10 Top Tips For a Hitch-Free Surprise Proposal

Planning a super sweet surprise proposal for your better half? We’ve heard a lot of proposal stories over the years, and we’ve picked up quite a few tips as a result. Read these, remember them, and then all you’ll have to worry about is getting that oh so important ‘yes’.

#1: Honour her wishes

If you’ve talked about getting engaged and she mentioned certain preferences, make sure to include them. She’s told you exactly what she wants, so why go off-script? For example, if a public proposal with a big romantic gesture is her idea of torture, don’t do it. If she’s traditional and would like you to get her parent’s blessing first, make sure you do. Putting your own twist on her wishes is totally fine – in fact, it’ll probably make the proposal all the more meaningful – just, keep what she wants at the forefront of your mind.

#2: Have a rock solid decoy

Your plan leading up to the proposal moment doesn’t have to be elaborate or cunning, but it does need to be well thought out. Create a decoy story that sits perfectly into your day to day life (so she won’t think anything is out of the ordinary), but ensure it has little details that make it difficult to back out of. A movie you both really really want to see, dinner with friends you haven’t seen for a long time, etc. Even if she doesn’t feel like going out, she won’t want to disappoint you or any other decoy people involved.

#3: …And a rock solid plan B

Sadly, we don’t live in a perfect romantic movie world. Real life isn’t perfect, and sometimes stuff just doesn’t go your way. If your proposal happens to be on one of those days, have a contingency plan in place for back-up. If you miss your restaurant reservation, plan to go to the next nearest proposal-worthy location. Ensure that your plan A is reschedule-able in case of emergencies. And look at it this way; a spanner in the works will only make the story even better!

#4: Plan your outfit

Sure, you’ll want to look your best for the big moment. But that’s not what we’re talking about here. Remember, you need to be able to hide the engagement ring – and that cube-shaped box it’s sitting inside of – somewhere on your person. It has to be safe, secure, and it can’t be an obvious lump sticking out of your chest or back pocket. Think zip pockets, and choose clothes that look smart but aren’t too slim-fitting. It may be advantageous to wear darker colours so that black velvet box is less likely to be spotted!

#5: …Think about hers, too

We live in a world where many of us share our lives on social media. If your fiancee-to-be is one of them, keep this in mind when planning your proposal. Would she be okay with a ‘we just got engaged’ selfie being broadcast to the internet if, say, you’ve just hiked up a mountain and are all red-faced and sweaty? If so, no worries. But if not, maybe think about a more subdued scenario for the big question – like a walk in the park, or a champagne breakfast.

#6: Plan the logistics

The last thing you want is for your carefully planned proposal to unravel because of unforseen traffic, inclement weather, or some other little problem. So map out how you’ll get to your proposal location (especially if travelling separately), and check the weather if you’re proposing outdoors. Remember you’ll probably want to share your happy news straight away too, so ensure wifi or cell phone signal isn’t too far out of reach!

#7: Do it early

It’s better to bend that knee sooner rather than later, for two main reasons. One: the longer you wait, the more nervous you’ll get. And two: getting it out of the way means you still have a full day/afternoon/evening to celebrate, call family and friends, and show off that sparkling new piece of bling. If you have some special romantic activity planned for the proposal, it’ll be all the more special as a newly engaged, blissfully happily couple. Trust us!

#8: Speak from the heart

If the internet is anything to go by (which it isn’t, by the way), it seems like each guy that proposes to a girl does something more romantic and thoughtful than the last. From proposal videos years in the making to literally crafting an engagement by hand from scratch, the bar can look impossibly high. And while making your proposal meaningful and sweet is a great thing to do, there’s only one thing she’s really looking for here. Your commitment, forever! Don’t get caught up in planning a big elaborate gesture – just tell her how you feel, and ask her if she’ll be your partner for life. When all’s said and done, that’s all that really matters.

#9: Tell the parents first

Before you announce your news to your friends and your social media feeds, take some time to tell both sets of parents – in private. Getting engaged is a big deal for you, of course, but it’s pretty important to them too. They wouldn’t want to find out from a Facebook post or an Instagram photo – they’ll want to hear it from you and be part of the moment. You wouldn’t be here without them, so it can’t hurt to at least say thanks for that much!

#10: RELAX!

This is one of the biggest moments of your life. It’s easy to focus on that fact for the wrong reasons – i.e. the many little things that could go wrong, the chance (even though it’s a tiny, tiny chance) of her saying no, the fact that you’re making a decision that will define the rest of your life. But it’s also going to be one of the happiest moments of your life, one that you’ll remember and tell stories about forever, AND only the first of many more amazing moments like this one. So ENJOY IT! Have a beer, relax, and stop worrying – she’s totally going to say yes.