love with somebody, the last thing you want to do when popping that immortal question… Will you marry me? … is to screw it up by doing something stupid!
You want him or her to say ‘yes’ for starters, and it would also be nice to have a romantic story to tell your friends and family, instead of a comedy of errors that provokes fifty shades of embarrassment!
Here then, are our do’s and don’ts when popping the question.
Forget about proposal etiquette. Traditionally, it has been the man who has bent the knee to propose, but for any ladies reading this article, know that it’s perfectly okay for you to pop the question too. Especially when you know he is clearly in love with you, don’t delay things by waiting for him to ask you. Take the initiative, as you might be dating forever more, especially if he is too nervous to ask the question himself.
Don’t wait for the other person to pop the question.
Do ask the question in a romantic setting
When asking the question, you want to do it in a setting that evokes romantic feelings. Proposing in your nan’s back room or in the back of an alley after a drunken night out just isn’t going to cut it! If you’re planning on a holiday anytime soon, take one of these cruises from Southampton, and ask the question in Italy, France, Rome, or another romantic country in the world. Or visit that place where you had your first kiss or when you first said “I love you,” and talk about those precious romantic moments before asking the question.
If you want to convey love to your partner, ask the question with a ring that doesn’t look as if it has fallen from a Christmas cracker, pulled from the top of a Coke can, or pulled out of a bag of Haribos! We considered these unique metal rings in one of our previous articles, so take a look at our ideas, and then with your budget in mind, consider buying something that will delight rather than annoy your loved one.
Don’t use something from a Christmas cracker
Do something appropriate to the other person
Get the proposal wrong, and your loved one might wither in embarrassment or say ‘no,’ so do be sensitive. Don’t ask the question in front of others, for example, if he or she generally favours private rather than public declarations of love. And don’t choose a romantic setting, such as atop the Eiffel Tower, if they are fearful of heights. Think about the other person, speak to their friends and family for advice if needed, and then find that perfect place to ask the question.
Okay, so we advocated speaking to your loved one’s friends and family for proposal advice just now, but you do need to be careful. The more people you tell, the higher the risk that somebody will let your secret slip before you have finally managed to pluck up the courage. Discretion is key, so if you do need to tell somebody, speak to those people that you know can keep a secret. The surprise would be ruined, otherwise.
Don’t tell too many people beforehand
Okay, so we advocated speaking to your loved one’s friends and family for proposal advice just now, but you do need to be careful. The more people you tell, the higher the risk that somebody will let your secret slip before you have finally managed to pluck up the courage. Discretion is key, so if you do need to tell somebody, speak to those people that you know can keep a secret. The surprise would be ruined, otherwise.
Don’t tell too many people beforehand
Don’t panic if he/she says ‘no’ or ‘maybe.’
Hopefully, the other person will say ‘yes’ to your proposal. However, if they don’t, that doesn’t mean your world is about to end. If they say ‘no’ or ‘maybe, ‘it might simply be a case of not just yet. Getting married is a big deal, so they might want more time to think about it, or you might have asked them too early in the relationship. Give them time to think, and then ask the question again when you think the time might be more appropriate.
I hope this advice was useful to you, but please share your ideas with us too, especially if you have already pulled off the perfect marriage proposal!
Take care and thanks for reading!
