Marriage is the end goal for many relationships. A marriage is a commitment, where both parties are essentially telling each other and the world that they intend to be together forever. The perfect wedding is so important for this, but it all starts with the proposal.

While it doesn’t happen with every engagement, traditionally, it’s down to the men to plan the proposal and to make sure things go smoothly. A bad proposal can put a sour taste on the engagement and might even push your significant other to turn you down if they feel hurt or unappreciated. 

Here are a few tips to get things right.

Balancing the Surprise

Often, the perfect proposal comes down to knowing your significant other well. If you get things wrong, it might be because you’re thinking of a proposal where you look good rather than one that your significant other will enjoy. This can make you seem selfish and as though you don’t care about your future fiancee.

First, it’s important to balance the amount of surprise. Some people like a proposal to come completely out of the blue, while others like to be a part of the proposal planning. Most people come somewhere in between.

Typically, you need to have at least one conversation with your future fiancee about the future of your relationship and whether they want to get married. 

Many couples get to a point where they both want to marry, then it’s up to you to plan a proposal. Friends and family can be very helpful for arranging a surprise and making sure your significant other is in the right place at the right time.

Public or Private

Another thing to plan is how public you want the proposal to be.

A public proposal might seem like a great idea, but some people feel pressured and embarrassed when there’s a lot of people around them. They might feel as though they don’t have the option to say anything but yes because they’re at the center of a crowd.

A private, intimate proposal can be just as romantic and impactful, and if your fiancee doesn’t like being the center of attention, it can also be a lot more considerate.

However, some people absolutely love the idea of a public proposal, especially if their friends and family are around to celebrate with. Again, the trick is to know your significant other and to find the right balance.

The Right Ring

Picking the right ring is very tricky. If you have talked about marriage, you might be able to ask about ring preferences or even shop at the best place to buy engagement rings together. Or you can get your significant other’s friends or family to try to find out if they have preferences for you.

Another thing to consider is the ring size. If you don’t go for a ring fitting, you can find out their size by comparing other rings, or you can size up for the proposal itself and then get it resized to fit after the proposal.