Proposals

I love traditional proposals where the man goes to one knee. There is something very special about that moment…the two of you can be anywhere in the world, but at that moment everyone else disappears. I think keeping it short, but sweet is the best way to go. Many times guys spent a lot of time preparing the words of the proposal. Sweet to me is something like…”Honey, I love you. You’re my lover and my best friend and such a beautiful woman inside and out. God has blessed me with you and I would be so very thankful and happy to share my life with you. Will you marry me ____________?” He must ask the woman’s father for her hand in marriage and receive the blessing before the proposal. This shows that he is concerned with how her parents feel, he respects their authority and truly wants to be a part of a new family, as well as his own.

Places for proposals…it depends on the time of year.

Winter proposals would be gorgeous…sitting by a fire or singing Christmas songs together.

Spring or Summer…I think the most beautiful thing would be to ask her standing on a beautiful bridge over a bubbling brook or at your favorite spot. Out on a boat cruise, in the mountains, on a boat in the middle of a lake, or on the 4th of July would be great too.

Or go for the extreme-if you can get her to go bungee jumping or sky diving with you, plan the moment you will ask and then have a blast.

If you both go to church, you can get up in front of the congregation to propose.

In the comfort of your home-plan a night at your place or hers and make her dinner (you decide the rest) or make her breakfast in bed and propose sometime then.

The traditional-take your girl to a nice restaurant and dinner is also a good one, but you have to determine if you want the proposal intimate between the two of you or something done in public.

But one thing to remember guys…women don’t like to be teased when it comes to proposals. If you are going to propose at a fancy restaurant, don’t take her on a few fancy dinners before the real thing. She’ll be expecting the proposal each time and be so heartbroken when it doesn’t come…that when you finally do decide to propose, you might have set yourself up for failure.

Some people like longer engagements, but in my opinion…if you have gotten to know this gal pretty well prior to the proposal, she is your best friend and you know almost everything about her. If you are certain she is the one for you, then you don’t need to wait forever to find out. Propose and get married within a year. 6 months – 1 1/2 yrs. is usually a good time frame. You both decide this one. I like 6-8 months afterward personally. A wedding in July, August or September (where I live in the Northwest) are optimal when it comes to weather. Other months may be too cold or too hot-or raining.

~Steph