“Will you marry me?”

Four simple words, easy right?

But you may find yourself wondering: how do I make our proposal a sentimental moment? How can I try making it a day they will never forget?

Will I include our family and friends, or will it be just the two of us, something intimate?

Suddenly those four little words can apply a lot more pressure than you first thought!

But rest assured, these 5 tips and tricks can help relieve you of that stress ensuring that you create the dream engagement that you both will remember fondly for years to come.

Tip 1: Location, Location, Location!

Whilst narrowing down a specific location for your proposal can be daunting, it can also be a wonderful way to personalise your proposal!

Is there a particular restaurant you frequent, perhaps one that you went to on your first date? How about a specific look-out at sunset or a walk along the beach?

If you’re adventurers at heart, you could even organise a scavenger hunt filled with clues that will lead your partner to a secret location: with you down on one knee as the final surprise!

Proposals don’t always have to involve elaborate locations, either. After all, home is where the heart is! You could plan a date night at home with their favourite meal and wine, surround a room in your house with their favourite flowers (Who hasn’t dreamt of *that* Gatsby moment before?) Or even print out a series of photos from throughout your relationship and fill up a room with some of your most cherished memories!

Bonus tip: Try to organise your proposal at the beginning of your date. This will allow you to enjoy the remainder of your time without all of the nerves lingering!

Tip 2: Music is your Friend!

When you think of your relationship, what is the first song that comes to mind? What about incorporating that song into your engagement?

Having a familiar tune playing in the background can create a relaxing and comfortable environment. It’s also a wonderful way to remember this moment in the future! When your song comes on, you’ll be instantly brought back to the beautiful time when you asked the love of your life to marry you. 

Now, hear me out, music you say? But what if I’m at a restaurant with other patrons?

Obviously, this won’t be suitable for all engagements and the chances of your particular song playing at the exact moment you chose to pop the question are slim (but wouldn’t that be a rom-com moment?) But don’t forget, you can get creative with it! Perhaps you could organise with the restaurant in advance to play your song at an agreed time or even hire a performer to play whilst you propose!

Tip 3: Is Three a Crowd?

An important aspect of planning your engagement is whether you want to include your closest family and friends, or whether you’d like to keep it as an intimate moment between the two of you.

Spoiler alert: There is no right or wrong answer. The most important thing is to do what feels right for you and your love!

You could choose to plan your engagement so that it aligns with a particular family event, ensuring that everybody is present during your special moment! Alternatively, while you could arrange to be alone during the actual proposal itself, you could have your loved ones waiting and/or watching close-by ready to celebrate when you wave them in. This allows you to have a private moment together, but also an opportunity to bask in the joy and celebratory love immediately afterwards.

Bonus tip: Don’t forget about your four-legged friends too! It could be a wonderful idea to include your fur-babies into your engagement plans!

Tip 4: Four Simple Words, Right?

Now, this is a big one. You can’t help but ask yourself, “but what do I say?”

Again, there is no right or wrong answer here.

I encourage you to speak from the heart. Perhaps take the time to write down all of the things that make you smile about the other person, what are you most grateful for and what couldn’t you live without. Think about your favourite moments shared and what excites you most about the future. More often than not, once you start writing, you won’t be able to stop. 

Remember that this is your soulmate, you know them better than most. You know what brings them joy, what gives them butterflies and most importantly, you know that no matter what you say, this is going to be a moment that they will never forget!

Bonus tip: Don’t be afraid to get lost in the moment. This is a significant moment in your life, a sweet and romantic gesture! Wear your heart on your sleeve and enjoy this experience with your sweetheart.

Tip 5: A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words!

So you’ve planned your proposal and the day has arrived. Everything is going smoothly and you’ve popped the question, suddenly in the blink of an eye, you’re engaged! It’s crazy how time flies!

But what if there was a way to relive that special moment over and over again?

By including a professional photographer in your proposal plans, it ensures that you’re able to solely focus on this intimate time with your loved one without worrying about capturing it as well.

Proposal photos provide wonderful wedding or anniversary gifts, but also are incredible tokens of the day to be able to share with loved ones and look back upon in your happily ever after! 

If you are interested in having your proposal frozen in time forever, I offer proposal photoshoots for only $95! Click Here for more information or get in contact to plan your proposal!

The most important thing to remember is that every proposal is built differently as each individual couple has their own love story. What might work for someone else, may not necessarily be best for you and that’s okay! 

You have an advantage that you might not be aware of: You know your partner better than anyone else in this world. What makes them smile? What fond memories do you have together that you reminisce on? What excites you about the future together? Remember that this is a celebration of the love shared and a commitment to your relationship moving forward! Speak from the heart with actions motivated by happiness and you’ll have no trouble creating a perfect engagement!

Need some more help to plan the perfect proposal? I would adore to help you! Just send me an email and let’s make magic happen!