Tips for a Romantic and Memorable Proposal

Planning a proposal is stressful; there’s no denying it. It’s one of the most special moments in a relationship, and next to the wedding day itself, it’s often the most memorable. U.S. marriage rates may not be as high as they once were, but they are becoming stronger, and there are plenty of reasons to be excited about your proposal. If you know your partner well and are sure they’re open to the idea of marriage, then you likely have good odds on them saying “yes.”

While there’s no way to get rid of your nerves completely, it’s a good idea to focus on how special this occasion, and your partner, is rather than letting stress eat at you. Here are some fun ways that you can prepare a romantic proposal that your partner will never forget.

Select a meaningful location

Where you decide to propose can be just as important as how you do it, so make sure to consider this carefully. You can always go the tried and true fancy restaurant routine, but it may be a better idea to select a place that means something to the both of you. You may choose one of London’s most romantic proposal venues or the place where you went on your first date or first confessed your love to each other.

In addition to the location itself, you’ll also need to think about whether your partner would prefer a public or private proposal. In most cases, it’s the safer route to make the proposal itself private and have a celebration involving friends and family later. If your partner is the type who likes to put on a show, though, with high fashion and stick on nails, they may enjoy a bigger event. You know your partner best, so just imagine a location that they’ll enjoy, and it will be hard to go wrong.

Don’t forget the spread

Since proposals generally take place in the early evening, dinner will likely be part of the festivities, regardless of the venue. Whether you’re going out to eat or are preparing a romantic meal at home, make sure that it includes food and drink that your partner loves, and set a romantic mood with candles and symbolic flowers. Almost everyone knows that red roses represent romantic love, but you can also use pink camellias to represent longing or ivies to represent a strong marriage. Study some flower meanings if you need more ideas.

Assuming that everything goes well, you’ll likely want something to celebrate with, and hard seltzer is a great option. In fact, you may want to contact a brewery for seltzer no matter how it goes. The best hard seltzers come in plenty of flavors including lemonade, pineapple, grapefruit, cranberry, black cherry, and other fruit flavors. Go ahead and grab White Claw or some Bud Light while you’re at it if you want. You and your soon-to-be fiancé have plenty to celebrate.

Stun your partner with the perfect ring

There’s one small detail that hasn’t been covered yet—the engagement ring. A proposal without this would be nothing short of a farce, so you’ll need to pick out the best ring you can before putting together the rest of the proposal. This may seem like a daunting task if you don’t know much, or anything, about fine jewelry, but with the help of jewelers, try to find a jewelry store in Baltimore MD and you’ll be able to find a great fit in no time.

Finding the right engagement ring is about more than the style of the ring and the center stone. Remember, this ring represents your love for your partner and the relationship. It’s best to select a ring that represents your partner and the values you share. If the two of you are environmentally conscious, for example, then you may want to go with a synthetic diamond over a natural one. Synthetic diamonds are “real,” in that they go through the same formation process as a natural diamond, and the jewelry grade diamonds go through the same certification process as natural diamonds. This way, you’re still offering a perfect diamond while also honoring what you believe in. When it comes to selecting ring styles, there are several great options.

Elegant

If your partner loves all things fancy and likes to show off with fresh manicures, stiletto heels, and the latest fashion, then the cathedral setting is probably the way to go. This style elevates the center stone more than any other setting with four prongs that extend from the shank, resembling the arches in a cathedral. It’s one of the most eye-catching settings and is bound to impress.

Classical

The Tiffany setting has been the standard for engagement rings since the 1800s, and it’s perfect for someone looking for a traditional ring. This style raises a single diamond on top of the band, typically using six slender prongs. It won’t raise the diamond as high as the cathedral setting, and it won’t be ingrained with additional stones, but it does show off a diamond’s brilliance as well, if not better, than other settings.

Modern

These days, it’s becoming more popular to use non-traditional ring settings. The bezel setting is a good example, This setting includes a wide, thick section of the ring that can set a large gemstone or a flat surface. Some modern rings are even forgoing stone altogether in favor of more intricate bands. If your partner likes to stand out from traditions, settings like these may be good options.

Ultimately, if you and your partner are serious, you already have a good chance of success. Focus on making the proposal enjoyable for both of you, and celebrate when the time comes.