Look, we know this goes without saying, and we're on your side. But, the first rule of proposing should be this: talk about marriage. Make sure it is something both of you want, and that you're sure she'll say yes, if you propose. Here's a really great article about the things you should talk about from a bunch of smart psychologists at About.com.
Great, now you're ready. You want to pop the eternal question, and you want her to be blown away. Here are a few contrarian concepts from Angara that will help you out in the process of deciding what to do. Some of our suggestions may go against everything Hollywood and your instincts tell you, but unless you're absolutely sure about the opposite, trust us on these points:
1. Make it private: As much as you think she may want to be proposed to in front of hundreds or thousands of people, where you're declaring your love to her and the world, she probably doesn't, and will most likely be embarrassed. Instead, make it private, special, and meaningful. Think about your first date, or the time when you first kissed, or a place that incredibly special to the both of you — plan something around your past together, and make it meaningful to just the two of you. She'll love it — we promise!
2. Keep it simple: If you're spending most of your time worrying about limousine reservations, string quartets, and complicated costume changes, you're worrying about the wrong thing. Instead, focus on one set of logistics that will end up being special to her. Here's a sports metaphor: Go deep, not wide.
3. Words, words, words: Nothing (we mean nothing) is more romantic than the man you love speaking to you about why he wants to marry you. Spend a good deal of your planning time focusing on what you're going to say, as opposed to how you're going to say it. Practice in the mirror, and don't read from a paper. Be articulate, hold her hand when you say it, and be sincere. Grand physical gestures are all well and good, but the truth is, she's more emotional than you are — while she might tell her friends how you proposed, she's going to remember mostly what you said.
4. A few places that you mustn't propose at: Please do not propose at a sports game, regardless of how big a sports nut she is. Do not propose in front of either her or your family, or at a holiday gathering. Please don't get down on one knee at her place of work, even if that's where you met. And whatever you do, we suggest that you get any ideas of hiding the ring inside any type of foodstuff right out of your head.
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