About Marriage Proposals

Marriage proposals are the lead-in to a lifetime bond between two adults, and as such, should not be accepted lightly. But for couples who want to become engaged, the consent is formally given with the answer to a proposal of marriage. The act of asking for a woman's hand in marriage can be romantic or formal and done with or without a ring, but her feelings about the ring and proposal setting should always been considered.

History

The idea of proposing marriage is relatively new in society. A millennium ago, in certain countries, a man kidnapped his bride-to-be from her family home. At other times, men were required to offer payment for their bride; conversely, a bride may have been expected to enter into a marriage with a dowry. And another tradition that is still practiced today is arranged marriage. Marriage proposals as we know them today, though, have also co-existed throughout the history of civilization, when a man asks for a woman's hand in marriage.

Function

A proposal is offered by a man to a woman in order to gain her consent for marriage. A ring is often presented in conjunction with the proposal as a symbol of their engagement and promise of marriage.

Types

The traditional marriage proposal involves an engagement ring proffered to a woman while the man is down on bended knee, asking the question, "Will you marry me?" The man may preface the question with heartfelt words and provide a romantic setting for the proposal. Marriage proposals can happen anywhere--and with or without a ring--as evidenced by the number of proposals happening at sporting events, dinners, outdoor parks and numerous other places.

Significance

In today's society, men and women are expected to be able to freely enter into marriage. So when marriages aren't arranged by family, a couple can choose on their own whether to become engaged. The marriage proposal creates the availability of choice in the matter.

Considerations

A man who is planning to propose to his partner should determine whether she'd like to choose her own engagement ring or to let it be a surprise, since some women have specific tastes in jewelry. Alternately, family or friends can be asked what her preferences are as far as type of metal, stone size and shape, and ring size. Also, it's respectful to ask the woman's parents for her hand in marriage. While proposals can be done in public or in private, take into consideration where the woman would want the proposal to occur.

Warning

Marriage should only be proposed when both people are comfortable and in favor of the idea. If an engagement is entered with reservations, it can lead to marriage troubles in the future.