How to Plan the Perfect Proposal

It's finally happened. You've looked into your significant other's eyes, and you just knew that this was the person you wanted by your side forever. As the saying goes, "First comes love, then comes marriage..." But wait a minute. What about that all-important event in the middle? If you're ready to pop the question to the one you love, follow these simple tips to plan the perfect proposal.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Engagement ring
• Proposal date
• Venue
• Planned activities
• A speech

1. Purchase the ring. Almost every girl dreams about the day that she will meet the man she is going to marry--and the diamond ring he's going to give her. Finding the perfect engagement ring can be a tricky process, so you may need to ask for some help from your girlfriend's family and friends. If you're trying to keep the engagement a secret from everyone, then you are really going to have to tune in to what your future bride likes. Many modern couples, though, have shopped together for possible engagement rings, leaving just the proposal time and place a surprise.

2. Choose a date to propose. If you want to be cliché, you can always propose on Valentine's Day or Christmas. However, if you're wanting to make your proposal day a truly special day, choose one that is significant to the two of you. Is it the anniversary of your first date or first kiss? Knowing that you remembered such a romantic day will make your amour fall in love with you all over again.

3. Select a venue. Hopefully, if things go well, this is going to be the only time in your life that you will be proposing marriage, so you want the setting to be perfect. Save your money if you have to in order to make your experience truly unique. Take your girlfriend on a dinner cruise, to the zoo, on a picnic or to a romantic restaurant. The key to selecting a romantic venue is finding a place that you enjoy together.

4. Plan your day. Don't just take your fiancée-to-be to a nice restaurant, give her the ring, and head home. Plan some fun activities that will help you remember this all-important day. Spend some time thinking about ways to make your future wife feel like a princess.

5. Prepare your speech. You're definitely going to want to have something to say when you get down on one knee. Think about all of the things that drew you to that person and what makes you love them so much. Poems are nice, but the best thing to do is to just speak from your heart.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to take a camera with you and ask someone to record moments from your special day.

• Include things in your day that your bride-to-be can keep for her memory album (such as a special note, a little trinket you bought that day or another special item).

• Make sure you have a Plan B in case circumstances mess up your initial plans.

• Don't disrespect your girlfriend by not planning a perfect day.

• Don't tell anyone else about the proposal who you know will tell your girlfriend.