Tips for proposing to your partner

We’ve all seen the grand and OTT proposals on Hollywood productions, but for those of us who live in real life, preparing a proposal doesn’t have to be expensive or cliché to really tug at your partner’s heartstrings. Here are some tips for proposing to your partner.

When you know you have found ‘the one’ and would like to pop the big question, take some time to really think about what they like.

Are they outdoorsy? Do they live at the beach? Do they enjoy little romantic gifts of chocolates, roses or wine? Are they adventurous? Do they have a passion for an author, a movie or a ???

Keeping these little personality traits in mind will help guide you to a well-thought-out proposal, and that means more than throwing hundreds of dollars at a brass band to show up for a surprise performance of your fiance-to-be’s favorite love song in a public location for your proposal.

(BTW, proposals where heaps of people will be watching for their reaction could cause your partner to bolt if they are a usually shy or sensitive person!)

If your partner is quite traditional, you might have to add in some pre-proposal planning and meet with their father or both parents to ask their permission for your partner’s hand.

Even in these modern times, this simple step alone can mean so much to your future fiancé.

Everyone is nervous about asking questions where they are not certain what the answer will be and a proposal is no exception.

Even if you have been together for many years and declare your love for each other on a daily basis, it can still be hard to make the move and propose.

Try not to ask your partner for tips or advice on what they want as a proposal (but do take notes if they offer them of their own free will) because the surprise factor is one of the best things about a proposal.

And when the time comes, no matter what you say even if you’ve written them an epic poem or composed a rock ballad in their honour, it’s essential that you finish with the precise words “Will you marry me?”

We all know the best things in life are free, so here are some creative ways you can propose that won’t tear a hole in your wallet or purse.

Get back to nature

If your partner loves being outdoors, head out for a hike, a mountain climb or a day at a secluded beach. You could pack a little picnic lunch and a bottle of champagne for when they say yes to your proposal in their favourite setting.

Treasure hunt

Send your unsuspecting partner on a treasure hunt that ends with your proposal. Start with a handwritten note or a text message with a clue at home that could lead to places around the house or neighborhood, or to a tour of your favorite spots all over town.

Shake it out

If your partner likes to shake their groove thing, go out for a night of dancing and ask the DJ or bandleader to pass you the mic so you can dedicate a song and propose on the dance floor.

Hijack a holiday

If you are planning a holiday together, you might be able to capitalise on the romance of a destination proposal on the beach, in the mountains or wherever you may be.

Indulge a passion

If your partner LOVES a certain book, movie, TV series or board game, dress up in character or take them somewhere that could be connected to it to make your proposal more personalised

Gift within a gift

If your partner loves getting little gifts, you could place a ring on the stem of a rose or inside a box of chocolates (in the jewelry box, so it doesn’t get lost).

Cook up a treat

If you are crafty in the kitchen, you could make an intimate dinner at home and when it’s time for dessert, pop the ring on top of the dessert for a great surprise.

If you are not a Masterchef in waiting, you can always do a similar thing, but at a restaurant with the assistance of the staff.

Either way, place the ring in plain sight, not hidden inside as diamonds have been swallowed before and waiting for it to pass won’t be a pretty way to start your engagement.

Go old school

Throwback to your childhood with a proposal written in chalk on your street or driveway, or if you have fridge letters, you could rearrange them to spell out ‘Will you marry me?’

The power cut

Make a trail of safe tea light candles into a room and place a circle of them around the jewellery box. When you partner comes home, turn off all the lights and wait for them on bended knee by the ring.