The day of your proposal can be one of the best days of your life! It is a day filled with love and joy, but something else also tends to come along with it: nerves. There are unavoidable nerves that accompany popping the question itself, but they can also appear weeks or months ahead of the proposal as you try and plan the perfect moment. There are a million ways to propose, and the process can be overwhelming! But take a deep breath– here are some expert tips to guide you in the right direction. They’ll help you come up with the perfect proposal plan so you’ll have a proposal story that even your children’s children will love. Keep reading to learn more!
What to Consider When Proposing
The planning process for a perfect proposal can be quite scary when you don’t know where to begin. There’s so much to think about, from making sure it’s a complete surprise, choosing to find the perfect engagement ring, deciding how to propose, and more.
A great place to start after deciding to pop the question is making a list of your partner’s likes and dislikes. There are a million romantic ways to propose. What makes your moment unique and special is making sure everything aligns with what your partner likes.
Don’t be afraid to talk to family members and close friends (on a need to know basis, of course) to get help with coming up with the perfect idea. Talk to her close friends to see if they know what type of ring she wants and to her family members to see if she has been dreaming of a perfect grand gesture. They can give you expert advice when it comes to your partner’s preferences!
After you combine your knowledge of her preferences with the ideas you’ve gathered from her friends and family, you can follow our step-by-step guide below for tips to ease your stress and ensure that your big proposal goes perfectly.
How to Propose
Step 1: Engagement Ring Boot Camp
Of course, the first step to planning a proposal is finding the ring. But before you run off to go ring shopping, you should first learn the basics of engagement rings.
Do Your Research
Don’t be afraid to talk to her close friends to see if your partner has shared any preferences with them. If she hasn’t, you can browse through her jewelry and see if you can get a feel for the style she typically goes for. Does she gravitate towards vintage-styled pieces, or does she have clean and understated jewelry? Gold or platinum? You can bring these observations to the jewelry store of your choice or filter to her preferences on a website like Clean Origin so that you can see the best options.
Dazzle with a Diamond
Pop the question with the diamond she has dreamed about by making sure that you consider her diamond preferences. Diamonds are available in a wide variety of styles (and colors!) and can come in oval, pear, princess, and emerald cuts, among others. A lot of research is needed here, as different diamond cuts can have various pros and cons, so consider checking out the Clean Origin Blog to discover everything there is to know about diamonds and more.
Clean Origin offers a stunning selection of premium lab created diamonds to ensure that your ring is as sparkly as possible. From marquise to radiant cut diamonds, yellow to pink-colored, and brilliant or step-cut, you can be assured that your lab diamond will deliver the dazzle.
Steer Towards Her Style
In choosing the style of the ring, you can really have some fun and make it your own while making sure that your partner will treasure it for years to come. Consider what your partner’s fashion style is and see if you can find a ring that corresponds with that.
Maybe they’re a bold maximalist and have never met a sequin they didn’t like. If so, a halo or a unique style ring would be perfect for them. Or maybe they like to keep it clean and classic. If that’s the case, you can’t go wrong with a three-stone, classic, or minimalist ring! Looking for inspiration? Clean Origin has a variety of styles that are sure to dazzle and delight.
Last but Not Least: Obtain Her Ring Size
Obtaining the ring size discreetly can be very intimidating! The best tip is to measure other rings she already owns. This way, you can be sure that you are getting the right size. Also, consider asking her friends and family for help! They can sneakily find a ring to measure or might already know the ring size.
Fortunately, at Clean Origin, if you don’t get the ring size right the first time, that’s ok. We offer a free one-time resizing so you can rest easy knowing that even if you don’t get it completely right, everything will still be all right.
Step 2: Decide on a Ring
After you’ve got her preferences and sizing ready, you can start browsing online or in stores. Going into it with a clear budget will also take some of the stress off ring shopping. The perfect engagement ring is out there– you just have to find it!
While we always see in-store ring shopping in movies and on TV, online sites like Clean Origin can be a great resource as well when choosing a ring. You can browse our selection by filtering your preferred diamond cut or building a completely custom engagement ring. A custom engagement ring can make a proposal even more special.
On Clean Origin’s website, you can build an engagement ring that is completely customized to your partner’s desires. It can even be something special that you do together if you both have talked about an engagement happening down the line. If you are feeling lost or overwhelmed by the process, we also offer virtual appointments to speak to a diamond specialist to ensure you are building the perfect ring!
