It goes without saying that an engagement is a seminal part of any couple's journey. It’s the start of an enduring commitment to one another that will hopefully last a lifetime, and it may even mark the beginning of a family.

Of course, if you’re planning to propose, no one needs to tell you that. It’s at the forefront of your mind as you stress over what ring to buy and where to pop the question.

It’s a lot to deal with at once, so to get you off to a good start, this article will help you plan things properly in ten easy steps!

1. Defining Your Story

Before you start to think about the logistics, it’s important to go back and consider the journey you’ve been on with your significant other up until this point.

It can help to go through a photo album and reminisce about memories, as it’s often the case that special moments will jump out to you as themes for the proposal. You can also chat to friends and family to see if they recall anything poignant.

The first stage is all about recalling the past and getting in the mood.

2. What Would Your Partner Hate?

You likely already have a good idea of the sort of proposal your partner would like, so to ensure you mitigate any mistakes, it’s important to also factor in what they really don’t like.

For example, someone who’s shy probably doesn’t want some grand, over-the-top gesture in a public space, and this sort of awareness is crucial in making the event meaningful and special.

Again, run things by family and friends if you’re unsure, and you can even drop subtle hints to your partner themselves for ideas.

3. Finding the Perfect Location

When it comes to planning a proposal, location matters a lot. Years later, when you cast your mind back to the special moment, it’s likely that where you were will stick in both your minds much more than what you were doing, so think carefully about what sort of place is meaningful for the two of you.

It could be that you head back to the location where you shared your first kiss or went on your first date – it’s entirely up to you!

4. Timing is Everything

Even when someone loves you and wishes to plan a future with you, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ready to get engaged.

You don’t have to ask your partner outright, but you should have a good handle on where you are in your lives and what your future together looks like before you ask the question. Make sure you’ve actually talked about the possibility of marriage, and take careful note of your partner’s reaction to these sorts of discussions.

5. Choosing the Ring

Picking the right ring is something that a lot of people get in their heads about. It can feel like the most important thing in the world, so much so that it obscures what’s actually most critical (the meaning behind each gesture). 

The ring is certainly a major element of the proposal, though, so you want to pick something that complements your partner. It’s not about spending a ton of money, but rather choosing a design, color, and stone that you think fits with their personality. If this is something you’re really struggling with, here are 10 questions to ask when buying an engagement ring to get you started.

6. The Importance of the Build-Up

Many people focus so much on the big moment that they forget all about the build-up, which is arguably just as important!

Carefully consider what happens hours or even days before you ask the question. Perhaps you’ll plan a romantic day out or take your partner on holiday, or build excitement in the days prior by mentioning a surprise. It’s all about the details with a proposal, so take your time.

7. Personalization

Having got the big elements down like the day, location, ring, and so on, it’s key to remember the smaller elements.

These are generally things like the sort of food you’ve chosen for a picnic, what music is playing, the specific time of day, and so on. Each of these aspects builds mood, and it may even be that it’s one of these small, seemingly less significant parts of the proposal that your partner appreciates most.

8. The Importance of a Back-Up Plan

Unfortunately, it may be the case that you go to all that time and effort planning this special day, only for something like the weather or flight delays to get in the way of things.

For this reason, you’ll want a backup plan. This can be something as simple as planning a backup date for the proposal, or a different theme and type of proposal entirely, in order to mitigate all potential mishaps. Just be sure to have something in place.

9. Preparing for the Aftermath

It’s common for people to build the proposal up to such an extent in their minds that they forget about what comes next. You don’t need to start planning for marriage straight after, but you should have a decent idea of the logistics before you think about asking that all-important question.

It’s prudent to consider what year you might like your wedding and where in the months leading up to the proposal. You won’t need anything set in stone, but a little foresight always helps.

10. Sharing the News

When all’s said and done, it’s time to tell friends and family about the good news.

It isn’t essential to call people immediately, but while things are fresh in your mind, make a careful note of who you want to tell as early as you can. You don’t want to forget someone and be in a situation where people feel left out.

For the time shortly after your engagement, though, just focus on the two of you. Everyone else can wait!

Wrapping Up

You should now have a good idea about what goes into planning a successful proposal. It’ll take a lot of time to plan, but perhaps more so than anything you can think of, it’ll all be worth it. Good luck!