Considering Proposing: Here Are 10 Important Elements To Think About

Congratulations on your decision to propose! An engagement is one of life’s most beautiful moments, and it will surely be an event that will stay firmly planted in your mind forever.

Of course, for you, it’s also extremely nerve-wrecking. You want everything to go as perfectly as possible, and it can feel totally overwhelming if you let yourself get in your head about it.

This article is here to help. Today, you’ll discover ten key elements you should be thinking about when you’re planning the big day.

You’ve probably thought a fair bit about getting the perfect timing for your proposal, but taking more of a bird's-eye view, have you considered where you are in your lives, too?

What’s been discussed between you and your partner so far about the future? Are you certain that now is the right time to be doing this? You don’t need to agonize over it, but do make sure that you’re both in the right place, both financially and otherwise, to be planning a marriage together. The right moment takes time to build.

Your partner’s temperament should also factor into your decisions around the proposal. For example, if they’re relatively shy and don’t enjoy big crowds, you should absolutely not be proposing in a public place.

It’s simply about having a deep understanding of their personality and what they’d appreciate. You should also think carefully about the way you do it – is your partner more traditional? Or would they prefer a more modernized twist?

If the proposal is a way off, you could maybe drop subtle hints about weddings, and see if they give anything away there!

Many people end up deliberating so over choosing the ring that it’s all they can think about, and while it’s certainly a priority, it’s the gesture that counts. A ring is just a symbol at the end of the day.

That said, you want to pick something that complements your partner, of course, and there are many options, be they classic designs or more modern ones. Of course, if you have the budget, you can’t go wrong with lab diamond engagement rings, which offer a nice balance between price and quality.

Location was touched on above, but it definitely deserves its own section. There’s no set perfect place: you’ll want to choose somewhere that has significant meaning to both of you. This could be the first place you met, for example, or where you both shared your first kiss.

Think back to those favorite memories, and your ideal location will likely be illuminated!

You should also be mindful of involving friends and family. While this is solely about the two of you, you’ll need to be aware of any cultural considerations.

In some cultures, it would be a great offense not to ask the parents about marrying their son or daughter, so be aware of this. If you’re unsure, do some research or ask someone in your partner’s family for more information on the customs.

Given the emotional weight of this one event, it’s key to plan your words carefully. It’s easy to get so caught up in the other aspects that you forget about this part, but it’s so important.

You don’t want to be thinking about it so much that you’ve essentially memorized a script, of course, but you do need to go in with a decent idea of what you’re going to say in the lead-up to popping the big question. Make some rough notes and practice how you’ll deliver them, featuring the key reasons you want to spend the rest of your life with this person.

It’s important not to rely too heavily on your plan. Things can go wrong, even if it’s just the weather changing that throws things off. It’s key to ensure your plans are adaptable enough that everything doesn’t completely derail in this sort of situation.

If you feel you really need to stick to the same plan, consider other potential dates that may be available for the same location to account for delays.

It’s also important to consider what comes afterwards. It’s easy to get carried away with the proposal itself and forget the huge amount of planning that comes after it.

You don’t have to have all the kinks ironed out, but it’s a good idea to go in with a rough idea of when the wedding will be, even if it's several years in the future. Once you’ve gotten through the emotion of the event, discuss this with your partner.

Depending on the type of people you both are, you may want to capture the moment to immortalize it physically, either through pictures, film, or a combination of both.

If this is what you’d both like to do, hire a photographer and videographer well in advance. You could also subtly ask a passerby or friend to take a couple of snaps, too, if you prefer a more informal approach.

This article has talked a lot about the readiness of your partner and the general aspects of planning the perfect day, but have you stopped to consider if you’re ready yourself? A marriage is a partnership, after all, and both partners have to be fully on board.

Don’t ever propose simply because you think it’s what someone else wants. Before you ask the question, think long and hard about what you want and what you want your future to look like.

Hopefully, you now feel in a better position to piece things together so you can plan your big moment. Of course, you’re always going to be nervous, no matter how much planning you do, but that’s all part of the process. Good luck!