Step 3: How to Propose
Now that you’ve got the ring safely tucked away in the ring box, it’s time to decide how you want to propose marriage. You can research proposal trends to get ideas, but don’t forget to tailor the proposal to who your partner is. First, you should find out whether your partner prefers a private moment or a grand gesture.
How to Propose: Simple Marriage Proposal Ideas
The best way to start a simple proposal is to think about your favorite memories together. What is your favorite restaurant? Do you have a go-to date night activity? Proposing based on one of these memories will create the perfect low-key and special proposal.
If your partner isn’t one for grand gestures of love, throw out all of the popular proposal trends and think small. For example, a beautiful way to propose is to cook a nice dinner in your own home and then get down on one knee.
Another wonderful place to get down on one knee is your first date spot or your favorite restaurant. Sometimes, the most romantic settings are the ones that are most meaningful to you both. This way, it’s still simple, but it’s tied into a special memory you both share. People have even decided to celebrate their equally low-key marriage reception in this same meaningful location as well. It’s a great way to tie together all of your favorite moments as a couple!
If you and your partner want a simple proposal but not one that is completely private, it’s a great idea to keep to any of the ideas above but have your friends and family waiting to celebrate with you after. You can either reserve a private room in the restaurant you decide on or have everyone over to your house to celebrate the big moment.
How to Propose: Some “Go Big or Go Home” Proposal Ideas
If you know that your partner wants an over-the-top proposal, you will have a bigger task at hand in the weeks leading up to the big day. A momentous occasion deserves a momentous idea! You can even hire a proposal planner to help you sort out all of the details.
While you might have seen a flash mob proposal a million times on Youtube, there is a reason people continue to propose to their partners this way.
And for the fun-, dance-, and music-loving partner, you can’t go wrong with planning a flashdance. Get a friend to press record, and you will be able to capture the moment your partner’s face lights up with joy and realization as you dance your heart out with a ring in hand.
Another grand way to propose is with a romantic getaway. Whether it’s a trip to Paris to get down on one knee in front of the Eiffel Tower or a vacation to a sparkling white sand beach, you can guarantee that a surprise proposal will create new favorite memories together. But remember– if you want to keep it a surprise proposal, only go on a trip if this is something you would normally do. This way, they won’t see it coming.
If your partner is an adventurer and your trips entail hiking and camping instead of sightseeing, you can use the best backdrop of all: nature. Plan your proposal on top of a mountain when the sun is just right, or pop the question in the national park they’ve always dreamed of going to.
Step 4: Make Arrangements and Hire a Proposal Photographer
You’ve finally decided where you’re going to propose– congratulations! There are a million romantic proposals to choose from, and you’ve chosen the perfect one.
Now it’s time to make arrangements! If you want to capture the moment, a proposal photographer is a great way to go to ensure your proposal is fully documented. Do your research to find the aesthetic you’d like, and if you are planning something more extravagant, make sure that the photographer is comfortable going along with you.
Learn about the photographer’s availability in order to make sure that your special day will be documented. This requires a lot of coordination throughout the whole process, but it is worth it. Remember to confirm that your proposal location is available, and always make sure that they allow proposal photographs/video.
Finally, you should also confirm that your partner’s parents as well as your own friends and family can all be in town if you want to celebrate with them. If anyone is flying in, make sure you help them find a hotel room so they can have a comfortable stay.
Step 5: Figure Out What to Say
While it might go out the window when you are actually popping the question on one knee, it’s important to have a plan of what you are going to say. This will not only make sure that the moment is special, but it will also make proposing a lot less stressful.
Start out by writing down all the reasons you love your partner and explain why you want to spend your life with them. You can then take these thoughts and turn them into a speech. What matters most is that it comes from the heart. And don’t forget to end it with the most important question: “Will you marry me?”
You’ll also want to ask a family member to practice with you. You can do everything from practicing getting down on one knee, reaching for their left hand, and, of course, saying your speech.
This will help your stress levels when it’s actually time for the proposal. You won’t have to think about “left knee or right knee?” or struggle to remember what you’re going to say. You can just enjoy proposing and hearing, “Yes, I will marry you,” without getting distracted by the technicalities.
The most important part is that it’s a special day that you both will cherish for the rest of your lives.
Clean Origin Has Your Back
At the end of the day, the most important part of a proposal is the joy and love that you and your partner will feel. (And the butterflies, smiles, and kisses aren’t too bad, either!). Regardless of any hiccups along the way of your proposal journey, Clean Origin will ensure that you at least have the perfect ring for your soulmate with our wide selection of stunning lab created diamonds. So take a deep breath, get down on one knee, and pop a marriage proposal that your partner will never forget.
